DOINews: NPS: Ford's Theatre National Historic Site Commemorates 150th of Lincoln's Assassination

Ford's Theatre National Historic Site commemorates the 150th anniversary of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln with 36 hours of around-the clock programming. These and other photos from the event appear on the park's Facebook page.

Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell offered remarks during the Ford's Theatre National Historic Site's event to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Photo appears on the park's Facebook page.

Ford's Theatre National Historic Site commemorated the 150th anniversary of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln with 36 hours of around-the-clock programming at the theater and the Petersen House, where the stricken president died.

Throughout the 36 hours of commemorative programming, a wide variety of ranger-guided programs, living-history and theatrical performances, and tribute ceremonies honored the memory of the 16th president in the historic theater, the museum, the Petersen House, and the Center for Education and Leadership.

On April 14, 1865, Abraham Lincoln visited Ford's Theatre for the 12th time during his presidency for a performance of "Our American Cousin." During the performance, the president was shot by John Wilkes Booth, a southern sympathizer. He died the next morning in the home of William Petersen, whose boarding house was located directly across 10th St. from the theater.

The ceremonial observances began with "Now He Belongs to the Ages: A Lincoln Commemoration," a presentation in Ford's Theatre featuring Lincoln's words, and was followed by Civil War-era music and appearances by Judy Collins, Mark Russell, Julian Bond, Harold Holzer, James L. Swanson, and others. At the conclusion of the theatrical performance, a vigil began out on 10th St., which was closed to traffic for the event.

Throughout the night, costumed interpreters presented "eyewitness" and historical accounts about the assassination at Ford's Theatre and Civil War Washington. An actor portraying Dr. Charles Leale, the Union army surgeon who was the first doctor to reach Lincoln in his box, appeared to the crowd twice an hour to give real-time updates on the president's condition.

On the morning of April 15, a brief ceremony was held to mark Lincoln's passing at the Petersen House at 7:22 a.m. Sailors from the USS Abraham Lincoln served as honor guard as a wreath was placed at the house.

Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell offered remarks, as did James Swanson, author and historian best known for his bestseller "Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer." Music was provided by the Federal City Brass Band and the pipes and drum of the First Battalion Scots Guards of the British Army.

The ceremony concluded as bells tolled in Abraham Lincoln's honor at locations across Washington, D.C., including at the Washington National Cathedral and in the immediate area surrounding the theater.

By: Mike Litterst, public affairs officer, NPS
April 2015

Related Links:

NPS-Fords Theatre NHS
NPS-The Morning Report