- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Ford's Theatre
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Performing Arts Public Services & Government Landmarks & Historical Buildings Arts & Entertainment Museums Performing Arts, Landmarks & Historical Buildings, Museums [Edit]
511 10th St NW(between N E St & N F St)
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 347-4833
- Nearest Transit:
-
Metro Center Metro Station (Blue, Orange, Red)
Federal Triangle Metro Station (Blue, Orange)
Gallery Place Chinatown Metro Station (Green, Red, Yellow)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
87 reviews for Ford's Theatre
Review Highlights
"...from the fateful night John Wilkes-Booth shot Lincoln."
(in 10 reviews)
"...artifacts surrounding the assassination were so well..."
(in 19 reviews)
"...the opportunity to see "Black Pearl Sings" last night, and..."
(in 3 reviews)
Loading...
87 reviews in English
-
Review from Cameron B.
Washington, DC
1/31/2012
Preservation at it's very best, the strikingly renovated Ford's Theater mixes the historic beauty of the theater with a modern and bright lobby. I recently saw an amazing play "Necessary Sacrifices" (Thanks to Yelp) and was taken aback not only by the fact that I was in THE Ford's theater where President Lincoln was assassinated (I'd learned about those events so many times over my K-12 education, it was very moving to actually be there) but to have viewed such a high caliber play in a venue I assumed was a tourist trap, was the icing on the cake!
It is truely a national treasure in our back-yard....oh and yep, the snack bar sells booooozzeeee!!! -
Review from Ryan B.
12/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Tucked away from the corner of the Hard Rock Cafe and the FBI building, you'll find this little theatre that's famous in a big way.
Glitz and glamour? Not here. What I found in Ford's theatre is that aside from being the famous landmark where our 16th president was assasinated, it's just a good honest down home theatre.
There's a museum and a gift shop in the lobby. The museum of course is all about President Lincoln and the signs of his times. Parking isn't a problem because the entrance is right next to the outside of the theatre. Then there's an elevator that goes straight to the lobby.
The auditorium itself is really quite small, so weather you're sitting up in the balcony or on the ground floor, you pretty much have the same view as everyone else. There isn't a lot of leg room but I still felt quite comfortable. The ushers seem pretty down to earth and eager to help you.
We came here to see "A Christmas Carol", the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge being visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. The sound and acoustics were good. The lighting and production were fantastic and I liked how they made it more into a musical with many well known and classic Christmas songs being sung like a choir by the cast.
The other great thing, is that the Presidentila booth where Lincoln was assasinated looms right overhead. Not great that he was assisanated, but great that you are right there in the presence of one the most historical events in our nation's history and you're catching a great theatrical production.
I especially like that when it's time to go. It only takes a couple of minutes to make your exit. Unlike when you're at the big theatres, where it takes a long while, you have to deal with pedestrian and auto-traffic. So on that scale, it's easy to get in and easy to get out. -
Review from Cara R.
Oakton, VA
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went with my boyfriend this past weekend to see A Christmas Carol at Ford's Theater. It was absolutely amazing. A must see for anyone in the DC area - though - not suggested for children under the age of ten.
The theater is small & the concession stand leaves you wanting, but the performances were superb. Be aware - the seats are tight, but the theater has a very intimate feeling. Try to get seats in the dressing circle - row A. Best seats in the house!
Prior to the performance you do have a chance to walk through the museum, but being from the Land of Lincoln I skipped it.
If you have the opportunity to go - DO!!! I will definitely be back! -
Review from Mike C.
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Saw Christmas Carol this week. Best show I've ever been to. Get there.
Ford's itself is a gem. Small, intimate, perfect sight lines, perfect seating arrangement. I'm not particularly into "shows," seeing at most one a year, but I had a heck of a time and want to go back soon.
I did not immerse myself in the history and museum bits... just the show. I did, however, get a slight chuckle out of the "No firearms permitted" sign as we were admitted.... could have used that a few years ago. :rimshot: I love you, Abe!
Notes:
The coffee from the concession stand is the worst I've ever had. Do yourself the favor and head down the street to Caribou (not much better, but at least palatable).
Please don't eat M&Ms or anything else from a "crinkly" bag during the show. You will get dirty looks from me and I will wish bad things for you.
There is a parking garage pretty much onsite. I think after-hours it was $11. -
Review from jack h.
Washington, DC
1/16/2012
Lincoln fans, this is a must. FREE. History. Beautiful design. A self walk through. Friendly staff. I enjoyed this little gem of DC.
-
Review from Jay N.
Lombard, IL
12/2/2011
Although I've lived in the area and visited, I hadn't gotten around to visiting here until recently. Going during the week, there's a fair amount of tour groups including school children. I got my timed ticket for the self-guided tour and headed on in.
There are a good variety of exhibits inside but the lighting is dim since there are original artifacts here. Being from Illinois, you get inundated with a fair amount of Abraham Lincoln history, but this was a good enhancement to it. Obviously, the politics were slanted toward Lincoln but there were also biographical profiles on the Lincoln assassination posse which was quite informative.
You head on up the stairs into the main theater and can walk toward the stage as well as the balcony area. Since the theater has now been transformed to a performance hall, there are some modern updates. The park ranger occasionally makes announcements with regards to Lincoln's balcony seats. It gives you some visual perspective on how the assassination may have occurred and how Booth attempted to escape.
In addition to the theater, the ticket affords you the opportunity to cross the street to the home where Lincoln died. It is a small area and shows the historical location. This area is unattended but flows quickly after taking some pictures. Overall, a place for a single visit. -
Review from syrus f.
Arcadia, CA
11/22/2011
Very educational. I learned so much more about Lincoln than I ever did in school.
And you cannot ask for a more accurate location (the balcony) of where Lincoln was assassinated. -
Review from Paul M.
9/25/2011
Yet another A-list DC destination.
the Museum in the basement provides a great overivew of the Lincoln presidency, then you go upstairs to the balcony and you can see the box - respotred to it's former glory - where Lincoln was shot.
Interestingly we learned that after the assassination the place was theater was converted to Army offices, and there was a massive collapse of the floors 30 years later and 70 or 80 people died. It is shocking to me that there is no plaque to commemorate and honor those people too.
But hey, those were in the days of robber barons, no safety regulations, laisser-faire capitalism red in tooth and claw and 645 people dying each week in the factories, mines and refineries of Rockefeller and no-one cared about the lives of ordinary people.
But hey - this is still a great place to go to. -
Review from Kelly G.
Oh I'm still a fan of Ford's Theater. And I realize "Parade" and the other plays in this series are meant to turn a critical lens on tensions of our country's past. However, if I never see another confederate flag again, it will be too soon. This play made the hairs at the back of my neck stand on end more than "Liberty Smith" did. One good thing about this play: it actually had some black people in starring roles. And... the musical numbers performed by the non-white cast were, in my humble opinion, the best!
Oh, I still love Ford's Theater with its renewed architecture, reasonably comfy seats, and pre-ordering of concessions. I just need to brace myself before I attend another "examining-the-racial-tensions-of-the-past" play.Listed in: I love Penn Quarter!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
4/3/2011
Thanks to the Yelp Elite promo, Mara G. and I had the opportunity to take in "Liberty Smith" here.… Read more »
-
-
Review from Susan R.
Round Rock, TX
10/26/2011
This place gets an A-OK from me since it was free. But here are a few things about my tour today. We got there about about 10:10am and we told we needed tickets. I guess we hadn't done our reading to realize we needed tickets ... but no problem. We went in - and got timed tickets for 11am. The tickets are FREE and are only meant to regulate the number of people coming through. So, since we had some time to kill, we decided to sit inside until it was time to line up for our 11am tour. Keep in mind, the line for your timestamp starts OUTSIDE. So, we waited until the 10:30 line started coming in and passed us by, and then we headed out to get in the 11am line.
Upon walking out, we were faced with a ton of school aged children who had been dropped off by bus. It was now 10:45 ... they had just missed their 10:30 start time and now the line for 11am was very very long. Well, someone inside musta gotten the picture becuase they let all the school aged kids in so that when we got lined up for the 11am stamp, we were first in line.
Once our time came, we were escorted in to the museum. Now, it isn't large but it does its job to convey the thoughts of the day. The best part, IMHO was the part about the conspirators in a back area of the museum. It gives a little bio of the people involved. You can see the gun that killed Lincoln. It was the best part of the museum. The worst part were all the kids that somehow reappeared and were in and out and all through the exhibits - hanging all over a Lincoln statue. Maybe it is just me - my age - my respect for our country and our history, but I kinda thought it was a solemn place - after all, our President was killed here. My sister and I wondered if these kids really understood what they were seeing and what the importance of all of it meant.
We finally get into the theater - which - again due to the kids all around, it was very noisy. the kids were restless and the chaperones didn't appear to be all that concerned. Finally, the Park Ranger came out. Now, this was the best part of the tour ... he described in great detail but in a way that made it interesting - everything about the events leading up to and including the assassination of our President.
From here, you make your way across the street to the place where Lincoln actually died.
Just a note about the theater. Evidently, only the facade is the only remotely original part of the building. The entire inside has been redone. While you can still see the box seats where Lincoln was sitting, that was about as close as you could get. Now, evidently, this has to do more with the amount of visitors visiting. My sister has been able to go and actually go up to the box seat area. We couldn't this time.
So, yes, you should go to Ford's theater at least once. I see no need to ever go back. I would never want to go back and take even a remote chance that all those kids would be there. Again, it is free so you risk nothing. Since it is pretty centrally located, it is a quick walk from the Metro station and plenty of places to eat and shop around there. It is also a quick walk down to the American Natural History Smithsonian and the American History Smithsonian as well. -
Review from Kelly J.
10/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ford's Theatre was interesting, but I was in a food coma and dozed (to the embarrassment [and thus endless taunting fodder] of my boyfriend).
We did just the tour of the theater where a park ranger spoke about the events of Lincoln's assassination. I still found the stories interesting, a one time stop in DC for sure!Listed in: DC PA NY
-
Review from David O.
9/8/2011
Talk about a historic place: to see where Lincoln was sitting when he was shot. Just one of those places that makes your heart heavy.
They have done a great job maintaining the theater and really appreciate being able to be in the same location a great man once sat.
I would go back. -
Review from Stacie H.
Front Royal, VA
12/1/2011
Every time I come to DC I always visit Ford's Theatre. Now that I have children I take them with me and we all love reading about Abraham Lincoln and what happened to him that fateful night. This is not only am educational place to visit, but it is very interesting. The museum is "free" and I put the quotes around the word is because they do ask for donations and that is if you want to take the self guided tour. There is a audio tour you can take that costs $5, which is still not a bad deal. I love how you can visit the museum part of the Theatre down stairs and see all the cool artifacts and photos, then you can go upstairs to the actual theater and get really close to the balcony Lincoln was in without actually going in it. GREAT MUSEUM!!!!
-
Review from Hideki K.
6/17/2011
The Ford's Theatre is an Excellent Museum dedicated to President Lincoln.
As you all remember from your history books, Ford's Theatre is the location where President Abraham Lincoln was shot in the head by actor John Wilkes Booth.
In recognition of the 150th anniversary since the start of the Civil War and Lincoln's Inauguration, the gf & I visited Ford's Theatre. Definitely watch Robert Redford's "Conspirator" (2011) before coming to visit here and the "House Where Lincoln Died" across the street.
I was amazed to see how all the important artifacts surrounding the assassination were so well preserved! You can view the single shot pistol that Booth used to shot Lincoln, a blood stained (with Lincoln's blood) pillow that the President's head was laid upon in his deathbed, the attire that Lincoln wore that night (on April 14, 1865), and many other relevant and historic artifacts.
Touring the theater and downstairs museum is free. I recommend that you pay $5 for the audio tour. It will make your stay longer, but if you enjoy history, it's worth the additional fee. We spent almost two hours inside and learned a lot about the life and times of Abraham Lincoln!Listed in: Best of DC (Washington, DC)
-
Review from Paige M.
6/28/2011
It is fortunate to see that Ford's Theatre has remained a part of D.C.'s landscape, and continues to operate as a theatre in addition to paying homage to Lincoln's assassination.
As there was a massive queue outside, my friends and I did not venture inside Ford's Theatre for the tour, however we were humbled just by looking at the structure, the old gas-lit street lamps, and the house across the street where Lincoln died.
Lincoln's assassination is one that every American learns in grade school. Being on site creates a whole new experience as an adult. I only wish that the tacky Lincoln-themed tourist shops didn't pop up all around this historical destination. -
Review from Toya J.
4/10/2011 1 photo
Saturday morning I went to Ford's Theatre to experience the "History on Foot" Walking Tour called A Free Black Woman: Elizabeth Keckly. And an experience it was! The mile and a half walk takes you from the Theatre to K street across New York Avenue and ends at Pennsylvania Avenue.
Our group was greeted by a time period dresser who comes out like someone who just stepped out of a time machine. Elizabeth Keckly was dressmaker and confidant to Abraham Lincoln's wife. Her hard work and determination enabled her to purchase she and her son's freedom, after establishing herself she used her money and influence to fund various groups that gave board and shelter to disadvantaged people coming out of slavery. In addition to this, Elizabeth published a book thought to be controversial at the time about her relationship with the Lincoln Family and enduring 30 years of slavery to becoming a free woman.
Our guide was EXCELLENT! She had such a gentle and smooth voice; almost like she was speaking poetry. She took questions, read beautiful heartfelt passages from Elizabeth's book, and shared with the group all types of little Washington insider stories that took place during the Civil War. Our group consisted of all ages and we stuck together, no one complained about her moving too fast, we even experienced a little rain. But that was ok! Hey 90 minutes goes by relatively fast when you' re learning and having a great time! Do check this tour out. There are also other walking tours to choose from as well! Living here all of my life makes it so easy at times to take for granted the wonderful things DC has to offer. It was awesome to feel like a tourist traveling back in time.Listed in: DC ARTS
-
Review from MacRae O.
3/7/2011
We're so fortunate in DC to have a number of fabulously run, smaller theaters. Ford's is no exception, and recent renovations have rendered the space even more attractive.
What's so remarkable about Ford's Theater, however, is that it's not just a performance venue. It houses a museum as well, and for obvious reason. Visitors are welcome to visit the theater during the day, provided rehearsal isn't taking place. The box where John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln in 1865 looms ghost-like above the stage, a quiet, moving testimonial to arguably one of the most pivotal moments in the American presidency.
After touring the theater, the Ford's Theater Museum offers a look at Lincoln's time in Washington and a glimpse of 19th century life in the city. And don't miss the Petersen House, directly across the street from the theater, where Lincoln was brought after the shooting and where he eventually died. Ford's Theater/Petersen House are excellent places to bring out-of-town visitors, or to revisit on occasion one's self.
Aside from its incredible historical significance and exceptional museum, it also offers world-class stage performances...tho when one comes to a show at Ford's, one can't help but surreptitiously eye Lincoln's box throughout the show, wondering what it must have been like for audience members that April night in 1865. I've seen many productions here, but some of the more memorable ones included a lively "Hot Mikado" and a gripping rendition of "A Raisin in the Sun." It's a lovely theater in which to enjoy plays and productions.
Ford's Theater and Museum are true DC institutions. Pay a visit, see a show, feel like a part of history. -
Review from Becca C.
9/13/2011
The folks over at Ford's Theatre have an educational and interesting tour that you can enjoy for a couple hours. I went to the box office to pick up free tickets and returned later in the day. I'm always interested in architecture, and pre-war American architecture, so this was a treat; as well as the information leading up to Lincoln's death. The Petersen house was open when I went, and it was pretty surreal to be standing in the room over the bed in which he died.
-
Review from Pam Z.
3/22/2011 3 Check-ins Here
This is a rating for the museum only, as I have not yet had the honor of attending a theatrical performance here.
Don't be deterred by the formal looking ticket counters - tickets are free to enter into the museum! You do, however, still have to grab a ticket to go in. Don't forget to get your squished souvenir penny.
Lincoln's Brooks Brothers cloak he wore the night of the assassination is on display on the main floor, complete with blood spatter. (eeew)
Go upstairs and catch a glimpse of the theater box Lincoln was sitting in (kinda hauntingly looking over the rest of the theater). Heard that this isn't shown off during the height of the tourist season. No worries, it's really kinda creepy anyway.
Go downstairs to the main museum, which consists mostly of displays with written narratives. Most of the information focuses on the generals of the Civil War, the people and plot to assassinate Lincoln, and Lincoln's struggles with politics, slavery and the war.
Not a very kid friendly museum - there's a lot of text to read, some of it's repetitive, long and relatively complex. There's also a video on Frederick Douglas. And you get to see the deringer that killed the President.
All in all, a great random find in downtown DC.
PS There's a lot of touristy shops across the street from Ford's theater, as I know a lot of the buses stop here. Not sure how crowded this is during tourist season, but in March it was totally fine.Listed in: Tourist Attractions in DC: The…
-
Review from Chris D.
4/9/2011
"Think how abstract the idea of being in DC, watching a play at the theater where Lincoln was shot is for most of this country." That was my comment to my wife after viewing Liberty Smith at Ford's (courtesy of Yelp - thanks Yelp!) a few weeks ago. That sense of history and importance is sometimes lost on those of us that live in the area, so it goes without saying (although I'm gonna say it) that there is more here than just seeing a show.
As a venue, it's one of the best in DC. It's small enough that you feel like you could spit on the performers if you wanted. (Please don't spit on the performers... even if they're crap... have you ever tried acting on stage in front of hundreds of people?) I'm not sure there is a bad seat in the house and breaking the mold of places like Warner, you aren't so close to the person next to you that you feel obligated to tip them for a good time.
If you're considering a show at Ford's, do it. If the show sucks, you can still take part in a piece of history. Not many places boast something like that.Listed in: Over the River, DC Metro Date Night
-
Review from Abe L.
Washington, DC
8/10/2011
Was murdered here. Would not recommend.
-
Review from Stephen M.
San Francisco, CA
10/31/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Wonderfully maintained and curated exhibits.
-
Review from Shachi B.
1/27/2011
London has the Globe; Paris, the Moulin Rouge; New York has the Apollo and DC, Ford's Theater.
While it may be the least "famous" of the bunch, don't let it's plain Jane name fool you - this place is one of the most notable in Civil War history. For you cave dwellers visiting yelp, Ford's Theater is infamous for being the spot where Abraham Lincoln was shot. Yes, THAT Abraham Lincoln.
Nowadays, it's been revamped from Civil War crime scene (I wonder if the CSIs back then wore cool jackets like the ones on tv do now?) to fantastically charming local theater. There's a museum downstairs dedicated to all things Lincoln, so be sure to get to your show early to do some browsing. The best part of the museum is near the exit - there's a long hallway that has timelines on either side documenting what John Wilkes Booth and Lincoln did on the day leading up to the shooting. It's easy to miss as you're rushing to your seats, but I recommend you take some time and read it!
I came here to see The Carpetbagger's Children and while the play was less than memorable, the theater was certainly not. There's really not a bad seat in the house since it's so cozy and small. The ushers are also great- ask them about the details of the building and you'll get a wealth of interesting knowledge! -
Review from Pegah Y.
9/27/2011
Ford's Theatre is pretty cool. I visited this historic place a few weeks ago and the three of us had a great time. It was very interesting learning about Lincoln's life and also that of his assassins. It was very interesting to walk through a timeline of not just his life but also the events that led up to the fatal moment when he was shot. We first toured the museum and read more about the history. The captions were great and we really enjoyed the artifacts and the video. Then we walked up to the theatre itself and as we walked through that final hallway, we read about the events of the fatal day, all the way up to the shooting. We went to the theatre itself, through the balcony, and it was very large. The seats are really nice and well-polished and the place is very well-kept. There are still performances here, apparently. We also of course went in and took a peak at the president's box where Lincoln was shot. It was so interesting to view this piece of history, and Ford's Theatre was set up really well.
The only thing that irked me was when we were sitting down in the theatre seats, one of the people who worked there very rudely and loudly told me to move seats because other people wanted to get through. I hadn't been aware that I was blocking anyone, and in fact others could definitely still get through even with me sitting in that seat... I got up and sort of just gave her a look and we left. It was annoying though... and makes me wonder if it was racially-motivated at all. It would be ironic if it was, given the place we were in.
All in all, though, this place is pretty cool and you learn a little bit of neat history going here. The museum is fascinating and being in the theatre itself and viewing the box are really awesome. -
Review from Sarah G.
1/22/2011
Hah I like this $15 ticket deal for people under 35! Ford's Theater, are you agist? Or are you trying to promote plays to an uncultured generation?
Anyways, came here to see A Christmas Carol, hands down Dicken's greatest work, and truly enjoyed myself. The seating on the balcony is a little undesirable, so try to sit on the lower area.
For visitors of our nation's capitol, the museum here is great for kiddies. It's basically all things Abe Lincoln, but I really like the set up. Worth a visit if you have time! -
Review from Ari S.
4/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is amazing! I went here on a vacation with a couple friends and this was on the top of our list to see. This place is very powerful and it was invigorating walking into a building with so much history.
The tours are free which is nice, but that also means you can get large school buses with you. I would suggest going in the morning when they open.
Also don't forget to visit the museum down below, you can see the actual gun that shot Lincoln.
Across the street is the house were Lincoln was taken after he was shot. It was closed for reconstruction when I was there, but I hear it is a "must see."
Don't forget to bring your camera!! -
Review from Erin W.
Washington, DC
5/23/2011
There are some locations that basically represent the history of an entire city, and this, dear readers, is one of them. You cannot go to Ford's Theatre without feeling the massive presence of American history around you, mainly of course, the fact that President Lincoln was shot while watching a play here in 1865. The balcony where Booth shot him, then swooped down to the stage, broke his leg and ran (I think I'm getting my history right here?) is marked with a memorial draping.
I've seen two plays here (The Civil War: The Musical and The Carpetbagger's Daughters), both based on the Civil War (how appropriate) and/or itsaftermath and Reconstruction. My understanding though is that the theater's repertoire is a bit more diverse. If you are visiting DC or have lived here for years, you need to go here! -
Review from Marianne L.
Alexandria, VA
10/3/2010
An absolutely spectacular, intimate place to see a performance.
This review is for the actual venue (vs the museum and all the historical-ness of the place). Yelp Elite tickets provided a friend and I the opportunity to see tonight's performance of Sabrina Fair, the play on which the movie Sabrina is based. I love this play and its quiet nature made Fords theater with its wonderful acoustics and limited seating a prefect place to stage it.
We had great seats down close to the stage in the shadow the now memorialize presidential box. I'll be more than happy to return for a show in the future as a look around revealed there's nary a bad seat in the house.Listed in: Did you Yelp?
-
Review from Andrew C.
Middlesex, MA
3/21/2011
This is not a commentary on Ford's as a working theater, but as a historical site and museum.
Awful.
You're in a long line outside, finally allowed in after designated time, and rushed out of the theater by anouncements made literally before you have even stepped into the room.
If you want to see the president's box, too bad. It is only shown in the winter when nobody is there.
The self proclaimed experts actually know very little about the events of April 14, 1865.
The museum has some interesting primary objects but is dark, cluttered and from a museum perspective, lacks focus.
I wanted to go to Ford's Theatre my whole life, and now I wish I hadn't. -
Review from Merida F.
2/7/2011 2 photos
I have been here a few times for a musical and a play. I really love being a tourist so this theater is the perfect combination. Under the theater is a museum which is pretty hands on( well rather I made it so). The seats are surprisingly comfy and the sounds quality(granted it is a pretty small theater) is really good.
There is just something special about going to this famous historical sight to see a play. I think it is one of the 100 things you need to do while you are in DC and a definite if you live in the area. -
Review from Abegail A.
Washington, DC
4/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great theatre to watch a musical/play at!
The theatre is two levels (orchestra and balcony) and somewhat small, which is great though because there is not a bad seat in the house. The seating is very comfy and there is good lighting/sound. They have a small concession stand near the ticket booth. FYI-everything has to be consumed outside in the hall, except bottled water which could be taken into the theatre.
The museum was open before the musical and was FREE! =) It was a great opportunity to learn about the life of Lincoln and visit the site where he was assassinated. -
Review from s. m. j.
Conway, AR
Ford's Theatre was an amazing experience to tour. I was so glad I had time to spend here as I learned a great deal about a pivotal time in U.S. history.
This FREE tour and site is well organized. When I arrived, I went inside to get tickets. You don't pay, but they do give you a ticket with a designated entry time. My entry time was right away, as it was about 9:30 a.m. We waited a brief time in line, then were ushered down into a small interpretive center with exhibits and information on the Civil War, Lincoln's own history and of course, information on and artifacts from the assassination. I enjoyed the displays on what the city of Washington was like at that time, as it helped give perspective to how the assassination happened. I also liked the statue of Lincoln. I found the area about the assassins and plotters to be fascinating, especially after seeing the movie The Conspirator about the trial and execution of the first American woman.
Of course, to see the blood-stained pillow, which my husband calls an "American secular relic," and the gun used to kill the president as well as the suit he was wearing when he was shot was very profound. It makes the tragedy of what happened become so real. I cried when I read that the last thing Lincoln did and said was to take his wife's hand. She objected on the grounds of propriety, as they were with a young, engaged couple. He told her the young woman wouldn't "think anything about it," and then he was shot. This museum helped me see the personal side of this tragedy, too, and to see Abraham Lincoln as a husband as well as a president.
You can spend as much time as you like in the museum (there is a great U.S. Park Service bookstore and shop here, where I bought a biography of Mary Todd Lincoln), and the talk in the actual theater is announced, so you can go up steps from the museum (you cannot return downstairs, however, without going through the ticket process again) when you like. I sat in the balcony, so I could see on a level as the president's box. Ford's Theatre is once again a working theater, and I wished I could have seen a play here! The park service guide gives an extended and fascinating talk about the history of the theater, the assassination itself and what happened in its aftermath. She helps the audience understand the context of the time so that one can better understand what we know to have happened around this painful event. I found it chilling to be able to look on the box where Lincoln was shot, and our history as a nation so altered.
I was disappointed that the Peterson House, where Lincoln died across the street, was closed for renovations, so it could not be toured. I guess I'll have to go back!
Do not miss this amazing experience in Washington DC. It's free and it is excellent! -
Review from Esther O.
10/4/2010 1 Check-in Here
I think I'm falling in love with Ford's Theatre. It is such, such a beautiful space, and I have now seen 2 terrific performances here. The quality of their productions is extremely high. Last night we took in Sabrina Fair, which was a lot of fun if you have a chance to get there in the next couple weeks.
The space itself is exquisite. Newly renovated, it still maintains the beauty and authenticity of the original space from the 1800s. Of course Lincoln's box is still there, which makes it a fascinating historical venue as well. I haven't yet had a chance to get to the museum below, but it is neat to know that it is there.
I highly recommend seeing a production here. Only caveat is that I recommend buying tickets in the orchestra level. Seats are more cramped upstairs, and some of the views are partially obstructed. -
Review from Sheila D.
Updated - 1/26/2011 1 photo
I heart the Ford's Theatre! I feel like such a school girl everytime I come here; I'm always refreshing my history knowledge.
This time around, I got here 15 minutes early, so i actually got to enjoy the musuem on the lower level. The musuem was dedicated to President Abe Lincoln & all history surrounding his time in office.
We went to see "The Carpet Bagger Children." I feel for those actors on stage, they had A LOT of lines to memorize.
This is definately a place to go to if you are ever in DC!1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/21/2010
Wow! I felt like i was a part of history just being in the same room where President Lincoln was… Read more »
-
-
Review from Anna W.
11/22/2010 1 Check-in Here
I am writing a review for the tour/museum. Unfortunately, I didn't actually get to see a show here :-(
The theatre is kind of non-descript and easy to miss if you're not looking for it. Maybe we're just stupid, but we walked around for a good five minutes before we found it. Hopefully I can save someone else a little bit of time by telling you that it's next door to the Hard Rock Cafe and across the street from the souvenir store :-)
The tour and museum are self-guided and FREE. Totally awesome if you ask me :-) It's hard to pass up anything that's free. The tour is self-guided. You get a ticket from the box office, then go right in and walk downstairs. You start off in the museum part and then you can go upstairs to see the theatre.
The museum was quite interesting and contained a lot of historical items, including the gun that shot Lincoln. You also get to see and hear the text of the famous Gettysburg Address and learn about the life and presidency of Abraham Lincoln -- it's not just about his assassination, but of course, that is what the majority of the items and information in one of the bigger rooms is about.
The one thing I thought was the most interesting part of the museum was all the information about his assassination. Most places always only focus on Lincoln and what happened to him. The museum here goes into detail about the conspiracy that took place to plot his assassination. I always thought it was a one-man job by John Wilkes Boothe. It turns out there are quite a number of players, some of them quite high-profile. The museum goes into grueling detail about their meetings and how they plotted the murder, a timeline of what both Lincoln and the conspirators did on that day, and also contains a wall of items from both Boothe and Lincoln from that fateful day. It was absolutely crazy seeing all these artifacts decades later. It was morbid and eerie, but also incredibly fascinating.
Upstairs from the museum is the theatre. The theatre had a big stage and several sections of seating. The red velvet chairs were plush and comfy -- I could only imagine how nice it would be to actually see a show here. You can see the booth where Lincoln was shot. The door to the booth is permanently closed and there is plexiglass over the window, but you can still take pictures of it.
The tour was short, probably less than 30 minutes all together, but well worth it and I would recommend it. -
Review from Jon L.
12/5/2010
A must see in DC.
I was fortunate enough to score tickets to see A Christmas Carol here.
Four stars for the theater it's self and the same for the theater company.
A great place to see a play. It seats about 650 and has a large lower level
orchestra seating section and a great tiered balcony section as well.
The acoustics are exceptional, you get the sense that you are in a very small intimate setting with no need of additional amplification.
I would come back to take a tour of the museum.
Two easy blocks from Metro Center!
If you go to their web site you can download an order form for concessions. You can print it out and give to them prior to the performance and 'prepay'. At intermission your refreshments are ready
with no waiting and no hassle!
You feel the sense that something singular and historical happened in this location. Next door is the museum and they've preserved the
Presidential box.
It's recorded that Lincoln was reluctant to see the play 'My American Cousin' but his wife Mary Todd insisted. Perhaps it was because just
three days prior to the assassination, he had a dream that was a foreshadowing of his death. -
Review from Ian P.
Alexandria, VA
2/8/2011 2 Check-ins Here
It's hard not to sit and watch a play without wondering what it would have been like to be there watching one with the president or to be there the night Lincoln was assassinated. The historical value of the theatre adds to the enjoyment of watching a play there.
Comfortable seats, great views all around, and a small setting make this one of the nicer theatres to attend in DC. Yes there are tourists; but that is part of the experience. This theatre brings all types of people together to enjoy the arts.
Aside from seeing a play, the museum is also very nice. It provides a detailed history of Lincoln and even has the gun that shot him on display. Worth the time for visitors and residents alike. -
Review from Michelle G.
Dixon, CA
8/2/2011
Cool place! We didn't spend too much time here but I enjoyed the museum and being able to just sit in the theatre and relax.
-
Review from Malisha-missy S.
Indianapolis, IN
8/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Was the best told story of Lincoln EVER!!!!!! The place was so beautiful and well taken care of. It was a sad place also. How he died is just sad and you feel it when they tell the story of that night.
-
Review from Libby F.
Updated - 3/17/2010 1 photo
This was one of the most entertaining musical performances that I have seen in DC since moving here over twenty years ago. I came Monday for a preview performance before the show officially opens tonight. Everything about the show, especially the acting was outstanding.
The venue was the perfect, intimate spot to see this show. The Skid Row Flower Shop scenery was very realistic and the use of red and green lighting techniques was very effective. The show keeps your attention from start to finish, but it is the talented acting skills that really stand out.
Jenna Coker-Jones and real life husband Christopher Kale Jones play opposite each other as Audrey and Seymour, the hapless flower shop worker that discovered Audrey 2, the ever growing plant with a voracious appetite for... blood. They were made for these roles! They made you laugh and applaud for their great musical skills as well.
Another standout was Evan Casey who played Orin, the sadistic, abusive boyfriend of Audrey, along with several other character roles in the performance. He was hilarious! His performance of the song "Dentist!" was one of the best of the night!
The show was so good, I am considering attending again before its final run on May 22. Don't miss this show!Listed in: Cinemas and Theaters: Culture…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/2/2009
I was so excited to come here for the first time last week. I am in awe of places that have historic… Read more »
-
