Magnificent

The Library of Parliament is housed in what I think is the most beautiful space in the city. This is the main quarters for the Library, which has annexes in other spots through the National Capital Region. The staff here work with members of parliament and their staff extensively. The structure is the only part of the original Centre Block still standing. On the night of the 1916 fire, a clerk saved it by closing the heavy iron doors before evacuating, protecting it from the blaze. A statue of a young Queen Victoria is at the heart of the chamber. You might notice people working in here if you look closely- our guide spoke at length before and after we were in here, and asked us for silence while we were inside so that the staff themselves were not disrupted. Actually, the space itself tends to awe you into silence.