Ford’s Theatre 🇺🇸

When you visit Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., you step directly into a monumental turning point in American history. Originally constructed in 1833 as a church before John T. Ford renovated it into a theater, this venue gained national significance on April 14, 1865.

That evening, President Abraham Lincoln was mortally wounded in the presidential box by John Wilkes Booth during a performance of Our American Cousin. Today, the theater is preserved alongside the nearby Petersen House as a National Historic Site administered by the National Park Service, while the Ford's Theatre Society oversees theatrical programming. During your visit, you can view the historic theater, where the presidential box is never occupied.

Beneath the theater, the Ford's Theatre Museum displays powerful artifacts, including the derringer pistol used by Booth, Booth's diary, the original box door, Lincoln's coat, and the blood-stained pillow from his deathbed. Cross the street to the Petersen House to see the rooms furnished as they were on the day Lincoln died. You will also discover exhibits detailing Lincoln's presidency, his cabinet, Civil War milestones, and the building's past.

What to see at Ford's Theatre

• The historic presidential box, which is never occupied
• The derringer pistol used in the assassination and John Wilkes Booth's diary
• The blood-stained pillow from Lincoln's deathbed inside the museum
• The Petersen House across the street, furnished as it was on the day Lincoln died
• Exhibits on Lincoln's presidency, Civil War milestones, and the venue's history

Visiting tips

Be sure to walk across the street to the Petersen House to view the room where President Lincoln died, furnished as it was on that day.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Ford's Theatre is easy to reach on Washington, D.C.’s public transport. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Washington, D.C. travel guide.