The Library of Congress will host its annual “Summer Movies on the Lawn” series starting July 10. The series featuring films from the Library’s National Film Registry will be presented Thursday evenings at sundown on the southeast lawn of the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building.
The scheduled films include:
July 10: “The Princess Bride” (1987) (2016 National Film Registry)
July 17: “The Goonies” (1985) (2017 National Film Registry)
July 24: “Spy Kids” (2001) (2024 National Film Registry)
July 31: “The Muppet Movie” (1979) (2001 National Film Registry)
Aug. 7: “Jurassic Park” (1993) (2018 National Film Registry)
The Library plans to offer music performances prior to some of the films. Music for the evening will begin at 7 p.m., followed by the film at sundown.
Located on the corner of 2nd Street SE and Independence Avenue, the southeast lawn of the Thomas Jefferson Building is a scenic space to enjoy films on Capitol Hill. No tickets are required, but visitors are encouraged to arrive early as space is limited. Visitors must stay with their items on the lawn at all times.
Restrooms are available in the James Madison Building located at 101 Independence Ave SE. Please be advised, visitors must navigate U.S. Capitol Police security screening to enter the building to use the facilities. Restrooms in this building are fully accessible.
The film series is part of the Library’s after-hours experience, Live! At the Library. From 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays, visitors are invited to enjoy happy hour drinks and snacks available for purchase in the Great Hall overlooking the Capitol and the Thomas Jefferson Building’s beautiful architecture while immersing themselves in the Library’s exhibitions, collections and programs. Free timed-entry passes for entrance to the Thomas Jefferson Building are required and can be reserved at loc.gov/visit. Find additional event details at loc.gov/live.
About the National Film Registry
Under the terms of the National Film Preservation Act, each year the Librarian of Congress names to the National Film Registry 25 motion pictures that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant, showcasing the broad range of America’s film heritage to encourage support for its preservation. The films must be at least 10 years old. The Librarian makes the annual registry selections after conferring with members of the National Film Preservation Board and a cadre of Library specialists. Thousands of public nominations are also considered. More information about the National Film Registry can be found at loc.gov/film/.
The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States — and extensive materials from around the world — both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov; and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.
