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Folger Shakespeare Library

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

Folger 由 Henry Clay Folger 与 Emily Jordan Folger 夫妇创立,于1932年对外开放。这里珍藏着全球规模最大的莎士比亚文献:25万余册图书、约6万份手稿,以及82部1623年出版的《第一对开本》(First Folio)——占现存已知总数的三分之一以上。由 Paul Philippe Cret 设计的白色大理石建筑内部,巧妙隐藏着纯正的伊丽莎白时代风格空间:一座仿照文艺复兴时期客栈庭院建成的半木结构剧院,以及饰有橡木护墙板和带状灰泥雕饰的 Great Hall。历时数年的修缮工程于2024年6月完工,以空前的开放度迎候公众,增设了两座全新展厅、一间学习实验室、位于 Great Hall 内的咖啡馆,以及带有朱丽叶阳台的莎士比亚主题花园。馆内免费开放,原本仅供学者查阅的 Gail Kern Paster Reading Room 也在周五傍晚和周末面向公众开放。

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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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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.

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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?
全球规模最大的莎士比亚典藏——拥有82部《第一对开本》、一座伊丽莎白时代剧院以及都铎式大厅,距国会大厦仅四个街区。 Current highlights include Shakespeare 展 (Shakespeare Exhibition), The Great Hall, 倾听她的声音:黑人女性与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)