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Folger Shakespeare Library

ArchitectureHistoryLiteratureClosed todayFreeCapitol South (Orange, Blue, Silver lines) — 4 blocks

تأسست Folger على يد Henry Clay وEmily Jordan Folger وافتُتحت عام 1932، وتحتضن أكبر مجموعة لأعمال Shakespeare في العالم: أكثر من 250,000 كتاب، ونحو 60,000 مخطوطة، و82 نسخة من طبعة First Folio الصادرة عام 1623 — أي أكثر من ثلث إجمالي النسخ الباقية المعروفة حول العالم. خلف واجهات الرخام الأبيض للمبنى، الذي صممه Paul Philippe Cret، تتوارى عمارة داخلية بنمط إليزابيثي فريد، تشمل مسرحاً ذي إطار خشبي مكشوف استُوحي تصميمه من باحات نُزُل عصر النهضة، وقاعة Great Hall مكسوة بألواح البلوط وزخارف الجص التزيينية (strapwork). أثمرت أعمال تجديد دامت لعدة سنوات واكتملت في يونيو 2024 عن إتاحة هذا الصرح للزوار على هذا النطاق الواسع للمرة الأولى، مضيفةً قاعتي عرض جديدتين، ومختبراً تعليمياً، ومقهى داخل Great Hall، وحدائق مستوحاة من عوالم Shakespeare تكتمل بشرفة تجسد شرفة جولييت. الدخول مجاني، وتفتح قاعة Gail Kern Paster Reading Room — المخصصة عادةً للباحثين — أبوابها أمام عامة الزوار في أمسيات الجمعة وعطلات نهاية الأسبوع.

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Getting there

201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003, United States

Nearest station: Capitol South (Orange, Blue, Silver lines) — 4 blocks, Union Station (Red line) — 8 blocks, Eastern Market (Orange, Blue, Silver lines)

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Hours

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Admission

Free

Free entry. A pay-what-you-will timed-entry pass is recommended (suggested donation from $15); walk-ins welcome as capacity allows. Passes are released up to three months ahead. Guided one-hour group tours cost $25 per person and include admission.

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Visitor Information

Is Folger Shakespeare Library free to visit?
Yes, general admission to Folger Shakespeare Library is free. Free entry. A pay-what-you-will timed-entry pass is recommended (suggested donation from $15); walk-ins welcome as capacity allows. Passes are released up to three months ahead. Guided one-hour group tours cost $25 per person and include admission.. Some special exhibitions may charge a separate ticket, so check the museum's website before visiting.
What are the opening hours of Folger Shakespeare Library?
Folger Shakespeare Library is open Galleries and Great Hall: Tue–Thu and Sat–Sun 11am–6pm, Fri 11am–9pm; closed Mondays. On evenings with public events the galleries stay open until 30 minutes before the event starts. The Paster Reading Room opens to visitors Fri 5–8pm and Sat–Sun 11am–5pm. The café closes half an hour before the rest of the building. No dated closures announced as of 10 September 2026.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is Folger Shakespeare Library?
Folger Shakespeare Library is located at 201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003, United States, in the Capitol Hill area of Washington, DC. The nearest stations are Capitol South (Orange, Blue, Silver lines) — 4 blocks, Union Station (Red line) — 8 blocks, Eastern Market (Orange, Blue, Silver lines).
What can I see at Folger Shakespeare Library?
أكبر مجموعة لأعمال Shakespeare في العالم، تضم 82 نسخة من الـ First Folio، ومسرحاً إليزابيثياً، وقاعة Great Hall تعود إلى عصر تيودور، على بعد أربعة شوارع فقط من Capitol. Current highlights include معرض Shakespeare (Shakespeare Exhibition), The Great Hall, أن تسمع صوتها: النساء ذوات البشرة السمراء وشكسبير (To Hear Her Speak: Black Women and Shakespeare).
Do I need to book Folger Shakespeare Library in advance?
Folger Shakespeare Library is free to enter and most days you can walk in. Free entry. A pay-what-you-will timed-entry pass is recommended (suggested donation from $15); walk-ins welcome as capacity allows. Passes are released up to three months ahead. Guided one-hour group tours cost $25 per person and include admission.. For special exhibitions, weekends, and school holidays, booking a timed slot can help you skip queues. Check the museum's website for current requirements.
When is the best time to visit Folger Shakespeare Library?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.

Ser Amantio di Nicolao, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)