Library of Congress, Washington D.C, USA

Date Visited: August 2, 2012

Time Spent: 1.5 hours

Collection: Things that belong in a library

The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world that you'll probably never get to walk through. The Library is the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States, houses over 38 million books as well as millions of other archival artefacts, and it's absolutely stunning.

Of course, for the safety of the collection, they can't allow tourists to traipse through the aisles, thumbing through all the books. Yes, another time when Nicolas Cage has dashed your dreams in National Treasure. No chance in finding the Book of Secrets #SorryNotSorry

But the grad open hall is free for the ogle-ing, and there are some smaller exhibit rooms around on the second floor. Of course there's a viewing area for the infamous Law Library Reading Room. Photos are not permitted as there's always that one person who forgets to take their flash off when photographing through glass and disturbs all the studious scholars below.

Better than U

The ceilings are covered with amazing murals and mosaics, with quotes about reading and books that make any lover of the written word feel at home and slightly more superior than everybody else. If you truly love books as much as I do, you'll definitely try to find a way into the various locked doors all around you, just to get a sniff of that old book smell. But alas, national security is just too good, no matter how many spy novels you've read.

Admission is free, just like all other national monuments in D.C. so make sure you head over!!