The Ford's Theatre National Historic Site, including the Museum, Theatre, Petersen House and Center for Education and Leadership, will be closed on the following dates: June 2, 2013 and June 5, 2013.

Civil War 150

At the heart of the Washington, D.C., experience, Ford’s Theatre uses the lens of Lincoln’s life and presidency to offer visitors new and surprising ways of exploring our country’s history and its relationship to the America of today. From 2011 to 2015, Ford’s Theatre will offer an array of programming to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Visitors can experience moving, dynamic theatrical productions, passionate and compelling interpretation, and a rich collection of artifacts.

The Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site is also open for daytime visits. For information on visiting the site, click here.

Events

One DestinyOne Destiny
Offered Spring and Summer
Learn about Lincoln’s assassination from two men who were there. Actor Harry Hawk and Ford’s Theatre co-owner Harry Ford revisit the events of April 14, 1865. As they reconstruct the sequence of events, they grapple with the question: Could John Wilkes Booth have been stopped? This 30-minute presentation explores the key facts of the assassination while capturing the emotions of that fateful night.

History on Foot: Detective McDevittHistory on Foot: Detective McDevitt
Offered March through October
On the night of April 14, 1865, Detective James McDevitt was on duty at the Washington Metropolitan Police headquarters, a half-block from Ford’s Theatre. Just before 10:30, frantic witnesses rushed in with horrifying news: President Lincoln had been shot at the theatre. Join Detective McDevitt on a walking tour of downtown Washington as he revisits the sites and reexamines the clues from the investigation into the Lincoln Assassination Conspiracy.

Distance-Learning Opportunities
Can’t come to Ford’s? Let Ford’s come to you! You and your group can now experience Ford’s Theatre using IP-based video conferencing. We currently offer two distance-learning programs: a live Virtual Field Trip led by members of our education team and Park Rangers; and Virtual Investigation: Detective McDevitt, led by an actor playing one of the detectives on duty the night of the assassination.

 

Ford's Theatre Center for Education and LeadershipCenter for Education and Leadership
The new Center explores the immediate aftermath of the assassination and the evolution of the Lincoln legacy. Featured exhibits showcase funereal artifacts from the National Park Service collection never before displayed for public viewing; a recreation of the Maryland tobacco barn wherein John Wilkes Booth was ultimately captured and killed; and a Lincoln Memorial theatre exploring Lincoln’s power to effect social change.

 

Civil War 150 Blog Posts

Additional Resources