Page 52 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Washington, DC

50  W ASHINGT ON , DC AREA B Y AREA

2 Folger
Shakespeare
Library
201 E Capitol St, SE. Map 4 F4.
Tel (202) 544-4600. q Capitol South.
Open 10am–5pm Mon–Sat. Closed
Federal hols. 8 7 Tickets for plays,
concerts, and readings available from
box office. ∑ folger.edu
Inspired by Shakespeare’s own
era, this library and museum
celebrate the works and times
of the Elizabethan playwright.
The research library was a gift
to the American people in 1932
from Henry Clay Folger who, as
a student in 1874, began to
collect Shakespeare’s works.
Folger also funded the
construction of this edifice,
built specifically to house
his collection. It contains
310,000 Elizabethan books
and manu scripts, as well as the
world’s largest collection of
Shakespeare’s writings, includ-
ing a third of the surviving
copies of the 1623 First Folio
(first editions of Shakespeare’s The impressive Neo-Classical facade of the US Supreme Court
works). One of these first
editions is displayed in the In the grounds of the library, the interrogated. The Court is
oak-paneled Great Hall, along Elizabethan Garden has plants charged to guarantee “Equal
with books and engravings. that are featured in Shakespeare’s Justice Under Law,” the motto
The Folger hosts many plays. Shakespeare’s birthday emblazoned over the entrance.
cultural events. For example, is celebrated every April with As recently as 1929, the court
there are regular performances jugglers, music, theater shows, was still meeting in various sec-
of Shakespeare’s plays in the and a tour of the library. tions of the US Capitol building.
library’s 250-seat reconstruction Then, at Chief Justice William
of an Elizabethan theater. There 3 US Supreme Court Howard Taft’s urging, Congress
is also an annual series of poetry authorized a separate building to
readings, as well as numerous 1st St between E Capitol St and be constructed. The result was a
talks throughout the year. The Maryland Ave, NE. Map 4 E4. Corinthian edifice, designed by
Folger Consort early music Tel (202) 479-3211. q Capitol South. Cass Gilbert, that opened in 1935.
ensem ble, performs con certs Open 9am–4:30pm Mon–Fri. Sculptures depicting the allegor-
of 12th- to 20th-century music. Closed Federal hols. = - 7 ical figures of the Contemplation
Lectures. ∑ supremecourt.gov of Justice and the Guardian of
the Law stand beside the steps
The Supreme Court forms the while on the pediment above
judicial and third branch of the the entrance are figures of Taft
US government (see pp30–31). (far left) and John Marshall, the
It was established in 1787 at fourth Chief Justice (far right).
the Philadelphia Constitutional Visitors can watch the court in
Convention and provides the session Monday to Wednesday
last stop in the disposition of from October to April. Admission
the nation’s legal disputes is on a first-come, first-served
and issues of constitutionality. basis. During controversial cases
Ground breaking cases settled visitors camp out overnight for
here include Brown v. Board coveted spots. When court is
of Education, which abolished not in session, public lectures
racial segregation in schools, on the Supreme Court are held
and Miranda v. Arizona, which every hour on the half-hour
The Great Hall in the Folger declared crime suspects were in the Courtroom (contact
Shakespeare Library entitled to a lawyer before being for confirmation).

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Date 20th August 2012
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