Thomas Jefferson Building, Library of Congress
Marshall, Blaine
Crowned with a copper dome and the gilded Torch of Learning, the ornate Italian Renaissance structure of the Library of Congress's Thomas Jefferson Building (Washington D.C.) stands on top of Capitol Hill as a dazzling expression of American art, architecture, and self-confidence. Termed the 'national temple of the arts' on its opening in 1897, the structure was designed both to house America's national library and to showcase the art and cult...