Folger Shakespeare Library & Theatre

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  • Address
    201 E Capitol St, Capitol Hill
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  • Phone
    544 4600
  • Website
  • Transport
    underground rail: Capitol South

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Lonely Planet review

The world's largest collection of the bard's works, including seven First Folios, is housed at the Folger Library: Its Great Hall exhibits Shakespearean artifacts and other rare Renaissance manuscripts. Most of the rarities are viewable by the public only on Shakespeare's birthday (April 23); however, you can peek electronically via multimedia computers. The gorgeous Elizabethan Theatre is an intimate, versatile performance space.

The rarities are housed in the library's reading rooms, closed to all but scholars the rest of the year. With its woodcarvings and sky canopy, the castle is an intimate setting for plays, readings and performances, including the stellar annual PEN/Faulkner readings. East of the building is the Elizabethan Garden, full of flowers and herbs that were cultivated during Shakespeare's time.