Ford's Theatre

Ford's Theatre was originally constructed in 1863 by John T. Ford after a fire destroyed his previous venue. The building was converted from a former Baptist church into a premier entertainment destination in Washington, D.C., quickly becoming a favorite spot for high society and government officials, including President Abraham Lincoln, who attended several performances there during the Civil War. Its architecture was considered state-of-the-art for the mid-19th century, featuring a spacious auditorium and elegant private boxes. On the night of April 14, 1865, the theatre became the site of one of the most tragic events in American history when John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Lincoln during a performance of 'Our American Cousin'. Following the assassination, the federal government seized the building and prohibited its use as a place of public amusement. For decades, it served as a warehouse and office space for the War Department, and it even suffered a catastrophic floor collapse in 1893 that killed 22 government employees. The theatre underwent a massive restoration effort in the 1960s to return it to its 1865 appearance. It reopened in 1968 as a working theatre and a National Historic Site operated by the National Park Service. Today, it stands as a living tribute to Lincoln's legacy, functioning as both a world-class museum and a vibrant stage for professional theatrical productions that explore the American experience.