Government Shutdown Update

During the government shutdown, the Aftermath Exhibits in the Center for Education and Leadership will be open for daytime visitation. The historic site (theatre, museum, Petersen House) will be closed for daytime visitation. Performances of "Twelve Angry Men" will go on as scheduled.

Theatre

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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.

Up Next

Twelve Angry Men

Behind closed doors, tensions run high as a lone juror argues the innocence of a teenager accused of murder. In this provocatively resonant American drama, 12 jurors from all strata of society revisit the evidence, debate the issue of reasonable doubt and confront each other's personal biases.

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