Lincoln Assassination Tour: Ford's Theatre & Petersen House

The Night Lincoln Died: Walking the Streets Where It Happened

You walk to four key sites (the boarding house, Baptist Alley, Ford's Theatre, and the Petersen House) with an expert guide who layers in the hidden details and human drama of April 1865. Ford's Theatre entry is included. You see the artifacts and the Presidential Box, then cross the street to the room where Lincoln died. The tour connects the Washington you see today with the capital of the Civil War era, and you leave knowing the geography and the sequence of events in a way no book can teach.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. The Smithsonian10m
2. National Portrait Gallerypassing by
3. Ford's Theatre1h · entry included
4. Petersen House45m · entry included

Explore Lincoln assassination sites

• Pass by Lincoln's inauguration building
• Hear story outside National Portrait Gallery
• Visit Ford's Theatre and museum
• See Petersen House where Lincoln died

The experience

"He's been shot." That's what someone would have heard shouted into the Washington night on April 14, 1865, and the Lincoln assassination tour follows that moment through the actual locations where it unfolded. You start outside the National Portrait Gallery, where your guide connects the city you see now with the capital Lincoln knew: the streets still recognizable, the buildings still standing. Then you move through Baptist Alley, where Booth's horse waited, and into the boarding house where the conspiracy was actually planned. These aren't museum reconstructions. They're the real places, and standing in them changes how the story lands.

Ford's Theatre is where the tour gets specific. You walk into the same room, stand near the Presidential Box, and see the artifacts: the gun, the playbills, the pieces of that night. Your guide doesn't just tell you what happened. They layer in the details most visitors miss: the play that was running, who was sitting where, what Booth's escape route looked like. The ticket is included, so you're not buying entry separately. After Ford's Theatre, you cross the street to the Petersen House, where Lincoln was carried and died the next morning. The room where his life ended is still there, and the weight of that space (knowing exactly where he took his last breath) is the kind of thing you don't forget.

The tour moves at a walking pace through downtown Washington, and the guide ties each stop to the larger story of the Civil War and what Lincoln's death meant for the country. You're not just collecting facts. You're seeing how a conspiracy unfolded across a few blocks, how quickly everything changed, and how the city itself became part of the narrative. It takes a couple of hours, and by the end you've stood in the actual places where one of America's most dramatic stories played out.

What’s included

• Expert-led walking tour of four assassination-related sites.
• entry ticket to Ford's Theatre.
• access to the Petersen House where Lincoln died.
• stories and historical context connecting each location to the events of April 14–15, 1865.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 10:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (14 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (6 to 13 years) · Child (under 6): free

GroupUp to 100

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Cornerstone Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to understand the Lincoln assassination through the actual places it happened, not through a museum alone. The guide and the geography do the work of making the story real.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 13 years); Child (under 6): free.

How long does the tour take?

Around two hours, walking at a steady pace through downtown Washington DC.

Is Ford's Theatre ticket included?

Yes, entry to Ford's Theatre is included in the tour price.

Can I do this tour if I use a wheelchair or mobility aid?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are available nearby if needed.

Do I need to book in advance?

The tour operates on a set schedule. Check availability and book online to secure your spot.

What's the difference between this tour and visiting Ford's Theatre on my own?

The guide connects the sites across several blocks, explains the conspiracy and escape route, and shares details and context you'd miss walking alone. You see the boarding house, Baptist Alley, and the Petersen House as part of the full story, not just the theatre.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.

What if the weather is bad?

The tour is outdoors and indoors. Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly. Most of the walking happens on city streets.