Ford's Theatre National Historic Site
On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford’s Theatre. Discover how everyday people experienced a national tragedy and how we have remembered a fallen leader. Today, in partnership with Ford’s Theatre Society, live dramatic productions highlight Lincoln’s love of the theatre and the power of stories to connect us to ourselves and our history.
About under an hour from Washington and under an hour from Baltimore by car.
Fees & passes
Free. No entrance fee here. The tours below are the exception.
| Type | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Tours & reservations | ||
| Ford's Theatre Museum Self-Guided TourJan–DecBook online at the Ford's Theatre Society website. | $5 | |
Timed entry tickets are required to visit Ford's Theatre National Historic Site. Tickets can be acquired for free in person at the Ford's Theatre Box Office, though walk-up tickets can sell out. Tickets can also be reserved online in advance through the Ford's Theatre Society's website. Online tickets cost $5.00. The reservation cost is not waived on NPS Fee Free Days.
While there is no park entrance fee, timed reservations are required due to space limitations. Limit 6 tickets per customer. These reservations carry a small fee that benefits the Ford's Theatre Society, the official park partner.
Parking: Ford’s Theatre is located near the Metro Center and Gallery Place/Chinatown metro stations. An independent parking garage is located directly next to the theatre. Parking fees are not validated.
Hours
| Theatre Hours | Daily · 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
Hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hoursNow | 9:00AM - 5:00PM |
| Nov 26, 2026Thanksgiving | Closed |
| Dec 25, 2026Christmas | Closed |
When to go
April draws the most visits here and January the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
No campgrounds, no webcams or events in Park Service data. What is here comes from the official page. The rest lives there.
Checked nightly. Modules appear as soon as the Park Service publishes the data.
Explore
Things to do
- Explore Ford's Theater1-3 Hours
On the night of April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot in Ford's Theatre by John Wilkes Booth. He died in the early hours of April 15, in the small back bedroom of a boarding house across the street.
Opens on the Park Service site - Red Line - DC Metro1-2 Days
Embrace the outdoors, explore interactive exhbits and stand where history happened by taking the Red Line to visit some of DC's National Park Sites.
Opens on the Park Service site - Orange Line - DC Metro1-2 Days
Discover lotus and lily flowers at Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens, or explore the many memorials just a short walk from the Orange Line.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Historic landmarks nearby
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Guidebooks for the Mid-Atlantic
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Weather & climate
Washington DC gets to see all four seasons. Humidity will make the temps feel hotter in summer and colder in winter. Spring (March - May) Temp: Average high is 65.5 degrees with a low of 46.5 degrees Summer (June - August) Temp: Average high is 86 degrees with a low of 68.5 degrees Fall (September - November) Temp: Average high is 68 degrees with a low of 51.5 degrees Winter (December - February) Temp: Average high is 45 degrees with a low of 30 degrees
Questions people ask
Does Ford's Theatre charge an entrance fee?
No. Ford's Theatre is free to enter, though some tours and ticketed sites inside charge separately.
Source: National Park Service
Do I need a reservation to enter Ford's Theatre?
While there is no park entrance fee, timed reservations are required due to space limitations. Limit 6 tickets per customer.
Source: Timed entry, by park
What are the hours at Ford's Theatre?
Standard hours are 9:00AM - 5:00PM, every day. Dated exceptions are listed under Hours.
Source: National Park Service
How busy is Ford's Theatre?
393,662 recreation visits in 2025, number 130 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is there cell service at Ford's Theatre?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is the weather like at Ford's Theatre?
Washington DC gets to see all four seasons. Humidity will make the temps feel hotter in summer and colder in winter.
Source: Weather & climate
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
