The best free attraction in America has to be the vast Library of Congress, which sprawls over three buildings on Capitol Hill. The Thomas Jefferson Building is the most visually stunning, with intricate gilding, grand columns, arches, and frescoes.

Then there are the books: the library holds over 167 million items, making it the largest library in the world. Admission to all three buildings is free, though the John Adams and James Madison Memorial Buildings primarily serve research purposes.

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Now see how we've ranked the best views in the United States

Every US state's best free attraction, ranked