Structural Analysis and Report of the Ford's Theatre Building (Lincoln Museum)

Locraft, Bernard

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. This report contains the results of a structural analysis of Ford's Theatre Building (Lincoln Museum)., after careful measurements and investigations were made at the site. Research was conducted to determine the early history of the building with respect to its structural alterations, and photographs were taken of existing conditions. This investigation was undertaken in order to determine the structural stability and safe load carrying capacities of the walls and floors as well as the fire-resistive qualities of the building with respect to egress and other safety precautions since the structure is used as a museum primarily and a place of public assembly upon occasion. The first part of the report contains conclusions and recommendations while the second part elaborates upon those conclusions and recommendations, including detailed information on the analyses made with supporting data, measured plans, and detailed photographs showing the several points discussed in the report .

Structural Analysis and Report of the Ford's Theatre Building (Lincoln Museum)

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