Folger Shakespeare Library

Any English enthusiast must make time to see the Folger Shakespeare Library, home to the world’s largest collection of Shakespeare materials and Renaissance works. One of its most valuable and stunning attractions is the collection of 79 copies of the First Folio, the first collection of Shakespeare’s works published after his death. Some of his best plays, from Macbeth to Twelfth Night, would have been lost without this historic publication. One of the Folger’s First Folios is on display, accompanied by a digital display that lets visitors flip through the virtual pages of the collection. Visitors should also be sure to go to the Shakespeare Gallery, where a video explores the Folger today in conjunction with scenes from Shakespeare films.

But the Folger as an organization is much more than just the library. Every year, the Folger Theater produces a season of three Shakespeare or Shakespeare-related plays, performed in the period-style Elizabethan Theater. With its three-tiered wooden balconies, carved oak columns, and half-timbered facade, the theater evokes the Globe Theater itself.

The Folger has also dedicated itself to the expansion of modern America’s conception of poetry with Folger Poetry, responsible for eight to ten poetry readings and receptions each year. It also offers regular performances by a nationally recognized chamber music ensemble, The Folger Consort.

Travel Tips

Docent tours of the building and the current exhibition are available Monday through Friday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The tours are free and no advance reservations are needed. Guided tours of the Elizabethan Garden are available every third Saturday of the month, from April through October, at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Garden tours are also free and require no prior reservations. Cell phone audio tours are also offered. Listen on your phone as expert commentary takes you through the building and exhibition. Audio tours are free except for cell phone minutes.

To learn more about the Folger’s special events—performances of plays, chamber music concerts, poetry readings, or special exhibits—visit www.folger.edu.