“This exhibition space will give people—not just scholars, but regular people—a chance to appreciate rare books." —Stuart Rose
201 East Capitol Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003
Main (202) 544-4600
Box Office (202) 544-7077
Our building on Capitol Hill is closed due to a major building renovation project, but Folger events and programs continue online.
The Playhouse at the National Building Museum
Jul 12 – Aug 28
Streaming for free
Full performance + special features
Have a question about our collections? Our reference librarians can help you!
Become a teacher member to get access to lesson plans and professional development.
Become a member of the Folger Shakespeare Library and receive access to special member events.
We invite you to personally participate in the life of the Folger Shakespeare Library by making a tax-deductible donation to the institution.
The Folger is looking for exceptionally qualified individuals who are committed to the mission, vision, and values of our organization.
This architectural rendering shows how treasures from the Folger collection will be displayed in a gallery located in the Stuart and Mimi Rose Rare Book and Manuscript Exhibition Hall.
One of the treasures included will be this 1477 edition of Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. William Caxton produced it in England's first printing shop, located in Westminster at the Sign of the Red Pale. Only ten known copies, including the Folger volume, have survived, in addition to two fragments.
The Castle of Perseverance from Mankind
Also on display will be the three manuscripts of 15th-century allegorical dramas known as the Macro Plays, which are the earliest morality plays in English to survive in their entirety. Named for their 18th-century owner, the Suffolk antiquarian Cox Macro, these handwritten pages are undoubtedly some of the greatest treasures of the Folger. Without these unique plays—given the titles Wisdom, Mankind, and The Castle of Perseverance by the 19th-century scholars who first transcribed and published them—we would know virtually nothing about pre-Reformation forms of this drama. Featured above is the last page of The Castle of Perseverance. It contains the earliest known stage diagram for an English play and is thus an invaluable record of early performance history.
This architectural rendering shows the East Gallery, which will provide space for temporary exhibitions in the Stuart and Mimi Rose Rare Book and Manuscript Exhibition Hall.
This architectural rendering shows the West Gallery, which will provide space for temporary exhibitions in the Stuart and Mimi Rose Rare Book and Manuscript Exhibition Hall.
Main (202) 544-4600
Box Office (202) 544-7077
Our main building is closed for a multi-year renovation. All Folger programs and events will be held online or at other venues during construction.
Choose from a variety of Folger events and programs—online, around Washington, DC, and across the country.
© 1996-2022 Folger Shakespeare Library