Folger Shakespeare Library
Folger Shakespeare Library
Folger Shakespeare Library
4.5
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
About
The Shakespearean collection at the Folger Library the worlds largest is only open to the more qualified researcher, but theres still plenty to see, like gardens, Renaissance art and an Elizabethan theater.
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
How to get there
- Capitol South • 7 min walk
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Restaurants
2,107 within 3 miles
Attractions
866 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
224 reviews
Excellent
133
Very good
68
Average
18
Poor
2
Terrible
3
hoferge
Denver, CO19 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
Visited in Jan 2020. It sounds like a large portion of the museum are being renovated so only one main room was open to tour. Still, it was interesting to learn about how it was built and see a select number of very old Shakespeare items.
More than the building and Foundation, I attended mainly to see “The Merry Wives of Windsor,”’which was produced with great comedy and and setting in the 1970s. A very memorable night. It is playing through Feb 2020.
Easy to walk to from the subway.
More than the building and Foundation, I attended mainly to see “The Merry Wives of Windsor,”’which was produced with great comedy and and setting in the 1970s. A very memorable night. It is playing through Feb 2020.
Easy to walk to from the subway.
Written January 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kittygal 🇺🇦 🌻
Los Angeles, CA8,986 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
Tucked behind the Capitol is this excellent collection of all things Shakespeare. On this visit, I enjoyed a great production of "The Merry Wives of Windsor" in the small but faithful reproduction of an Elizabethan era playhouse. It was the final production before the entire complex undergoes extensive renovation and restoration. I look forward to seeing what delights await when it opens its doors once again.
Written January 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katie B
Annapolis, MD52 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
Wonderful experience, would highly recommend visiting! We came here after a rather long walk, overstimulated and disappointed by other museums. Coming in here refreshed our spirits immensely, it was cool, quiet and the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful! The exhibits here were simply mindblowing, some incredible pieces of written history, arranged in a very nice display. Favorites were the Egyptian Book of the Dead, all the Shakespeare (of course) and first copies of The Lord of the Rings, corrected by the author himself!! The whole design of this museum is lovely and I would love to come back and see some of the performances here too!
Written August 31, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bob
London, UK132 contributions
Dec 2024 • Friends
A beautifully curated museum in central DC showcasing the highest number of Shakespeare first folios in the works. The folios are explained and on view in this fairly small museum. There is also an amazing collection of other first editions including European and American highlights.
Written December 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kittygal 🇺🇦 🌻
Los Angeles, CA8,986 contributions
Sep 2024 • Solo
Having last visited in The Before Times, I was quick to book a spot for my latest trip.
The new galleries and entrances were superb, easily accessible and navigable. The exhibits were great, very handsome on and interesting. The Great Hall is still the same, as is the reading room (I glimpsed both). Only sorry I didn't catch a performance at the new theater, not in my schedule dates. I saw Merry Wives of Windsor there last. Next time!
The new galleries and entrances were superb, easily accessible and navigable. The exhibits were great, very handsome on and interesting. The Great Hall is still the same, as is the reading room (I glimpsed both). Only sorry I didn't catch a performance at the new theater, not in my schedule dates. I saw Merry Wives of Windsor there last. Next time!
Written October 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anne E
Orlando, FL92 contributions
Mar 2020 • Solo
Building is not open to the public. Right when you walk in you will be turned away. I didn’t see anything online that said it wasn’t open to public so that was disappointing.
Written March 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PL2016
United States176 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
I guess the special, exclusive tours are very confidential to get into. I just saw the 1st folio of Romeo and Juliet, stuff about the problems of longitude, and a small video about Shakespeare. I had no clue to get to the ACTUAL cool stuff was hard to get into! The old lady at the desk made us feel so inferior because we didn't get into the tour. I LOVE Shakespeare! But I was let down here, and I wasn't expecting that. I guess try to get into a tour if you REALLY want a great experience. NO PHOTOS! I saw a few people get told to put their cameras away, but they still got photos.
Written August 10, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Herstory_62
Philadelphia, PA487 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
An elegant setting with enlightening & provocative exhibits that expand views of Shakespeare's world & times.
Written June 5, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NewOrleansfirstgal
Metairie, LA590 contributions
Jun 2019
You don't have to love Shakespeare to appreciate this museum, but it helps. Although the building is beautiful and the main hall is exceptional architecture the reading room is the thing to go to see. However, there are very few tour times so be sure to check ahead to find out as this is the outstanding portion of the museum. There is also a small theater so check which play is being performed before you go. I had a lovely docent who took me on a brief tour of the rest of the museum as I unfortunately had not check to see what time the reading room tour was done. Cute but limited gift shop if you are a Shakespeare fan.
Written September 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LuanaRubin
Boulder, CO574 contributions
Aug 2018
As an artist, I've been inspired by the Tudor architecture of the Reading Room. As a Shakespeare fan, I've been truly blown away by the collection that has amassed here. One cannot be impressed by the single-mindedness that the Folgers employed to pursue their acquisitions. The exhibit hall had a fascinating collection on view when I visited, and I appreciated that I can spend an afternoon in the building, and then walk to the other end and see a Shakespeare play performed live in the Elizabethan theater! I only found out about this gem recently, but I will be returning on my annual trips to DC. Many thanks to all of those who care for this precious collection and cultural resource.
Written July 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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