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Go inside the historic theatre and learn about the night of the assassination.

On the night of April 14, 1865, actor and Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth sneaked into the Presidential Box and shot President Abraham Lincoln. Today, the theatre looks very much the way it did that fateful night. The President's Box is decorated with an American flag and a portrait of President George Washington, just as it was in 1865.

In the theatre, we offer three types of programming exploring the events of the assassination.

TIPS FOR YOUR VISIT
  • A theatre visit takes ~30-45 minutes.
  • The interior of the President’s Box is closed to the public to protect it from damage.
  • The theatre is sometimes unavailable. Check the date and times for tickets that include entry to the theatre.

Virtual Tour of Ford's Theatre

Go on a virtual tour of Ford’s Theatre. See inside the Presidential Box and learn more about the events of April 14, 1865.

Explore

Theatre Offerings

Theatre offerings vary based on time of entry.

History Talk

Offered year-round

Listen to a National Park Service Ranger cover the events of the assassination.

Theatre Walkthrough

Offered year-round

See the theatre on a self-guided tour and look at the President's Box from the balcony.

One Destiny Play

Spring-Summer

See a 30-minute play that tells the story of the assassination through the eyes of the audience in the theatre that night. Tickets are an additional $5.

Plan Your Visit

Tips to help you plan your visit.

Now Playing

Fences

Set in segregated Pittsburgh in the 1950s, August Wilson's "Fences" depicts the life of Troy Maxson, a former Negro League baseball star now scraping by as a sanitation worker. A towering figure facing thwarted aspirations, Troy attempts to assert control in his life through his relationships with his wife and son. But even as he takes responsibility for their safety and well-being, he betrays them each in ways that will forever alter their lives.

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