Historical and Architectural Features Significant in the Restoration or Partial Restoration of Ford's Theater

McClure, Stanley

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 is being prepared in order to assemble essential historical and architectural features of old Ford's Theater which have become known as a result of the research in installing the present exhibits, and from conclusions reached from close association with these subjects over a number of years. The report finds that from roof to basement, the old Ford's Theater building is in a deplorable condition and is badly in need of repair, stabilization and renovation. An engineering study will undoubtedly reveal that conditions are even worse than are known now and will furnish exact information on the state of the building. During the past several years, several proposals for the future treatment of the Ford's Theater building have been made. These include complete restoration, partial restoration, and improvement of the museum exhibits with inclusion of certain selected features of the old theater. In order to stabilize the building and to make exhibits in the Lincoln Museum collection more presentable, the cost would be approximately the same with whichever proposal is adopted.

Historical and Architectural Features Significant in the Restoration or Partial Restoration of Ford's Theater

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