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The
Library of Congress, the nation's oldest federal cultural institution,
was established by an act of Congress in 1800, when President John
Adams signed a bill transferring the seat of government from Philadelphia
to the new capital city of Washington. On April 24, 2000, the Library
celebrated its Bicentennial with a day-long series of events and
entertainment kicked off by ceremonies marking the issuance of the
Library of Congress commemorative stamp and the silver and bimetallic
commemorative coins. The launch of a new, easy-to-use and entertaining
Web site (americaslibrary.gov),
designed especially for children and their families, and the unveiling
of a national public service advertising campaign in partnership
with the Ad Council followed the coin and stamp ceremonies.
The
National Birthday Celebration was held on the East Lawn of the Capitol,
with the Library's magnificent Thomas Jefferson Building as its
backdrop and an audience of more than 5,000. The program opened
with a speech by the Librarian of Congress James H. Billington,
who emphasized that this was a "national celebration, not just
of an institution but of the role of libraries everywhere in providing
free and open access to knowledge and information." ABC journalist
Cokie Roberts emceed as General Colin Powell, retired Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recounted the creation of the Library;
the Librarian of Congress entertained children with Maurice Sendak's
Where the Wild Things Are; Roger Baum read a letter
from his great-grandfather, L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful
Wizard of Oz; illusionist David Copperfield disappeared into
a 1-foot-wide box with his head protruding from one side and his
feet from the other; and the Library's Living Legends, including
"Sesame Street's" Big Bird, lined up on stage to receive
medals in honor of their contributions to American life and culture.
Living Legend Mickey Hart introduced a medley of American music-makers--Native
American drummers and singers, African American dancers, country
singers Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys and Kathy Mattea,
Latin percussionists Tito Puente and Giovanni Hidalgo, folksingers
Peter Seeger and his grandson Tao Rodriguez, jazz singer Dianne
Reeves, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, the soul group the
Chi-Lites, Washington's Eastern High School Choir, and Mickey's
fellow Grateful Dead member Bob Weir--all backed by the Saturday
Night Live Band. An evening reception featured celebratory remarks
by Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Christopher Dodd (D-Connecticut),
and historian David McCullough and the opening of the premier Bicentennial
exhibition Thomas Jefferson.
The
Bicentennial program lasted much longer than one day. The Bicentennial
Web site provides an overview of how "America's Library"
celebrated this very special year in its history.
Bicentennial
Contact Information
Telephone
Number: (202) 707-2000
Fax Number:
(202) 707-7440
Email Address: bicentennial@loc.gov
Web Address: http://www.loc.gov/bicentennial/
Address:
Library of Congress
Bicentennial Program Office
101 Independence Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20540-1022
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