Washington DC Lincoln Assassination Historical Tour

This tour will take you minute by minute through the last day of the 16th President, Abraham Lincoln.
You will meet the conspirators who were desperately trying to save the Confederate cause in the dying days of the Civil War. There were to be three attacks that night. This tour unfolds as a story filled with suspense, intrigue, and espionage.

Learn about and see:

-The White House - where Lincoln gave his final speech in the presence of his later assassin, John Wilkes Booth

-Home of Secretary of State Seward - who was also attacked that night by a co-conspirator of Booh

-National Theatre - a potential site of Booth's attack on Lincoln, but instead where his young son learned of the death of his father.

-Site of the Kirkwood House Hotel - where Vice President Andrew Johnson lived and an attack on him was planned that night.

-Ford's Theatre - the site of the assassination while watching a play in a full house.

-Peterson's Boarding House - where Lincoln took his final breath.

Meeting Point

1525 H St NW

1525 H St NW, Washington, DC 20005, USA

Please meet your guide at the entrance of the church on 16th Street NW, NOT the Parish House on H St NW. The tour begins at St. John's Church, the yellow-columned church at the corner of 16th and H St NW, across the street from Lafayette Square.

What's included:

• Historic Photos to View on the Tour of Sites and Characters
• Professional, Licensed Tour Guide

Not included:

• Entrance into Ford's Theatre (tickets from NPS required)

What to expect:

Duration: 2 hours

St. John's Episcopal Church

1525 H St NW, 16th & H Sts. Nw, Washington DC, 20005-1098, District of Columbia

Nicknamed the Church of the Presidents, we start our tour here to get an overview of Washington DC in the 1860s; understanding the events that led to this fateful night. (We do not enter any buildings on this tour)

5 minutes

Lafayette Square

16th St, Pennsylvania Ave Northwest, Washington DC, 20001, District of Columbia

The tour will begin with an introduction to President Lincoln's final months in the White House. New characters will be introduced as we explore the historic row houses that surround the park.

10 minutes

White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave, , Washington DC, 20500, District of Columbia

We talk about Abraham Lincoln's presidency during the Civil War and his final speech; given at the White House in the presence of his later assassin, John Wilkes Booth. (We do not enter any buildings on this tour)

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

United States Department of the Treasury

15th Street and Hamilton Place, NW, (Washington Monument side), Washington DC, District of Columbia

Walk past the US Treasury Building, which acted as the temporary White House after Lincoln's Assassiantion.

Pass by without stopping

The National Theatre

1321 Pennsylvania Ave NW, One Freedom Plaza, Washington DC, 20004-1711, District of Columbia

On the day of the assassination, John Wilkes Booth stopped by this theater and met with a friend. Later that evening, Lincoln's son Tad was at this theater watching a play: Aladdin or his Wonderful Lamp. (We do not enter any buildings on this tour)

10 minutes

Old Post Office Pavilion

1100 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC, 20004-2501, District of Columbia

Across from this grand old building was the location of the Kirkwood House Hotel. This is where Vice President Andrew Johnson stayed. Conspirator George Azerodt rented a room here and was given the job to attack Johnson that same night... (We do not enter any buildings on this tour)

5 minutes

Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest

Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC, USA

Learn about America's Main Street as you walk through downtown Washington DC, following in the foot steps of Presidential Inaugural Parades and how the residents of Civil War Washington DC traversed the city.

Pass by without stopping

Ford's Theatre

511 Tenth Street NW, , Washington DC, 20004-1499, District of Columbia

This is the historic theater where John Wilkes Booth snuck up behind the President like a coward and fired that fateful shot. Today it is a working theater and it has been restored to his Civil War era grandeur. Millions of Americans visit this location every year to remember Lincoln and his legacy. (We do not enter any buildings on this tour)

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Petersen Boarding House

516 10th St NW, , Washington DC, 20004-1401, District of Columbia

This small and simple historic row house was a boarding house at the time of the Civil War. After Lincoln was shot, he was taken to a room on the first floor of this house while the doctors attended to his health. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton interviewed witnesses here that night. Robert Todd Lincoln arrived from the White House and stayed by his father's side all night. It was a sad procession early the next morning when they finally brought the President's lifeless body down the steps for his carriage journey back to the White House. (We do not enter any buildings on this tour)

10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Baptist Alley

Washington, DC 20004, USA

The original alley behind Ford's Theatre through which John Wilkes Booth escaped after the assassination. Ask your tour guide to tell you about it and you can walk there after the tour! It is open to the public and you can see some original buildings.

Pass by without stopping