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Folger Shakespeare Library

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

Fundada por Henry Clay y Emily Jordan Folger e inaugurada en 1932, la Folger alberga la mayor colección de Shakespeare del mundo: más de 250 000 libros, unos 60 000 manuscritos y 82 ejemplares del First Folio de 1623, lo que representa más de un tercio de todos los que se conservan en la actualidad. El edificio de mármol blanco, obra de Paul Philippe Cret, oculta un interior de impronta isabelina, con un teatro de entramado de madera inspirado en el patio de una posada renacentista y un Great Hall revestido con paneles de roble y yeserías de lacería. Tras una profunda remodelación que concluyó en junio de 2024, el edificio abrió sus puertas al público general con una dimensión inédita hasta la fecha, sumando dos nuevas salas de exposiciones, un laboratorio de aprendizaje, un café en el Great Hall y jardines dedicados a la obra de Shakespeare que incluyen un balcón de Julieta. La entrada es gratuita y la Gail Kern Paster Reading Room —habitualmente reservada a investigadores— abre al público los viernes por la tarde y los fines de semana.

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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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SatTodayClosed
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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.

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?
La mayor colección shakespeariana del mundo: 82 ejemplares del First Folio, un teatro isabelino y un Great Hall de estilo Tudor, a solo cuatro manzanas del Capitol. Current highlights include Exposición sobre Shakespeare (Shakespeare Exhibition), The Great Hall, Escuchar su voz: mujeres negras y 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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