February 12, 2018 marks 50 years since Ford’s Theatre reopened and began presenting plays to honor Lincoln’s love of the performing arts. Here are a few shows that help us remember our past.
What Should We Teach about Thomas Jefferson?
Arts Education Coordinator at Ford’s Theatre Jennie Berman Eng discusses coming to terms with Thomas Jefferson's complicated legacy and how teachers might address this in the classroom.
Adding Historical Voices to the Ford's Theatre Site: Prototyping Sprint 1, Round 2
On December 19, 2017, visitors to the Ford’s campus heard from people who were witnesses to the Lincoln assassination events of 1865. Visitors found four iPads on music stands around the campus featuring audio of our staff members reading first-person accounts from five people from the time. Read about our second round of ideas testing for our latest prototyping project.
Meet the Characters of “Jefferson’s Garden” by Timberlake Wertenbaker
Meet the fictitious and historically based characters found in Timberlake Wertenbaker’s play “Jefferson’s Garden.” The Ford’s Theatre production plays to February 8, 2018.
Presenting Historical Fiction at Historic Ford's Theatre
At Ford’s Theatre, we often face an interesting dilemma when presenting plays and musicals that have ties to history. Because Ford’s is inextricably tied to our national history with the assassination of Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865, many in expect any aspect of American history portrayed on our stage to be 100 percent truthful to the facts. Patrick Pearson discusses.
Bringing Mary Lincoln to Life at Ford’s Theatre
Since 2000, many visitors to Ford’s Theatre have stepped back in time with National Park Service volunteer Liz Hogan, who portrays First Lady Mary Lincoln and, sometimes, Mary Lincoln’s confidante Elizabeth Dixon. Hogan seeks to counter some of the many pervasive myths about Lincoln’s First Lady. Learn about how Hogan prepared for this historical role and how visitors react.
Taking It to the Streets: Prototyping Sprint 1, Round 1
On a semi-cold Tuesday, Ford’s Theatre staff and evaluator Kate Haley Goldman spent the day on the street between the Petersen House and Ford’s Theatre, asking visitors for their opinions of two on-site prototypes that might enhance the visitor’s understanding of the Lincoln assassination and its aftermath. Read on to see what we learned from that testing.
Ford’s Theatre: The Perfect Field Trip for New and Veteran Teachers
Teaching in Washington, D.C., affords teachers and students an abundance of real-life educational experiences; however, these opportunities require significant planning and organization from teachers. Ford’s Theatre makes the logistics easy, and students will remember the day for a lifetime.
A Knack for Presenting Lincoln's Story on Stage
Since reopening in 1968, Ford's Theatre has remained a working theatre that presents performances that entertain, inspire empathy and share insights into historical events and individuals like Lincoln himself. See more about the history we showcase on our stage.
Learning What Visitors Want: A Shifted Plan and Prototyping in the Museum
How museum visitors interact with site content is constantly changing. We initially wanted to enhance our museum storytelling in one way, but found other options could be more effective and viable. Learn more about our shift from creating an experience on mobile devices to developing prototypes to test other types of technology.
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.