The first time I visited the Library of Congress, I was 22 and kind of a Euro-phile.  One of those annoying white people who thought that everything was better in Europe, Europe, Europe.  I thought America was nothing but strip malls and Burger Kings.  I got a bit of respect for America and its history when I saw this:

It amazed me just how lovely this was and how old fashioned and how thoroughly American it was.  Then I looked up:

No, not of the Sistine variety, but lovely nevertheless.  Let’s not forget the columns:

I take all my friends to this place when I visit DC.  At first they doubt.  Then, they believe.