Library of Parliament Exterior

Modelled on the Reading Room of the British Museum, this distinctive circular structure features a ring of sixteen flying buttresses, pinnacles, decorative windows and beautiful ornamental ironwork.

The Library also plays a vital role in the overall look of Parliament Hill. While the Centre Block and the formal Parliamentary lawns represent an ordered landscape, the Library's design echoes the contour of the escarpment, and the building is set against the wilderness of the cliff.

The beauty of the Library of Parliament is reminiscent of an earlier age, echoing times and personalities long past. Overlooking the spectacular craggy bluffs of the Ottawa River, the Library has been admired by millions of visitors since it opened in 1876.

Modelled on the Reading Room of the British Museum, this distinctive circular structure features a ring of sixteen flying buttresses, pinnacles, decorative windows and beautiful ornamental ironwork. The Library building is crowned by a circular lantern.

The Library also plays a vital role in the overall look of Parliament Hill. While the Centre Block and the formal Parliamentary lawns represent an ordered landscape, the Library's design echoes the contour of the escarpment, and the building is set against the wilderness of the cliff.

The first Librarian of Parliament, Alpheus Todd, advised that this Gothic marvel be separated from the Centre Block by a corridor to protect it from fire. That advice helped save the Library from the disastrous fire that struck the Centre Block in 1916. As a result, we can continue to enjoy this architectural jewel.

Photo: National Archives of Canada, PA-18023