Historic Structures Report: Restoration of Ford's Theatre
Olszewski GJ. 1962. Historic Structures Report: Restoration of Ford's Theatre. Historic Structure Report. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was assassinated in Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865. The mortally wounded, but still breathing president was carried across the street to Petersen's boarding house, where he remained unconscious through the night. On April 15, 1865, President Lincoln died in the Petersen House. First opened to the public in 1968, Ford's Theatre National Historic Site protects the Theatre and Petersen House, houses a museum about the assassination, and is a working theater. The structure covered in this report is the building known as the Ford Theatre Building and its two annexes, the dressing room annex at the northeast corner and the former Star Saloon building to the south. It is proposed that the entire structure, including the theatre’s interior and the two annexes, be restored to their original appearance as of the night of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, April 14, 1865. This office recommends, therefore, that approval be given to the complete restoration of Ford’s Theatre so that the scene of this tragic but historically significant event can be reproduced accurately and in the most minute detail. This office is also of the opinion that only by means of a complete restoration can the theatre be properly interpreted. Provision will also be made to house the Lincoln Museum and the Lincoln Library within the structure.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Olszewski, George
- Date of Issue
- 1962
- Publisher
- Department of the Interior, National Park Service
- Units
- FOTH , HIST , NAMA , NCR
- Keywords
- Abraham Lincoln, Administration, Architecture, Construction, Cultural Resources, ehistory, Ford's Theatre, historic structure report, historic structures program, History, Lincoln Library, Lincoln Museum, Preservation, Restoration, Star Saloon
- Subjects
- CRIS-HS: 046409: Ford's Theatre - Res. 699