Ford’s Theatre is the historic theater where President Abraham Lincoln was shot
President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated during a performance of Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865. This adventure is a tourist favorite, but it is not hard to avoid the crowds by planning ahead and visiting during the off season. Ford’s Theatre may not be off the beaten path, but it is definitely worth visiting this famous historic site.
After the assassination,Ford’s Theatre was purchased by the federal government and used for various government functions until it fell into disrepair. In 1932, a small Lincoln museum opened in part of the building, but it was not fully restored and put to its current use until the 1960s. The museum exhibits focus on Lincoln’s arrival in Washington, DC after he was elected president, his family (including the tragedy of his son Willie’s death while Lincoln was in office), politics during his presidency, and the Civil War.
Although the National Park Service recommends 30 minutes to visit the museum, I personally think it is hard to see everything in that amount of time and would plan on 45 minutes to an hour. The museum is poorly lit, partly for ambiance and partly to protect the historic artifacts. This can make it hard to see the exhibits or read the accompanying text without being close to the exhibits, which can be difficult when it is crowded.
One exhibit that cannot be missed is the deringer pistol John Wilkes Booth used to assassinate President Lincoln. It is located in the area describing the conspirators and their role in the assassination plot. This room is small and quickly gets crowded. I recommended visiting it first and then checking out the rest of the museum to try to beat the crowds. To locate it, take an immediate right as you exit the stairs at the entrance to the museum, and then take another right under the wooden stairs and balcony framing the entrance to this area. The pistol is on the back side of the display in the middle of the room. You’ll be able to view the original gun and touch a replica to see how small it feels in your hand. The bullets that killed Lincoln are on display at the National Museum of Health and Medicine. The blood-stained pillow that Lincoln rested his head on when he died is in the display case to the left of the stairs near the exit to the theater.
After checking out the museum, exit up the stairs to enter the theater. One each side of the long hallway on the way to the theater is a timeline showing the actions of Abraham Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth on the day of the assassination. In the theater, it is hard to miss the President’s Box decorated with American flags and a portrait of George Washington. This replicates how the box looked the day Lincoln was shot. Visitors are not allowed to enter the box, but you can go up to the balcony to get a closer view. If you are staying for the ranger talk, this part of the tour takes about 45 minutes. Without the talk, the theater can be seen in 20 minutes.
Ford’s Theatre is an active theater producing both historical and modern plays. Therefore the stage may be set up with props from the current production, and theater tours may be unavailable during certain times for rehearsals. Sitting in the audience watching a play with the location of the assassination of President Lincoln at stage left is a surreal and unforgettable experience that you can only get in DC. The theater season runs from September to May and mostly avoids the busy tourist season from March to July.
To avoid the crowds, I recommend visiting Ford’s Theatre during the off-peak months from August to April and trying to book the first tour of the day. If attending a performance at Ford’s Theatre, the museum is usually open to theater goers the hour before the show. This is an ideal time to check out this adventure as it is much less crowded, making it easier to see all the exhibits. You will want to come back separately to see the Petersen House, though, since it is not open during the evenings. When reserving tickets, be sure to select a time that has all the sites you want to see available. The options include the museum, a theater walk through or a theater visit that includes the ranger talk, Petersen House, and the Aftermath exhibits. Museum tickets often sell out, so it is recommended that you reserve them in advance.
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Address
511 10th St NW
Metro Station
- Metro Center (RD, OR, BL, SV)
- Gallery Place-Chinatown (RD, GR, YL)
- Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter (GR, YL)
- Federal Triangle (OR, BL, SV)
Accessibility
Both Ford’s Theatre and the accompanying museum are wheelchair accessible. The tour guides will direct you to the elevators. Accessible seating is also available for performances.
Cost
Free
$3.00 per ticket for advance registration
Hours
Open daily from 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Length of Adventure
1-2 hours
