Folger Shakespeare Library

What's On

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To Hear Her Speak: Black Women and Shakespeare

Curated by Patricia Akhimie, some 100 photographs, playbills, diaries and costumes trace 450 years of Black women engaging Shakespeare, from Phillis Wheatley to Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison.

Now showing16 Oct – 2 May 2027Free

Permanent Collections

The Great Hall

A Tudor-style gallery with a strapwork plaster ceiling and oak panelling; the terracotta floor sets Comedy and Tragedy masks among Shakespeare's play titles. Now also home to the Quill & Crumb cafe.

Permanent collectionFree

Shakespeare Exhibition

The Folger's flagship gallery: see the First Folios that saved 18 of Shakespeare's plays, plus a working replica printing press, playbills, artwork and a Fred Wilson installation.

Permanent collectionFree

The Elizabethan Theatre

An intimate 260-seat playhouse of three-tiered wooden balconies, carved oak columns and a half-timbered facade, modelled on a Renaissance inn courtyard with a painted sky canopy overhead.

Permanent collectionFree

Gail Kern Paster Reading Room

A 131-foot researchers' hall of carved oak, leaded glass and a high trussed roof, with a Seven Ages of Man stained-glass window. Open to visitors Friday evenings and weekends.

Permanent collectionFree

Nearby

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Library of Congress

ArchitectureFree2 min walk

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National Museum of the American Indian

ArtFree14 min walk

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Rubell Museum DC

Art16 min walk

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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 and Eastern Market (Orange, Blue, Silver lines).

What can I see at Folger Shakespeare Library?

The world's largest Shakespeare collection — 82 First Folios, an Elizabethan theatre and a Tudor Great Hall, four blocks from the Capitol. Current highlights include The Great Hall, Shakespeare Exhibition and 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.