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Home , John Wilkes Booth

LINCOLN MUSEUM

AND THE

9ied

WASHINGTON, D. C. The of ABRAHAM

THE play presented at Ford's Theater on the As Major Rathbone sprang at the assassin, night of , 1865, was Tom Taylor's cele­ Booth dropped his single-shot and brated comedy "," with with his dagger stabbed Rathbone in the left , a distinguished actress, in the lead­ arm forcing him to relinquish his hold. As ing role. The importance of the occasion was Booth leaped from the box, the spur of his right heightened by the presence of President and boot became entangled in the colors of the U. S. Mrs. Lincoln, who had as their guests Maj. Treasury Guards, decorating the center of the Henry R. Rathbone and his fiancee, Miss Clara box. Thrown off balance, he landed awkwardly Harris. on the stage, at least 11 Vi feet below, fracturing The third act of the play was drawing to a the large bone in his left leg above the ankle. close when Booth, prominent ac­ Booth instantly regained his feet and, bran­ tor, entered the building and made his way lei­ dishing his dagger, is asserted to have shouted surely from the dress circle to the Presidential "" (Ever thus to ), the box, located on the right of the audience. Gain­ motto of the Commonwealth of Virginia, before ing an entrance to the vestibule of the box, the dashing from the stage. Maj. Joseph B. Stewart, actor barred the door from within. After observ­ who was in the audience, crossed the footlights, ing the President's position through a small hole in pursuit. Escaping by the rear door, the mur­ in the inner door, Booth, familiar with the play, derer mounted his horse, held by Joseph "Pea­ entered the box about 10:15 p. m., when only nuts" Burroughs, the stage doorkeeper, and rode Ford's Theater after the assassination. Guards stationed outside the closed building. one actor was on the stage. Lincoln sat with his rapidly out of the alley to F Street. Booth fled Deathroom scene. From painting by John H. Littlefield. back to the door, engrossed in the play. Sud­ into , and, aided by southern sympa­ denly the fatal shot was fired and the mortally thizers, reached Garrett's farm, near Port Royal, FORD'S THEATER wounded President slumped in his chair. Va., where he was shot and killed on . HE Lincoln Museum (Ford's Theater) and , who converted it into a thea­ The DEATH of the PRESIDENT and the House Where Lincoln Died, ter. On the night of December 30, 1862, the Booth crossing the stage, with Major Stewart climbing over the footlights in pursuit. Sketch by in the heatt of downtown Washington, theater was destroyed by fire. T A. Berghaus, Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, May 20, 1865. commemorate the tragic death of President The cornerstone for the present building was ALTHOUGH the audience was stunned momen­ pany D, 13th Massachusetts Infantry, who was Lincoln, the great leader of the Nation and laid on February 28, 1863, and the structure was tarily by Booth's mad act, the Ford's Theater detailed to duty with the War Department. Be­ central figure of the War Between the States. completed a few months later. Constructed of soon became a scene of terror and pandemo­ cause of his great height, the President was laid President Lincoln was assassinated by John brick and embodying the most modern improve­ nium. Dr. Charles Leak entered the box from the diagonally across the bed. Mrs. Lincoln, over­ Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater on the night ments of that period, the theater was considered dress circle, and Dr. Charles Taft was lifted into come with grief, remained in the front parlor, of April 14, 1865. The President died early the one of the finest in the United States. The seat­ the box from the stage. They, with Dr. A. F. A. occasionally going to the bedside of her stricken following morning in a small house just across ing capacity of Ford's Theater was nearly 1,700, King, examined the wound and found it to be husband. A meeting of the Cabinet was held in the street ftom the theater. The first floor of the of which 421 were in the dress circle (first bal­ mortal. The bullet had entered above the left the rear parlor and Secretary of War Stanton im­ old theater building is occupied by the Lincoln cony). There were four private boxes on each ear and lodged behind the right eye. Realizing mediately began his investigation of the assassi­ Museum. The house where the President died side of the stage. that the removal of the President over the cob­ nation. He interviewed several witnesses of the has been restored as of that period. The new Ford's Theater was opened to the blestones to the White House would prove fatal, tragedy in an effort to track down the murderer In 1834, the First Baptist Church-of Washing­ public on the night of August 27, 1863. From the surgeon ordered the dying man to be carried and his accomplices. The President labored ton was constructed on the site of the present that date until it was closed by the Government down the stairway and across the street into the through the night and at 7:22 the following Lincoln Museum. When the congregation de­ in April 1865, it was one of Washington's most home of William Petersen. President Lincoln morning the struggle for life was over. Sec­ cided to unite with another in 1859, the build­ successful amusement places, offering a galaxy was taken into a small first-floor bedroom, meas­ retary Stanton announced the death of the ing was abandoned and in 1861 was acquired by of famous actors and actresses in the outstanding uring 18 feet 2 inches by 9 feet 11 inches, oc­ President with the words: "Now he belongs John T Ford, a theatrical producer of productions of the period. cupied by William T Clark, a soldier of Com­ to the ages." ABOUT YOUR VISIT PURCHASED BY THE GOVERNMENT THE LINCOLN MUSEUM and the House Where Lincoln Died are in downtown Washington IMMEDIATELY following the tragedy, the War on Tenth Street between E and F Streets. Department stationed guards outside Ford's You may visit the Lincoln Museum on Theater and ordered all scheduled performances weekdays from 9 a. m. to 9 p. m., and on Sun­ canceled. In June 1865, the building was re­ days and holidays from 12:30 p. m. to 9 p. m. stored to Mr. Ford, who immediately made The visting hours at the House Where plans to reopen the theater. However, since Lincoln Died are from 9 a. m. to 5:30 p. m. on LINCOLN public opinion was aroused and threats were made, the Government again took charge of weekdays, and from 12:30 p. m. to 5:30 p. m. the building, prohibited its use as a theater, on Sundays and holidays. The small admission fee to each building is MUSEUM and rented it for other purposes. waived for children and educational groups On August 17, 1865, the Government began AND THE remodeling the theater into a fireproof building when accompanied by adults responsible for for the reception of Government records. All their safety and conduct. JTwu&er^ woodwork was removed and the building di­ Free parking facilities are not available. vided into three stories, the second and third You may purchase the following booklets relating to Lincoln and to areas of the National floors supported by cast-iron columns and Photograph of by Alexander Park System associated with his life and work ^iefid wrought-iron girders and beams. This work was Gardner, April 10, 1865, four days before his completed in November. An act of Congress, assassination. at the Lincoln Museum or from the Superin­ approved April 7,1866, provided for its purchase tendent of Documents, U. S. Government House Where Lincoln Died, 453 (now 516) Tenth Street NW. and appropriated $100,000 for this purpose. For 1932, the greater part of it was removed to Ford's Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C.: many years thereafter, the structure was occupied Theater. The Lincoln Museum and the Home Where by various agencies of the War Department. Lincoln Died, Historical Handbook Series No. 3, mum protection of the scenic, scientific, wil­ derness, and historic resources of the National A second tragedy occurred in the building on for 20 cents. LINCOLN MUSEUM Park System in such ways and by such means June 9, 1893, when the three floors collapsed, Abraham Lincoln: From His Own Words and as will make them available for the use and killing 22 clerks and injuring 68 others. The THE exhibits are arranged chronologically, and Contemporary Accounts, Source Book Series No. enjoyment of present and future generations. building was restored the following year. adequate labels describe the story of Lincoln's 2, for 25 cents. The was purchased by the life. Among the objects displayed are the pistol Abraham Lincoln National Historical Park, a ADMINISTRATION Government for $30,000 on November 10,1896. with which the President was assassinated, the 16-page illustrated booklet, for 10 cents. THE LINCOLN MUSEUM and the House Where Its appearance today is substantially as it was in Treasury Guards flag which tripped Booth, the Gettysburg, Historical Handbook Series No. 9, Lincoln Died are National Memorials admin­ 1865. play bill for the night of the tragedy, Booth's for 25 cents. istered by National Capital Parks of the Na­ diary, and numerous photographs and associated MISSION 66 tional Park Service, Department of the Interior. material. OLDROYD COLLECTION Address inquiries to the Superintendent, Na­ The collection also includes books from Lin­ MISSION 66 is a program designed to be tional Capital Parks, Washington 25, D. C. IN 1931, the Ford's Theater building was ren­ coln's law library; the old family Bible, inscribed completed by 1966 which will assure the maxi- ovated and placed in readiness to receive the with the names of Abraham Lincoln and his Osborn H. Oldroyd Collection of Lincolniana, father, ; letters and documents The National Park System, of which these areas are units, is dedicated to conserving the scenic, which had been acquired by the Government relating to his early career; and many other per­ scientific, and historic heritage of the United States for the benefit and inspiration of its people. in 1926 for $50,000. This valuable collec­ sonal mementos. tion had been gathered by Mr. Oldroyd over There are also political exhibits, campaign UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR a period of some 60 years. After having been songs, a series of newspaper cartoons, posters, Fred A. Seaton, Secretary WASHINGTON, D. C. displayed in the Lincoln home in Springfield, paintings, engravings, badges, and hundreds of , Conrad L. Wirth, Director 111., it was brought to Washington in 1893 and other objects —all pertaining to the life of NATIONAL CAPITAL PARKS placed in the House Where Lincoln Died. In Lincoln. REPRINT 1958 U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OPFICE : 1958 OF —483079