Why don’t you ever see a reenactment of Lincoln’s assassination at Ford’s Theatre? We explore the reasons.
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Should Ford’s Display a Murder Weapon?
In 1931, the U.S. Army Adjutant General denied permission to display John Wilkes Booth’s deringer pistol at a new museum at Ford’s Theatre. Today the gun is on display—but with a new sign that asks visitors to consider the ethics of displaying a murder weapon.
Lincoln’s Washington: Places Lincoln Visited that Exist Today
You may be surprised to learn that multiple places within the District of Columbia that Lincoln visited are still in existence 155 years later. Which of these have you heard about or visited yourself?
Digital History Activity: Historical Document Transcription and Research for Remembering Lincoln
Looking for something history-based to do while at home during the COVID-19 outbreak? Find out how you can enhance the Remembering Lincoln website collection or even add more primary sources.
Searching for Truth in the Garden: Gonzaga College High School’s History with Slavery
Gonzaga College High School history teacher Ed Donnellan discusses the research origins and findings now on display in the special exhibit Searching for Truth in the Garden: Gonzaga College High School’s History with Slavery.
Washington’s Civil War Illuminations and a Modern-Day Win
Euphoria and relief engulfed Washington City following Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender to United States General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. When Lee signed the surrender documents, the immediate threat to Washington was over. The Civil War officially ended just over a month later. The mood this struck must have been similar to when sports fans watched Nationals’s second basemen, Howie Kendrick, hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning of Game 7 of the 2019 World Series to put the Nationals ahead for good. The game wasn’t officially over, but victory was soon to come. It was time to party.
Detective McDevitt: Ford’s Celebrates Its 1000th Tour
Since our History on Foot tours began in 2008, more than 28,500 patrons have patrolled the streets of downtown D.C. as deputies with Detective James A. McDevitt as their guide. In September 2019, our tour celebrated 1,000 performances!
Meet Anna Surratt, Fanny Seward and other Young Adults Affected by the Lincoln Assassination
A new interactive museum feature will let visitors learn about the Lincoln assassination through the eyes of four real people who lived through it.
Interpretive Planning at Ford's Theatre
Ford’s Theatre Society and the National Park Service worked together to create an interpretive plan, defining how we interpret history at Ford’s Theatre. Read on to learn how the interpretive plan came about and what it includes.
Which Knife Did John Wilkes Booth Use? Disentangling the Lincoln Assassination Knives
Questions abound about which knife John Wilkes Booth used to stab Major Henry Rathbone after he assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. Read on to see what evidence exists in the curatorial files and what our conclusion is.
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