A woman stands in the Ford’s Theatre balcony near the Presidential Box leading a guided tour for seven people who are seated.
Photo by Scott Suchman.

Historic Site Visit Guidelines

Open Daily; Advance Tickets Recommended

We have daily timed-entry every half hour from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., seven days a week. Please note that some tickets do not include access to the historic theatre or the museum during rehearsal or production periods.

Advance tickets are recommended: We charge a $5 convenience fee for each ticket reserved in advance ($4.50 for groups of 20 or more). All patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket.

Same-Day Tickets: A limited number of free same-day tickets are available at the Ford’s Theatre Box Office beginning at 8:30 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Individuals are limited to six tickets per person for same-day tickets. During the busy tourist season (March-June), we often run out of same-day tickets by 9 a.m.

Arrival Time: Entry lines for ticket holders begin outside. We suggest arriving no more than 10 minutes in advance.

Dress for the weather: Because entry lines are outside regardless of season, check the weather before you arrive and dress for comfort.

Audio Guides: Acoustiguide audio tours offer additional historical content during your visit and are available for $5 in adult and youth (ages 7–11) versions. Devices are available only for timed entries that include the museum. If you purchased an audio tour in advance, please pick up your device at the Box Office in the main lobby before joining the entry line outside.

Travel light: Ford’s Theatre does not have a coat check. For safety reasons, we do not permit luggage and oversized bags on site, nor do we offer storage locations.

Food and Drink: Ford’s Theatre permits only bottled water to be carried and consumed in our museum, theatre and exhibit spaces.

Strollers: Strollers have access to the museum, theatre and Aftermath Exhibits, but are not permitted inside the Petersen House.

Visitors in Costume: Ford’s Theatre does not permit third-party representation of historic figures in period clothing on site.

Weapons of any type are banned from the premises. The following items are also NOT PERMITTED at Ford’s Theatre.

  • tripods
  • monopods
  • guns
  • weapons
  • toy weapons
  • laser pointers
  • knives
  • pen knives
  • pets
  • food and drinks (bottled water is allowed)
  • scissors
  • aerosol cans, including pepper spray and Mace
  • tools
  • smoking
  • placards, signs or banners