Visiting Ford’s Theatre with kids was one of the most meaningful stops on our Washington, DC family trip. Since President Abraham Lincoln is Spider Monkey’s favorite U.S. president, this was high on our list, but Ford’s Theatre is not a place where you can simply walk up and expect to see everything without planning ahead.
This guide covers what families need to know before visiting Ford’s Theatre, including timed-entry tickets, the museum, ranger talk, Petersen House, the Aftermath Exhibits, Junior Ranger materials, and what worked best for our kids during the visit.
What to Know Before Visiting Ford’s Theatre with Kids
- Timed-entry tickets are required. Advance reservations are recommended, and same-day tickets may be available at the box office while supplies last.
- Not every ticket includes every part of the site. Check whether your timed entry includes the museum, theatre, Petersen House, and Aftermath Exhibits.
- Plan for about 2 to 3 hours if you want to experience the museum, theatre or ranger talk, Petersen House, Aftermath Exhibits, and Junior Ranger materials.
- The Junior Ranger program worked well for our kids because it gave them something specific to focus on during the museum and historic site visit.
- The ranger talk was excellent, but younger kids may find the sitting-and-listening portion harder than the museum and Petersen House portions.
What Is Ford’s Theatre?
Ford’s Theatre is the location where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. On April 14, 1865, Lincoln and his wife were visiting the theater to see the comedy Our American Cousin. During the performance, John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln. The theater was closed for more than 100 years. Then it was reopened in 1968 as a historic site and live performance theater. Today, it is operated through a public-private relationship with the National Park Service.
Ticket Options for Visiting Ford’s Theatre
To visit Ford’s Theatre, you need a timed-entry ticket. Tickets are booked online through Ford’s Theatre, and available times can vary because the site also operates as a working theatre. When you choose a calendar date, review the available visit options carefully because not every ticket includes every part of the historic site.
- Blue box that says “Museum” – This includes entry into the museum, but does not include the audio guide (this is added separately).
- Orange box that says “Theatre: Ranger Talk” – This includes a visit to the theater, where a Park Ranger provides a narrated journey through the events leading to Lincoln’s assassination.
- Orange box that says “Theatre Walkthrough” – This includes a visit to the theater, but no Ranger talk.
- Green box that says “Petersen House” – This includes a visit across the street to the location where Lincoln passed.
- Other options sometimes available include a short performance, after-hours tours, and the Aftermath Exhibits
Our visit included the museum, a ranger talk, the Petersen House, and the Aftermath Exhibits.
Important Information When Visiting Ford’s Theatre
Address: 511 Tenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004
Tickets: Timed-entry tickets are required for Ford’s Theatre. Advance reservations are recommended, and same-day tickets may be available at the box office on a first-come, first-served basis. At the time of this update, Ford’s Theatre lists a $5 convenience fee for advance reservations.
Timing: Ford’s Theatre generally offers timed-entry visits every half hour, but the schedule can vary because it is also an active theatre. Check the official calendar before your visit, as not every ticket includes access to all parts of the site.
Getting there: The closest Metro stations are Metro Center and Gallery Place/Chinatown.
Family tip: If you want to see the museum, theatre, Petersen House, and Aftermath Exhibits, choose your ticket option carefully and allow enough time to move through the entire site.
No food/drinks, weapons, oversized bags/luggage, pets, etc. (a complete list is available on the theater website).
Arrival Process When Visiting Ford’s Theatre
We arrived early for the tour and lined up on the street. While the rest of my party was lined up, I went into the box office. Here I exchanged our online tickets for paper tickets and checked out our audio guides.
Visiting Ford’s Theatre: Museum Ticket Option
The first stop on our tour of Ford’s Theatre was the museum. Here, you follow Abraham Lincoln’s life from the beginning of his presidency to his assassination. The girls had been working on the Junior Ranger materials, so they were eager to see the museum.
The museum is self-guided with an optional audio guide that you can purchase. Much to my surprise, they both loved listening to the kid version of the audio guide. This version details tales from the Civil War to the plot to assassinate Lincoln.
Ford’s Theatre also offers Junior Ranger materials, which made the visit more engaging for our girls. The booklet helped them connect Lincoln’s life, presidency, assassination, the Petersen House, and the Aftermath Exhibits into a single larger story rather than treating the visit as a regular museum stop. You can also see this badge in our Junior Ranger badge guide.
Lincoln’s Presidency Exhibits
One of the most prominent parts of the museum focuses on Lincoln’s leadership during the Civil War. The exhibits outline how Lincoln navigated the country through its most divisive period and include artifacts related to the war, the Emancipation Proclamation, and his military strategy.
These exhibits provide context on the Civil War, the political landscape of the time, and the broader cultural and societal changes occurring during Lincoln’s presidency.
Lincoln’s Life Exhibits
This exhibit provides insight into Lincoln’s personal life and his role as a father and husband. It includes items related to his family, such as personal letters and portraits.
Artifacts Related to Lincoln
Sprinkled throughout the museum are several personal items related to Abraham Lincoln. These include furniture from the White House, as well as pieces tied to his presidency and legacy. One notable item is a replica of the actual chair Lincoln was sitting in when he was shot.
Lincoln’s Assassination Exhibits
The museum’s primary focus is on the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. There are displays that describe the events leading up to April 14, 1865. The exhibit includes detailed descriptions of the night of the assassination. The exhibits also include artifacts related to the assassination, such as pieces of the clothing Lincoln wore that night. They even saw the gun used to shoot the fatal bullet.
Throughout the museum, interactive displays, multimedia presentations, videos, and artifacts helped bring the story of Lincoln’s assassination to life. We could have spent another hour in the museum, but the timed-entry format meant we eventually had to move on to the next part of the visit.
Visiting Ford’s Theatre: Theatre/Ranger Talk Ticket Option
After the museum, we were ushered upstairs into the theater for the Ranger Talk.
This was not Spider Monkey’s favorite part because it involved too much sitting and listening. But the Ranger’s storytelling was fantastic! He gave a play-by-play account of the plot and events that unfolded.
Visiting Ford’s Theatre: Petersen House Ticket Option
After the Ranger Talk at Ford’s Theatre, we moved across the street to Petersen House. This is the boarding house where Lincoln was taken after he was shot and where he eventually died.
The girls talked with the Ranger and earned the Junior Ranger badge before viewing the various rooms. The first room we saw was the room where Mary Lincoln waited and grieved.
There was a small bedroom where Secretary of War Edwin Stanton temporarily led the federal government.
The final room was where Abraham Lincoln passed away.
Visiting Ford’s Theatre: The Aftermath Exhibits
The boarding house opens into another museum area that contains the Aftermath Exhibits. These exhibits detail the aftermath of Lincoln’s assassination.
The Escape of John Wilkes Booth
This set of exhibits covers Booth’s escape after shooting Lincoln, including his flight from the theatre and the manhunt that followed. Maps and timelines help illustrate Booth’s route and his attempt to evade capture, which ended with his death in a Virginia barn 12 days later.
The Aftermath of Lincoln’s Death
The museum also explores the national impact of Lincoln’s assassination. These include exhibits on the mourning period and the funeral train that carried Lincoln’s body back to Springfield, Illinois. The artifacts include mourning wreaths, black armbands, and other items from the time of the president’s death.
The Trial of the Conspirators
Another exhibit focuses on the trial of those involved in the assassination plot. Several people were arrested and charged in connection with the crime. The exhibit details the legal proceedings and the fate of those involved, including the execution of four conspirators.
The Family Verdict
The tour of Ford’s Theatre was very well done and very informative. We spent a few hours there and learned a ton! The Ranger Talk was a highlight for me. But Spider Monkey was only 6 years old and had a hard time sitting still for it.
Make sure to check out our family adventures at the White House, Library of Congress, Washington Monument, and National Mall. You can also follow our complete Washington, DC itinerary and see more of our completed badges in our Junior Ranger guide.
Follow along on our other amazing family travel adventures at www.adventureisinoursouls.com.
