On April 14, 1865, after John Wilkes Booth shot President Lincoln, Lincoln was carried out of the theatre and into a boarding house across the street. The celebratory night quickly turned into an overnight vigil as people gathered outside the house. The doctor at Lincoln's bedside updated the crowd each hour on the president's condition. His final update came at 7:22 a.m. on April 15, 1865: the president had died. 

During the president’s final hours, he was surrounded by his wife, Mary, and various U.S. government officials. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton turned one of the rooms into an interrogation area, interviewing witnesses about what happened inside the theatre.

tips for your visit

• The Petersen House is self-guided.
• A visit takes ~20 minutes.
• From March-July, lines are long but move quickly.
• The Petersen House is included in a Historic Site ticket.
• The Petersen House will be closed winter of 2018 for preservation work.