Live at the Library to Mark 125th Anniversary of Thomas Jefferson Building, Veterans Day in November
Evening Series Features Performances from Classical Musicians and Modern Warrior Live
The new Thursday evening series Live at the Library is celebrating the 125th anniversary of the opening of the Library of Congress’ Thomas Jefferson Building with a rare open house and concert. Later in November for Veterans Day, the Library will honor veteran stories with a special music and narrative performance.
On Thursday evenings, the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building and all exhibitions are open for extended hours from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Visitors are invited to enjoy happy hour drinks and snacks available for purchase in the Great Hall overlooking the Capitol and the building’s beautiful architecture while immersing themselves in the Library’s exhibits, collections and programs.
Free timed-entry passes or an event registration are required to enter the Thomas Jefferson Building. Visit loc.gov/visit to reserve your pass for Live at the Library.
Programming Highlights for November
Nov. 3: Join for an evening of celebration marking the 125th anniversary of the Thomas Jefferson Building. For one night only, visitors will have the chance to peek inside some of the building’s rarest spaces – including the Poet Laureate Office, the Librarian’s Ceremonial Office and the floor of the Main Reading Room. A special curated display of Library collection items will be on view in the Great Hall, and visitors can speak with Library curators and preservationists from the Architect of the Capitol until 7 p.m. Stick around for a DJ dance party in the Great Hall starting at 7 p.m. Reserve a timed-entry pass.
Later that evening, Concerts from the Library of Congress presents a performance from cellist Jamal Aliyev and pianist Fazil Say at 8 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. A pre-concert conversation with the artists will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the Whittall Pavilion. Reserve your seat for the concert and pre-concert conversation.
Nov. 10: Honor Veteran Stories with Modern Warrior Live at 7 p.m. in the Coolidge Auditorium. On the eve of Veterans Day, the Library’s Veterans History Project presents Modern Warrior Live, an immersive narrative and music experience that chronicles a veteran’s journey through homecoming and experience with post-traumatic stress to his healing as an artist. A panel discussion will follow the performance. Reserve a timed-entry pass.
Please note that the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building will be closed Thursday, Nov. 24 due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Exhibitions On View
Explore the Library’s newest exhibition during Live at the Library. “Not an Ostrich: And Other Images from America’s Library” represents a sampling of the more than 15 million photographs held by the Library, ranging from the early days of photography to today. Take a look at the “first selfie,” which is thought to be the world’s oldest known photographic self-portrait, and see important pictures of Harriet Tubman, the Wright brothers and more.
Visitors can also view timely displays with items celebrating the Brazilian Bicentennial, President Dwight D. Eisenhower and more. Explore the Library’s current exhibitions here: https://www.loc.gov/events/?fa=subject:exhibits%20and%20tours
Find the latest event details at loc.gov/live, and subscribe to the Library’s Upcoming Events email list. Future events will be announced on a monthly basis.
Live at the Library is part of a broader effort to reimagine the visitor experience at the Library of Congress that invites visitors to enjoy the Library and its collections in new formats during extended evening hours on Thursday night. The series regularly features special conversations, music, performances, films and workshops that showcase the broad range of holdings at the national library.
The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States — and extensive materials from around the world — both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov; and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.
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Media Contacts: Leah Knobel, lknobel@loc.gov | Brett Zongker, bzongker@loc.gov
PR 22-093
10-20-2022
ISSN 0731-3527