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Ford's Theatre Society
Ford's Theatre explores the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln and celebrates the American experience through theatre and education.
During the Civil War, Ford's Theatre was one of Washington's top entertainment venues, giving Washingtonians a much-needed break from the realities of war. President Lincoln, who loved theatre, opera and Shakespeare, visited Ford's Theatre on at least 10 formal occasions.
On April 14, 1865, Lincoln and his wife decided to visit the theatre to see the comedy Our American Cousin. John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer, snuck into the President's Box and shot Lincoln with a single-shot Deringer pistol. Booth fled into the night, and Lincoln died the next morning in the Petersen House, a boarding house located just across the street from the theatre.
'Some think I do wrong to go to the opera and the theatre; but it rests me. I love to be alone, and yet be with the people.' -Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln's assassination shocked the nation, and Ford's Theatre remained closed for more than 100 years.
In 1968, Ford's Theatre officially reopened as a national historic site and theatre producing live performances. Today, Ford's offers inspiring theatrical productions, interactive museum exhibits and engaging education programs. Here, you can immerse yourself in America's past while finding meaningful connections to our world today.
