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Orientation Gallery

A drawing shows the design planned for the Library’s new Orientation Gallery, with a curved wall that displays various collection items that help to explore the history of the Library’s collections. “Building the Collections

A rendering of the Living Library section located in the future Orientation Gallery. This gallery will feature collection items from across the Library of Congress.

A drawing shows the design planned for the Library’s new Orientation Gallery, with a timeline of the Library that is part of the Library History section of the gallery. The timeline will offer visitors an engaging way to learn about the history of the Library of Congress.

A rendering of the Library Timeline in the Library History section of the Orientation Gallery. This timeline will offer visitors an engaging visual history of the Library of Congress.

A drawing shows the art and architecture niche section in the orientation gallery that will have interactive stations and architectural detail touch models that will give visitors a closer look at the Jefferson Building’s features.

The Art + Architecture niche will have interactive stations and architectural detail touch models for a closer look at the Jefferson Building’s art and architectural features.

A drawing shows another perspective of the design planned for the Library’s new Orientation Gallery, with a curved wall that displays various collection items that help to explore the history of the Library’s collections.

Another view of displays in the new Orientation Gallery.

Discover All the Library Has to Offer

Visitors will enter the Jefferson Building through an orientation gallery located on the ground floor. There, they will find an introduction to the Library and its history, mission, collections and programs and a look at how the Library works. They will also see Thomas Jefferson’s personal Library, which Congress bought to rebuild the Library’s collections after they were burned by the British during the War of 1812.

Using the theme of Living Library, the gallery will invite visitors to discover a plurality of voices in conversation that are collected, preserved and amplified by the Library. The gallery will showcase the art and architecture of the Jefferson Building itself, with immersive and interactive experiences that explore the magnificent space. Visitors also will have an opportunity to see into the original book stacks.

Before and After: Current Space and New Installation

  • A photo shows an empty room with a staircase at the center. This space is being transformed into the orientation gallery.
    Before: A view of the current Library space for the new Orientation Gallery, prior to installation.
  • An image shows a curved seating area in front of a wall that displays images from the Library’s collections that will be part of the orientation gallery.
    After: A rendering of the Collections Commons – located at the heart of the Orientation Gallery.