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.
10 American Orators Who Aren’t Abraham Lincoln
Throughout history many Americans have used oratory as a way to drive civic change. Read on to discover 10 change-makers whom you might not know about yet.
Lucy Lambert Hale: The “It Girl” of 1865
When John Wilkes Booth was captured, a photo of Lucy Hale was found on his person. But it turns out, that Lucy Hale had captured more hearts in Washington than Booth’s!
Why is a George Washington Portrait on the Ford’s Theatre Presidential Box?
One of the most commonly asked questions we hear is, “Why is there a portrait of George Washington decorating the Presidential Box?” Read on to find out more!
Teaching and Learning Reconstruction
In our modern political climate, how should a program about Reconstruction and Civil War Memory adapt to meet the needs of teachers and museum educators? Explore what we've learned by running The Seat of War and Peace, a Ford’s Theatre summer program for teachers.
I've Got a Secret: Evaluating Historic Truth
In 1956, Samuel J. Seymour appeared on the hit T.V. show “I’ve Got A Secret,” claiming to be the last living witness to Abraham Lincoln’s assassination in 1865. But, how true is his story?
Blog Search
Mobile Menu

Visit Us Visit Us
Call Us
- General (202) 347-4833
- Tickets (888) 616-0270
- Membership (202) 434-9545
- Group Sales (202) 638-2367
Saved For Later
Explore more things to save while you plan your visit.
Saved!
Use the toolbar at the top of the site to access your saved content any time.