FORD'S THEATRE

511 10th St. NW
Washington 20004
202/426-6924
fax 202/426-1845

Ford’s Theater is the site of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. The theater is still in operation today and has a basement museum dedicated to Lincoln.

On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth entered the Presidential box at Ford’s Theater and assassinated President Lincoln. Ford’s Theater has been an infamous part of American history ever since.

The theater still runs a full program of events that includes an extremely popular rendition of ‘A Christmas Carol", but many people visit the theater just to experience a part of history. Visitors can see the shrouded Presidential Box as well as the rest of the fully restored theater. In the basement museum, artifacts related to the assassination are on display. Exhibits include the pistol Booth used to shoot Lincoln and the clothes Lincoln was wearing at the time.

Self-guided tours of the theater are available 9-5 daily, except when the theater has matinees or rehearsals. (usually Thurs. and weekends). The basement museum is still open at these times.

If you have a particular interest in the Lincoln assassination, the basement of Ford's Theater should be on your list of sites to see. If not, save it for next time. The one-room museum is interesting, but not worth precious touring time.

Those who come to the museum might want to go across the street to Peterson House, where Lincoln actually died.

The Hard Rock Cafe is only a couple of steps away if you're getting hungry.  

Hours:
Daily 10:00am- 5:00pm

Admission:
Free

Metro: 
Metro Center (Red, Orange, Blue lines)

Giftshop? 
Yes

Parking:
On street