Plan Your Visit

Welcome to Ford's Theatre and the House Where Lincoln Died
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was assassinated at Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865. The mortally wounded president was carried across the street to Petersen's boarding house. Lincoln never regained consciousness and died in a back bedroom of the boarding house the next morning at 7:22 a.m.

Ford's Theatre National Historic Site opened the restored theatre to the public in 1968. Today, the National Park Service preserves and interprets a museum about the assassination, the theatre, and the Petersen House. The building also operates as a working theatre through a partnership with the Ford's Theatre Society.

Ford's Theatre National Historic Site is a unit of the National Mall and Memorial Parks.

 

Maps and Directions
Visit our Directions page to find your way here by public transportation, bicycle, car, or air. Parking in the area is very limited. Find a map on our Maps page.

Use the National Mall and Memorial Parks wayfinding system of maps to navigate your way to and around the National Mall.

 

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Hours and Seasons
Ford's Theatre National Historic Site is open every day except for Thanksgiving Day and December 25. Tickets are required for entry to the museum, theatre, and Petersen House. Tickets are available for free at the theatre's Box Office on the day of your visit. Tickets can also be reserved in advance for a small fee through the Ford's Theatre Society website.

Ford's Theatre is an active theater, and parts of the site may be closed for matinees, rehearsals and special events. In most cases, the museum and Petersen House remain open even if the theater is closed for performances. Visit the Hours and Seasons page for more information.

 

Things To Do
Visit our Things to Do page to discover ways to visit the theatre, attend a performance, or explore other nearby sites connected to Lincoln and the events of the assassination. Check our Calendar of Events for special tours and programs.