America 250: From Independence to Discovery
Follow the Story from 1776 to the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress

📍 Location: Washington, DC
🟢 FREE |
What to do & see:

• Opened in 1897, the Thomas Jefferson Building was the Library of Congress’s first stand-alone structure. A National Historic Landmark celebrated for its stunning architecture, it houses one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of human knowledge.

• Inside, explore historic maps, original journals, and scientific works that reflect the spirit of inquiry and discovery of Jefferson’s era.

Why it matters to Lewis & Clark:

• Thomas Jefferson was the driving force behind the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806), conceiving it as a quietly funded federal mission to explore the West, expand trade, and seek a water route to the Pacific.

• The Library of Congress preserves foundational documents (“The object of your mission”),
  that reveal Jefferson’s vision, planning, and scientific purpose behind the expedition.