Ford's Theatre Visits (Various Times)

Daytime visits of the Ford's Theatre National Historic Site are free, but do require a ticket. Tickets can be reserved online through Ticketmaster here. For information on theatre performances, click here.

The site is open for tours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day). Final entry into the museum is at 4 p.m. Final entry into the theatre is at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are currently available through August 31. Tickets for September-December 2010 will be available beginning July 26, 2010. Ford’s Theatre is a working professional theatre, and there will be occasions when visitors will not be able to enter the theatre or museum due to rehearsals, set load-ins and matinee performances. Please see the Closings section below for more details.

Ford's Theatre offers a variety of programming to its visitors. Click the links below for programming schedules.

July Timed Entry Schedule
August Timed Entry Schedule
September Timed Entry Schedule (Available July 26, 2010)
October Timed Entry Schedule (Available July 26, 2010)
November Timed Entry Schedule (Available July 26, 2010)
December Timed Entry Schedule (Available July 26, 2010)

Programming
A visit to Ford’s Theatre typically includes a presentation by either the National Park Service or Ford’s Theatre Society. The National Park Service presentations offer an interpretive talk by a Park Ranger about Ford’s Theatre and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Ford’s Theatre Society programming includes a one-act play titled One Destiny, which tells of the events of April 14, 1865, through the eyes of Harry Ford and Harry Hawk, two men who were present the day of Lincoln’s assassination.

Both programs last approximately 30 minutes. Following the presentation, visitors proceed across the street to the Petersen House (available through late 2010)*. Visitors to the historic site may choose to begin their visit by walking through the museum. Please note that not all entry times include museum entry, so visitors are urged to check the timed entry schedule.

Acoustiguide
Beginning September 13, 2010, Ford's Theatre will offer an audio tour featuring additional stories, character voices, sound effects and historic photos, providing patrons with an in-depth look at the history of Ford’s Theatre. Ford’s Theatre provides both adult and kid (age 8-12) versions. Acoustiguides can be reserved in advance by calling Ticketmaster at (202) 397-SEAT or online when you reserve your timed entry tickets. They can also be reserved in person at the Ford’s Theatre Box Office when you arrive for your visit. Acoustiguides are $5 for individuals, plus applicable Ticketmaster fees.

Day-Of Tickets
The Ford's Theatre Box Office will open at 8:30 a.m. for distribution of free, same-day, timed tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis. Individuals are limited to six tickets per person for same day tickets.

Advance Individual Tickets
Advance Individual Tickets:
Advance tickets are available for visitors wishing to reserve a specific time for their visit. A convenience fee of $1.50 per ticket is charged for advance tickets; beginning September 1, 2010, the convenience fee will be $2.50. No exchanges or refunds. Online and phone ticket sales are handled through Ticketmaster (additional Ticketmaster fees apply). No telephone orders will be accepted for single ticket orders through the Ford’s Theatre Box Office.

To reserve individual advance tickets, click here or call (202) 397-SEAT. Visitors are urged to consult the timed entry schedule before making a reservation to ensure the type of presentation they desire.

Advance Group tickets:
Groups of 20 or more can reserve advance tickets by calling the group sales office at Ford’s Theatre or by reserving tickets online through Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster fees will apply). Group tickets are available at a discounted convenience fee of $1.25 per ticket. Payment is due in full at time of reservation.

Click here to buy advance group tickets or call (202) 638-2367 or (800) 899-2367.

Introduction to Field Trips at Ford’s [PDF]
Ford’s Theatre and Target have teamed up to provide “Target Field Trips to Ford’s Theatre,” a program that provides free bus transportation for qualifying D.C.-metro area schools to visit Ford’s Theatre. To learn more about the program and how your school might qualify please contact education@fords.org or call (202) 638-2941 ext. 567.

Target Logo
"Target Field Trips to Ford’s Theatre" Sponsored by Target Corporation

 

Closings:
Ford’s Theatre is a working professional theatre, and there will be occasions when visitors will not be able to enter the theatre or museum due to rehearsals, set load-ins and matinee performances. Additionally, there may be occasions when the theatre or museum will need to close unexpectedly. Management will take precaution to avoid these situations, but in the event of an unscheduled closing, every effort will be made to exchange those tickets for a different time. Should no exchange be reasonably possible, a refund will be issued in the same method of your payment; cash will be issued as a check. The Ticketmaster service charges will not be refunded. Every effort will be made to announce the schedule adjustments on the website and at the venue.

Hours:
The Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site is open year-round, including weekends and holidays. The site is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Additionally, if the Federal Government should close due to inclement weather, the site may close as well.

The lobby to the theatre opens at 8:30 a.m. every morning and entry to the site begins at 9 a.m. Final entry into the museum is 4 p.m., final entry into the theatre is at 4:30 p.m., and final entry into the Petersen House is at 5 p.m. Following a visit to the museum, guests have approximately 15 minutes to take photographs and be seated in the theatre. When scheduled, a presentation, given by either the National Park Service or Ford’s Theatre Society, will last about 30 minutes. After the presentation, the visitors will exit the building through the main theatre doors and will be directed across the street to the Petersen House (available through late 2010)*. There will be no reentry to the theatre or museum after the presentation.

Tour operators are encouraged to bring their groups early to visit the new gift shop located in the lobby.

For questions on the new timed entry visitation at Ford's Theatre, please email visit@fords.org.

*Beginning in late 2010, the National Park Service (NPS) will begin a major rehabilitative project on the Petersen House (the House where President Lincoln Died), resulting in a temporary closure of the house. During this closure, patrons will not be able to visit the house.

Ford’s Theatre Gift Shop
The Ford’s Theatre Gift Shop carries books, apparel and memorabilia. The shop is open during the day and before performances. You can also shop online.

Dates

  • Thursday, April 1, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, April 2, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, April 4, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, April 5, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, April 6, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, April 7, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, April 8, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, April 9, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, April 10, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, April 11, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, April 12, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, April 13, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, April 14, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, April 15, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, April 16, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, April 17, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, April 18, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, April 19, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, April 20, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, April 21, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, April 22, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, April 23, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, April 24, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, April 25, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, April 26, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, April 27, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, April 28, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, April 29, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, April 30, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, May 1, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, May 2, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, May 3, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, May 4, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, May 5, 2010 (All day)
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  • Sunday, May 9, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, May 10, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, May 11, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, May 12, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, May 13, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, May 14, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, May 15, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, May 16, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, May 17, 2010 (All day)
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  • Wednesday, May 19, 2010 (All day)
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  • Friday, May 21, 2010 (All day)
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  • Sunday, May 23, 2010 (All day)
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  • Friday, May 28, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, May 29, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, May 30, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, May 31, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, June 1, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, June 2, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, June 3, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, June 4, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, June 5, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, June 7, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, June 8, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, June 9, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, June 10, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, June 11, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, June 13, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, June 14, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, June 15, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, June 16, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, June 17, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, June 18, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, June 19, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, June 20, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, June 21, 2010 (All day)
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  • Friday, June 25, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, June 26, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, June 27, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, June 28, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, June 29, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, June 30, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, July 1, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, July 2, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, July 3, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, July 4, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, July 5, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, July 6, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, July 7, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, July 8, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, July 9, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, July 12, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, July 13, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, July 14, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, July 15, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, July 16, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, July 17, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, July 18, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, July 19, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, July 20, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, July 21, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, July 22, 2010 (All day)
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  • Monday, July 26, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, July 27, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, July 28, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, July 29, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, July 31, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, August 1, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, August 2, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, August 3, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, August 4, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, August 5, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, August 6, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, August 7, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, August 8, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, August 9, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, August 10, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, August 11, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, August 12, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, August 13, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, August 14, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, August 15, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, August 16, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, August 17, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, August 18, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, August 19, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, August 20, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, August 21, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, August 22, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, August 23, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, August 24, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, August 25, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, August 27, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, August 28, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, August 29, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, August 30, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, August 31, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, September 1, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, September 2, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, September 3, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, September 4, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, September 5, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, September 6, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, September 7, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, September 8, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, September 9, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, September 10, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, September 11, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, September 12, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, September 13, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, September 14, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, September 15, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, September 16, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, September 17, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, September 18, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, September 19, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, September 20, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, September 21, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, September 22, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, September 23, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, September 24, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, September 25, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, September 26, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, September 27, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, September 28, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, September 29, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, September 30, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, October 1, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, October 2, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, October 3, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, October 4, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, October 5, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, October 6, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, October 7, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, October 8, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, October 9, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, October 10, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, October 11, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, October 12, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, October 13, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, October 14, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, October 15, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, October 16, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, October 17, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, October 18, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, October 19, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, October 20, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, October 21, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, October 22, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, October 23, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, October 24, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, October 25, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, October 26, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, October 27, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, October 28, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, October 29, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, October 30, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, October 31, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, November 1, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, November 2, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, November 3, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, November 4, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, November 5, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, November 6, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, November 7, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, November 8, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, November 9, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, November 10, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, November 11, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, November 12, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, November 13, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, November 14, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, November 15, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, November 16, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, November 17, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, November 18, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, November 19, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, November 20, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, November 21, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, November 22, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, November 23, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, November 24, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, November 26, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, November 27, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, November 28, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, November 29, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, November 30, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, December 1, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, December 2, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, December 3, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, December 4, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, December 5, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, December 6, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, December 7, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, December 8, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, December 9, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, December 10, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, December 11, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, December 12, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, December 13, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, December 14, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, December 15, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, December 16, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, December 17, 2010 (All day)
  • Saturday, December 18, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, December 19, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, December 20, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, December 21, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, December 22, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, December 23, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, December 24, 2010 (All day)
  • Sunday, December 26, 2010 (All day)
  • Monday, December 27, 2010 (All day)
  • Tuesday, December 28, 2010 (All day)
  • Wednesday, December 29, 2010 (All day)
  • Thursday, December 30, 2010 (All day)
  • Friday, December 31, 2010 (All day)