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Folger Shakespeare Library

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

Die von Henry Clay und Emily Jordan Folger gegründete und 1932 eröffnete Folger Shakespeare Library beherbergt die weltweit größte Shakespeare-Sammlung: über 250.000 Bücher, rund 60.000 Manuskripte und 82 Exemplare der First Folio von 1623 – mehr als ein Drittel aller heute noch erhaltenen Ausgaben. Hinter der weißen Marmorfassade des Architekten Paul Philippe Cret verbirgt sich ein elisabethanisches Interieur mit einem Fachwerktheater nach dem Vorbild eines Renaissance-Gasthof-Innenhofs sowie einer Great Hall mit Eichenholztäfelung und Beschlagwerk-Stukkaturen. Eine mehrjährige, im Juni 2024 abgeschlossene Renovierung machte das Gebäude erstmals in diesem Umfang für die Öffentlichkeit zugänglich: Hinzugekommen sind zwei neue Ausstellungssäle, ein Lernlabor, ein Café in der Great Hall und Shakespeare-Gärten mit Julia-Balkon. Der Eintritt ist frei, und der sonst Forschenden vorbehaltene Gail Kern Paster Reading Room steht an Freitagabenden und am Wochenende allen Besuchern offen.

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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

MonClosed
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SatTodayClosed
SunClosed

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.

Nearby

Library of Congress

ArchitectureFree2 min walk

National Museum of the American Indian

ArtFree14 min walk

Rubell Museum DC

Art16 min walk

National Air and Space Museum

HistoryFree18 min walk

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?
Die weltweit bedeutendste Shakespeare-Sammlung – 82 First Folios, ein elisabethanisches Theater und eine Great Hall im Tudor-Stil, nur vier Blocks vom Capitol entfernt. Current highlights include Shakespeare-Ausstellung (Shakespeare Exhibition), The Great Hall, To Hear Her Speak: Schwarze Frauen und Shakespeare (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)

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