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Folger Shakespeare Library

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

Fondée par Henry Clay et Emily Jordan Folger et inaugurée en 1932, la Folger abrite la plus vaste collection shakespearienne au monde : plus de 250 000 ouvrages imprimés, quelque 60 000 manuscrits et 82 exemplaires du « First Folio » de 1623 — soit plus d'un tiers des copies conservées aujourd'hui. Derrière la façade en marbre blanc conçue par Paul Philippe Cret se dévoile un intérieur élisabéthain, doté d'un théâtre à pans de bois inspiré d'une cour d'auberge Renaissance et d'un Great Hall aux boiseries de chêne ornées de plâtres à entrelacs. Une vaste rénovation achevée en juin 2024 a ouvert l'édifice au public à une échelle inédite, créant deux nouvelles salles d'exposition, un espace pédagogique, un café au cœur du Great Hall et des jardins shakespeariens surplombés d'un balcon de Juliette. L'entrée est libre et gratuite, et la Gail Kern Paster Reading Room — habituellement réservée aux chercheurs — accueille les visiteurs le vendredi soir et le week-end.

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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 plus importante collection shakespearienne au monde : 82 « First Folios », un théâtre élisabéthain et un « Great Hall » de style Tudor, à quatre rues du Capitole. Current highlights include Exposition Shakespeare (Shakespeare Exhibition), The Great Hall, Entendre sa voix : les femmes noires et 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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