A street view of the lobby and the historic Ford’s Theatre. The lobby, on the left, is a modern building with large glass windows and a large sign reading “Ford’s Theatre.” The historic theatre, to the right, is a three-story brick building with a series of arched entrances.
Photo Ⓒ Maxwell MacKenzie.

Virtual Field Trips

Our virtual field trips bring the story of President Lincoln’s assassination and the world of Civil War Washington into your classrooms with your choice of three award winning programs. Using live videoconferencing, students and history lovers of all ages engage with primary source images and Ford’s Theatre Education staff in our interactive Virtual Field Trips.  

These sessions allow for maximum flexibility around scheduling, classroom set-up and learning needs. All programs are appropriate for students and life-long learners. Specific grade-level recommendations are included with each program. 

Public Virtual Field Trips are offered as webinars at set dates at times. Perfect for home schools, Girl Scouts, classrooms, and individual learners, these sessions connect students across the country to honor the life, death and legacy of President Abraham Lincoln.

Book a Virtual Field Trip

An actor stands dressed as an 1860s detective, holding a notepad. Behind him on a brick wall is posted a reward poster for the capture of Lincoln's assassin.
Eric M. Messner as Detective James McDevitt in Investigation: Detective McDevitt. Photo by Gary Erskine.

Virtual Investigation: Detective McDevitt

Grades: 5+ | Length: 60 Minutes | $50 – $100

Assist Detective James McDevitt as he investigates the assassination of President Lincoln. Revisit sites and reexamine clues from April 14, 1865. In this interactive, theatrical program, participants will interact with historical characters portrayed by an actor, examine primary source images and hear witness statements to determine who is guilty of this heinous crime. Regular Price: $100 per session. Public School Teacher Price: $50 per session.

Black and white photograph of Ford's Theatre with black ribbon draped from the windows.
Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Ford’s Theatre and the Lincoln Assassination

Grades: 5+ | Length: 60 Minutes | Free

Learn the story of Lincoln’s assassination from the place where it happened. Explore the world of Civil War Washington, D.C., the events leading up to the night of the assassination and consider its lasting legacies. During this program, participants will look closely at historical and contemporary images including maps, photographs and illustrations. This program is effective for students looking for an introduction to the Lincoln assassination story. 

Black and white image of Washington DC while the Capitol dome was still under construction.
Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Exploring Lincoln in Washington

Grades: 3+ | Length: 60 Minutes | Free

Explore what Washington, D.C. was like for President Lincoln and how the city has grown and changed over the last 150+ years. Examine the U.S. Capitol, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and Ford’s Theatre. In this interactive program, participants will look closely at historic and contemporary images of Washington D.C. including maps, photographs and illustrations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What platform do you use?

A: We are flexible. We are happy to host your virtual field trip on Zoom, or you can invite us into your virtual classroom in whatever platform you use (Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, WebEx, etc.). Our public virtual field trips are hosted on Zoom.

Q: Is a virtual field trip interactive?

A: Yes! We use a combination of historical and contemporary images and live, human interaction. We encourage participants to ask questions and respond to what they see.

Q: How long is the virtual field trip?

A: Our virtual field trips tend to last 40 to 60 minutes and always include time for questions.

Q: For what ages is the virtual field trip appropriate?

A: We include a grade-level recommendation with each program description. Private sessions can be easily adapted and customized to suit different age groups. We are pleased to serve students in second grade all the way up through life-long learners in retirement communities.

Q: Is there a maximum number of participants in a virtual field trip?

A: Our maximum capacity is 100 active participants.

Q: Do you do virtual field trips for groups that are not students or teachers or other non-education groups?

A: Yes! We are happy to serve history-lovers and private groups. Individuals are welcome to register for any of our public virtual field trips. Groups may request a private session. We do encourage private groups to make a $100 donation to Ford’s Theatre Society to support these distance learning and education programs.

Q: What does a Virtual Field Trip Cost?

A: Virtual Investigation: Detective McDevitt is $100 per session. Our other virtual field trips are FREE for students, teachers, and seniors. Other groups that book a private session are encouraged to make a donation to Ford’s Theatre Society to support these distance learning and education programs.

Q: Is there a minimum number of participants for a virtual field trip?

A: Individuals and learning pods of fewer than eight people are encouraged to join us for one of our public virtual field trips. You can always email us with specific questions at [email protected]

Q: Is a virtual field trip accessible?

A: Automatic closed captions are enabled for all virtual field trips hosted by Ford’s. Private sessions can be customized to accommodate a variety of needs. For specific requests, additional accommodations or questions, please contact us at [email protected] or [email protected]. We are committed to ensuring learners of all abilities can experience the programs Ford’s Education has to offer.