Ford's Theatre National Historic Site stands at 511 10th Street NW in Washington, D.C., in the Penn Quarter, and preserves the place where the Civil War presidency ended. The theatre was built by John T. Ford and opened in 1863 after an earlier building on the site burned. On the night of April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln attended a performance of the comedy Our American Cousin. During the third act, the actor John Wilkes Booth entered the presidential box and shot Lincoln in the head, then leapt to the stage and escaped the city. Doctors carried the president across 10th Street to a boarding house owned by William Petersen, where he died at 7:22 a.m. on April 15, 1865. The federal government took over the building soon afterward and ended its use as a theatre. The War Department used it as offices and a records depository, and in 1893 part of the interior collapsed, killing 22 clerks. The building later served as a Lincoln museum, and the National Park Service led a restoration that returned it to a working theatre in 1968. The restored auditorium recreates the 1865 interior, including the decorated presidential box draped with flags. The Petersen House has been furnished to the period, and visitors walk through the narrow rooms, including the small back bedroom where Lincoln died. The museum in the theatre's lower level presents the assassination chronologically, with artifacts such as the Deringer pistol used by Booth and items connected to the manhunt and conspiracy trial. The Center for Education and Leadership, opened across the street in 2012, adds exhibits on Lincoln's legacy and the aftermath, and a tower of books about Lincoln rises through the building. The interpretation is part rangers' talk and part exhibit, with a ranger usually giving a short talk inside the historic theatre. Ford's remains a working theatre run by the Ford's Theatre Society, so matinee and evening performances sometimes limit access to the auditorium. The complex is compact, and the main elements can be seen in roughly 90 minutes to two hours.
| Admission | Timed tickets about $4-$5 USD each including the online service fee (fords.org, +1-202-347-4833); free for the Petersen House portion with the same ticket |
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| Hours | Typically daily 9am-4:30pm; closed December 25; evening performances may close the theatre to tours; verify at fords.org |
| Address | 511 10th St NW, Washington, DC 20004 |
Why it matters
Ford's Theatre is where President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, five days after Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Lincoln died the next morning in the Petersen House across the street, the first assassination of a U.S. president.
Location
511 10th St NW, Washington, DC 20004
38.8967, -77.0258 View on map
Highlights
- Historic auditorium restored to its 1865 appearance, including the flag-draped presidential box
- Petersen House back bedroom where Lincoln died on April 15, 1865
- Museum displays on the assassination and manhunt, including Booth's Deringer pistol
- Ranger talk inside the theatre on the events of April 14, 1865
- Center for Education and Leadership with its tower of books about Lincoln
Tips for visiting
- Reserve timed tickets online at fords.org; walk-up availability is limited, especially in spring and summer.
- Start in the museum in the theatre's lower level, then see the auditorium, then cross to the Petersen House.
- Check the performance calendar; matinees and rehearsals can close the auditorium to tours.
- Visit early in the day, when lines at security are shortest.
- Allow 90 minutes to two hours for the theatre, museum, house and Center for Education and Leadership.
When to visit
Weekday mornings outside spring break and summer are the quietest. Winter visits tend to have shorter waits.
Accessibility
The theatre, museum and Center for Education and Leadership are accessible by elevator and ramp. The historic Petersen House has stairs and limited access to some rooms, so ask staff about accessible alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a visit to Ford's Theatre take?
Most visitors need about 90 minutes to two hours to see the museum, theatre, Petersen House and the Center for Education and Leadership.
Is a ticket required to visit?
Yes. Entry is by timed ticket, available through fords.org for a small fee per person. Same-day tickets may be available at the box office but sell out in busy seasons.
Is it suitable for children?
Older children with an interest in history often engage with the exhibits, though the subject is an assassination and the content may be sombre for young children.
Is the site English-language friendly?
Yes. All exhibits, ranger talks and signage are in English, and the site offers some printed materials in other languages; check fords.org for current options.