Ford’s Theatre is a premier destination for students so captivating, that your class will be discussing their trip long after returning
Ford’s Theatre has been an unforgettable piece of America’s history since April 14, 1865, when actor John Wilkes Booth fatally shot President Abraham Lincoln as he watched a performance of Our American Cousin from the theater’s presidential box.
Thriving Legacy
Fast forward 158 years and the theater is still a thriving, working theater, historical monument, world-class museum and education center. Featuring historical programming year-round, Ford’s Theatre is the premier destination to explore Lincoln’s legacy.
Step Back in Time
Visit Ford’s Theatre and step back in time. Open daily, the self-guided tour of the historic site explores the events surrounding that fateful night and the lasting impact of Lincoln’s assassination.
Experience history like never before on the interactive walking tour Investigation: Detective McDevitt. This engaging, 1.5-mile History on Foot walking tour of downtown D.C. revisits sites and reexamines clues from the Lincoln Assassination Conspiracy, allowing you to be a part of the investigation.
Interactive Experiences for Tour Groups
For a more intimate experience, join the after-hours Ford’s guided tour. Explore original artifacts from the assassination plot and hear testimonies from those who witnessed important moments on April 14, 1865. The tour concludes with a 30-minute discussion over wine and cheese with the guide.
The theatre, museum, Petersen House and Aftermath Exhibits are open for daytime visits that educate patrons about Civil War Washington and Lincoln’s life, assassination and legacy. Highlights of a Ford’s Theatre visit include artifacts related to the Lincoln assassination conspiracy and exhibits exploring Lincoln’s presidency and the Civil War.
Interactive Exhibits at Ford’s Theatre
In the museum, you can view exhibits that follow Abraham Lincoln from the beginning of his presidency to the moments leading up to his assassination. Learn about his life in the White House, the struggles he faced during the Civil War, and his meetings with abolitionist Frederick Douglass. You will also learn about actor John Wilkes Booth, the roots of his hatred toward Lincoln, and the group of people who joined his conspiracy to dismantle the United States government. The museum features artifacts related to the assassination, including the weapons Booth used.
The gun John Wilkes Booth used to change American history was a .44-caliber pistol made by Henry Deringer of Philadelphia. After the assassination, theatre patron William T. Kent found the pistol on the floor of the Presidential Box and turned it over to investigators. After its use as evidence in the conspirators’ trial in May and June of 1865, the War Department stored away the grim relic. The War Department turned the pistol over to the National Park Service. It has been on public display since 1942.
If you would like to reserve for a group of 10 or more, please email groups@fords.org for availability.
For more Museum information and ideas, be sure to Download the Full LGT Museum Guide for FREE
