Where to find Shakespeare’s ‘first folios’ in DC

Step into a vault of centuries-old books at this DC library

Follow WTOP’s Matt Kaufax as he explores hidden gems, local landmarks and unique stories across the D.C. area every week. New episodes of WTOP’s “Matt About Town” segment are released each Tuesday and Thursday.

Some of the rarest and earliest published works of William Shakespeare — dating back more than 400 years — can be found at the Folger Shakespeare Library in the District.

In Tuesday’s episode of “Matt About Town,” WTOP’s Matt Kaufax dives deep into Shakespeare’s “first folios,” which sit behind glass in a dimly-lit, climate-controlled exhibition hall on Capitol Hill.

The best part: Anyone can come and visit.

A few titles that visitors might recognize include “Romeo and Juliet,” “Hamlet” and “Macbeth” — works that have influenced so many aspects of the modern English language and entertainment.

The latest “Matt About Town” episode is the first of a five-part miniseries from The Folger Shakespeare Library.

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Matt Kaufax

If there's an off-the-beaten-path type of attraction, person or phenomenon in the D.C. area that you think more people should know about, Matt is your guy. An award-winning reporter for WTOP, he's always on the hunt for stories that provide a unique local flavor—a slice of life if you will.

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