The Petersen Boarding House

The Petersen House (House Where Lincoln Died) at 516 10th street was the home of William and Anna Petersen. On the night of April 14, 1865 the mortally wounded president was carried to a back bedroom in this house. The Petersen family aided as they could, although on this night their home was no longer their own. Over 90 people would come and go through the house to pay their last respects to the dying president. Soldiers stood guard at the front door and were posted on the roof to keep the growing crowds at bay. While doctors cared for the president the Petersen family and some of the boarders spent the night in the basement. At 7:22 am, April 15, 1865, Abraham Lincoln died in the back bedroom of this humble house.

Touring the Petersen House: The three rooms in the house today our furnished in 1865 period pieces, none of the furniture is original to the house. Visitors use the same ticket that they used to tour Ford's Theatre. The House is open 9:30 am to 5:30 pm seven days a week. The Petersen House is expected to re-open in the spring of 2011.

General Information

America's transfer from Civil War to peace was made more difficult on April 14, 1865, when Abraham Lincoln was shot and killed just five days after General Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House. A well-known actor, John Wilkes Booth, desperate to aid the dying Confederacy, stepped into the president's theatre box and assassinated Mr Lincoln. Booth escaped into the night as Abraham Lincoln was carried to the Petersen boarding house across the street. It was there that President Lincoln died early the next morning. Lincoln was the first American president to be assassinated.

To help plan your visit to Ford's Theatre, we have implemented a timed ticket entrance system. There is no charge to visit the site. However, if you would like to make an advance reservation, there is a convenience fee.

For more information, visit Operating Hours & Seasons and Fees & Reservations. Groups of 20 or more, please contact the Group Sales office by email at groups@fords.org or call the Ford’s Theatre Society, a Ford's Theatre National Historic Site partner, at 202-638-2367 or 800-899-2367 to make a reservation.

In general, Ford's Theatre is open every day except for November 25 (Thanksgiving Day) and December 25. However, Ford's Theatre is an active theatre and there are times when the site is closed for matinees, rehearsals and special events.