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Folger Shakespeare Library

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

Fundada por Henry Clay e Emily Jordan Folger e inaugurada em 1932, a Folger abriga o maior acervo sobre Shakespeare do mundo: mais de 250.000 livros, cerca de 60.000 manuscritos e 82 exemplares do First Folio de 1623 — mais de um terço de todas as cópias remanescentes conhecidas. O edifício de mármore branco projetado por Paul Philippe Cret esconde um interior elisabetano, com um teatro em enxaimel inspirado nos pátios de hospedarias renascentistas e um Great Hall com painéis de carvalho e detalhes em estuque strapwork. Uma ampla reforma concluída em junho de 2024 abriu o espaço aos visitantes em uma dimensão inédita, acrescentando duas novas galerias de exposição, um laboratório de aprendizagem, um café no Great Hall e jardins temáticos shakespearianos com uma Juliet balcony. A entrada é gratuita, e a Gail Kern Paster Reading Room — normalmente restrita a pesquisadores — abre ao público nas noites de sexta-feira e aos fins 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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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?
O maior acervo shakespeariano do mundo: 82 exemplares do First Folio, um teatro elisabetano e um Great Hall em estilo Tudor, a quatro quadras do Capitol. Current highlights include Exposição de Shakespeare (Shakespeare Exhibition), The Great Hall, Ouvir a Sua Voz: Mulheres Negras e 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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