Digital Programs
Discover
Online Resources for Home Learning
Looking for activities to do at home? See what Ford’s Theatre has to offer for learners of all ages.
Fords Theatre
Where Abraham Lincoln’s legacy lives.
The site of Lincoln’s assassination, Ford’s Theatre offers museum exhibits, live theatre and immersive learning.
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Deringer
Featured Artifact
In one shot, a monumental impact on history.
Lincoln’s Funeral
Investigating History
Follow the train from Washington to Springfield.
Remembering Lincoln
Primary Sources
Personal responses to the assassination.
Ford’s Theatre: 1865 to Today
Investigating History
A site of tragedy becomes a living memorial.
Historic Site Visit
Our site is closed, but you can still visit virtually to learn about Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.
Museum
Virtually explore some of the rare artifacts related to the assassination.
Theatre
See a fly-through of the theatre where history happened.
Petersen House
View a virtual exhibit exploring the history of the Petersen House. Or download a virtual reality experience with first-person accounts from those who witnessed Lincoln’s final hours.
Aftermath Exhibits
Virtually explore some of the artifacts related to Lincoln’s funeral train and the trial of the conspirators.
Uncover the History
Lincoln's Assassination
Explore These Topics
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The Fateful Day
President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865. Learn how and why it happened, and see the event’s lasting impact on our nation.
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An Overnight Vigil
As Lincoln lay dying in a back bedroom of a small Washington boarding house, the home became the hub of the U.S. government. What happened in the Petersen House the night of April 14, 1865?
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The Investigation
After John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln, Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton and other investigators interviewed eyewitnesses. Find out what they learned and how deep the conspiracy went.
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Behind the Scenes
Take a glimpse behind the curtain of Ford’s Theatre
Don’t Shoot!: The Journey of Booth’s Deringer Pistol
From The Blog
The photograph here may be the only one showing someone pointing the actual deringer pistol that Booth used—not something to be recommended from the standpoint…
Deringer
Artifact
John Wilkes Booth killed Lincoln with this small, single-shot pistol. Why would Booth use a weapon with only one bullet?
Lincoln’s Clothes
Artifact
What did Lincoln wear to Ford’s Theatre the night John Wilkes Booth murdered him? See his clothes, including the special message sewn inside his overcoat…
Then vs. Now: Exploring the Presidential Box
From The Blog
Expanded Programs
Distance Learning
Travel back in time to investigate the Lincoln assassination – via video-conference. Connect with our expert educators and scholars or a National Park Service Ranger to ask questions about Lincoln’s life and legacy. Live, interactive programs available by request.
