Everyone, 2021
WISE Score
App Store
The ultimate digital attic of human history—minus the dust, the ads, and the commercial tracking.
The Library of Congress app and site are the gold standard for digital research. It’s not 'fun' in the way a game is, but for a curious kid, it’s a massive, unlockable treasure chest of the real world.
If your kid is doing a school project, this is the first stop to get them off the generic Google-search-to-Wikipedia pipeline and into actual history. It’s one of the few places on the internet where the goal is deep thinking rather than quick clicking.
Best for middle and high schoolers who have the patience for research, though younger kids (8+) will love looking at the photos and maps with a parent sitting next to them.
It is the antithesis of the attention economy. It offers a quiet, respectful environment focused on the preservation of human history and knowledge without dopamine loops or manipulative design.
Primary sources like 19th-century maps and original diaries invite kids to be historical detectives, reconstructing the past from raw materials rather than pre-digested textbooks.
As a federal institution, it lacks the commercial tracking, ads, and monetization found in private ed-tech. The only 'danger' is historical content that may contain dated language or depictions.
This is high-octane literacy practice. It builds background knowledge and vocabulary strands of the 'Reading Rope' through authentic, complex texts and media.
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