Ford's Theatre

One of the items on Atley's to-do list for Spring Break was to go to Ford's Theatre, the site of the Lincoln assassination.  He recently finished Lincoln's Last Days and loved it.

Of course, unbeknown to us we picked the anniversary of Lincoln's Death and the day of the annual Emancipation Day Parade to visit the theater and museum. It was a nightmare. The lines were incredible plus it was freezing. The only thing that made Nash and Harley continue to cooperate was the promise of an enormous rootbeer float from Shake Shack when we finished.  Other than that I think they were most impressed with the learning center across from Ford's where they have a tower of books all written about Lincoln.  They also that it was pretty cool being in the actual bedroom where the president died.  They are totally morbid.

Ford's Theater

One of the funnest things about living in Washington D.C. is that there is always something to learn, something to see, or something to do.  Amazingly, Scott and I had never been to Ford's Theater, the spot where Lincoln was assassinated.  The theater and learning center has recently undergone a face lift and the place is amazing.  It is free like most worthwhile D.C. sites and incredibly interesting. Let me take you on a little tour.

Above is the part of the theater that has recently been renovated. It stands adjacent to the original building pictured below. The theater still puts on regular productions. Of course, Lincoln's box has been permanently closed off behind Plexiglas.

Before entering the theater itself you go through a museum (the new part pictured above) filled with artifacts that include the actual gun used to shoot Lincoln, the suit and boots he was wearing the night he was killed, the playbill for the production they were seeing, and even the pillow they laid him on after the shooting. You can still see the bloodstains. 

You then enter the theater itself, where you can get an up close look at Lincoln's box and the chair in which he was sitting.

After John Wilkes Booth shot the president he jumped from the balcony onto the stage breaking his ankle.  Even still, he wasn't found for 12 days.  Lincoln was carried out of the theater and across the street to a boarding house. After you leave the theater you can visit this home where Lincoln died about 8 hours later.

You see the room and the bed where he died.  Then you are taken to a learning center where you can read even more about  Lincoln's life and death.

Upon exiting the building you descend a huge spiral staircase. In the middle of the staircase is a pillar of books that have been written about Lincoln over the years. 

Ford's Theater is next to the wax museum, so we couldn't resist a pose with the Prez we had just learned so much about.  Additionally, near the theater is a beautiful old church built in 1792 by the same architect that built the White House.

If you want to know more about the Lincoln assassination rent The Conspirator.

It just came out on video and it is an excellent movie.