The Bathroom Reader of the Library of Congress

This is what I wanted to see more than any of the Smithsonians, the National Archives, or Ford's Theater.

The Library of Congress in all of its beautiful glory.

I was so impressed, I even took pictures in the bathroom. Yes, this picture is from the ladies room in the Library of Congress.

If that's not proof I'm an unrepentant bibliophile, I don't know what is.

That and um... when I saw Thomas Jefferson's Library, the original collection of books from when the Library was founded, I cried. I stood there, with my hands on the glass, my mouth open and tears streaming down my face. It was like a religious experience to be so close to those books and an integral part of my history as an American. It inspired and awed me all at once.

If you've never been, it's something to put on your bucket list.

Here's a few more pictures: