Ford's Theater (Washington, D.C.)

 theatre, assassination, place with historical importance, Victorian (architecture), NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, interesting place, 1860s construction

Ford's Theatre at 511 10th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. is an active theater in Washington DC, United States, used for various performances. The theater became well known when it became the site of the assassination of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865.

After being shot, he was carried across the street to the Petersen House where he died the next morning.

After the assassination, the building was taken over by the federal government and used as an office building by the Army Surgeon General. Tragedy struck again in 1893, when workers tunneling out the floors in order to add electric lights caused the sudden collapse of all three floors at the time when it was occupied by over 500 people. 25 were killed and over 100 were wounded.

Ironically the collapse occured the same day that the remains of Edwin Booth, the great tragedian, whose life was so darkened by his brother's crime, were being borne to their last resting place in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Massachusetts.

The theater and house are preserved together as Ford's Theatre National Historic Site.

www.nps.gov/foth/