Who wouldn’t want an Abraham Lincoln-themed day? With several Lincoln-related spots on my bucket list, we turned a trip to Washington, D.C., into a history-filled outing.
The day was centered around visiting Ford’s Theatre and President Lincoln’s Cottage. We wanted to check out two other spots (the Lincoln restaurant and the National Museum of Health and Medicine) but both were unfortunately closed on this day. I’ve still included the original plan below.
You could honestly turn this into a long weekend of Lincoln-themed activities, so I included two additional itinerary options at the end of this post. Why not make it a 3-day weekend?! Either way, the first itinerary is packed, so get ready.
Overall Lincoln-themed itinerary
To ensure all of the sites below are open, Wednesday through Sunday visits are best. Not all of the below are open on Monday or Tuesdays.
9:00 AM: Ford’s Theatre where Lincoln was assassinated
11:30 AM: Lunch at Lincoln, an American restaurant
2:00 PM: President Lincoln’s Cottage
4:00 PM: National Museum of Health and Medicine’s Lincoln Exhibit (where the bullet that killed him is on display)
If you are looking for a historic place to stay the night and want to be bougie, stay at the Willard Hotel (Willard InterContinental). President-elect Abraham Lincoln took up residence at The Willard for ten days prior to his inauguration in 1861.
The itinerary is already pretty packed, but if you want to go really aggressive with the theme, you can first grab breakfast at Lincoln’s Waffle Shop (across the street from Ford’s Theatre). There is no historic significance to this location, but the name of the establishment goes along with the theme. I have read though, that President Lincoln would often skip breakfast. If he did have breakfast, it was a simple one consisting of coffee, an egg, and a piece of toast.
I would recommend driving to all of these sites since time is limited, especially if you plan to head to the National Museum of Health and Medicine, as this is out in Maryland.
Getting psyched up for your Abraham Lincoln day!
After you’ve confirmed plans and gotten your ticket reservations, get a refresher on Lincoln and these sites with the suggestions below.
Watch
- Manhunt – the Apple TV series (2024)
- Lincoln the movie (2012)
- Watch a 13-minute tour of inside the presidential box at Ford’s Theatre
Read
- Read the Reddit “AMA” (Ask Me Anything) on President Lincoln’s Cottage
- Lincoln’s Sanctuary by Matthew Pinsker – this is the required reading for all of the staff at President Lincoln’s Cottage
- Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin (the movie Lincoln is loosely based off this book)
- Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders – highly recommended by one of the staff members at Lincoln Cottage (one of my friends agrees with the recommendation). It is a work of historical fiction, and has been described as both haunting and hilarious, taking place during and after the death of Abraham Lincoln’s son Willie. Much of the book takes place in the bardo which in Tibetan Buddhism is the transitional state between death and reincarnation when the consciousness is not connected to a body
- In the Houses of Their Dead: The Lincolns, the Booths, and the Spirits by Terry Alford – this was recommended by one of the people on our tour. If you’re into Lincoln and spiritualism (or death in general), this book and Lincoln in the Bardo would be interesting reads!
- Lincoln by David Herbert Donald
- Read about some of Abraham Lincoln’s favorite foods
Listen
- Listen to the “Q & Abe” Podcast created by President Lincoln’s Cottage
Stop 1: Ford’s Theatre where Lincoln was assassinated
- Proposed start time: 9:00 AM (arrive at least 15 min earlier to park and get tickets as applicable)
- Cost: $3.50 per person (reserve tickets ahead of time)
- Duration: 1.25 – 2 hours
The reason why we have Ford’s Theatre as the first stop is because it opens the earliest. Additionally, sometimes reservations later in the day don’t include access to the theater (it is still a live, working theater).
About the Theatre
Did you know that Ford’s Theatre is part of the National Park Service? We didn’t either! You’ll see interpretive park rangers around when you visit. An interpretive park ranger is a park staff member who helps visitors connect with a park’s natural and cultural resources. A non-interpretive park ranger typically focuses on enforcing park rules, managing visitor safety, and general park maintenance.
President Lincoln was assassinated at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865. After his assassination, the U.S. government purchased the theater in 1866. It was converted into a three-floor office building, and is where the original Army Medical Museum was housed (which has since moved to Maryland, and is a part of this itinerary!).
From 1932 until 1964, the theater was a Lincoln museum on the first floor. The museum was extremely popular and visitors expressed interest in seeing the inside as it was on the night of the assassination. In 1964, construction and restoration of the theater began, and re-opened as a live, working theater in 1968.
Reserving tickets
Go to their website and choose the date you want to visit. The ticket includes access to the museum, Ford’s Theatre, Petersen House, and the Aftermath Exhibits. Make sure your ticket includes all of the above, particularly the museum and Theatre visit because not all tickets do.
The cost of each of our tickets was $3.50. You can choose to print at home, or pick up at the box office.
Parking
There’s a parking garage right next to the theater. It’s not the cheapest, but it’s convenient.
When we pulled into the garage, one of the attendants said we could park anywhere on B4 and below. All spots in the garage will say “Reserved 24/7”.
Take the ticket with you into the theatre so you can pre-pay before leaving. We had a tough time finding a pre-pay station (one is hidden behind a concrete pole on B3). If you’re not able to find it, you can pay via credit card at the gate on the way out. You can also access the parking garage from the lobby of Ford’s Theatre as well.
What to expect on arrival
Arrive 10 minutes early to wait to enter. There is no need to rush to the front of the line because the first part (the museum) is self-guided.
If your ticket is at will call, pick it up from the box office and wait until the staff announce it is time to enter. Because it was cold outside, everyone waited in the lobby, but during warmer months I think most visitors line up outside. We looked around the gift shop while we waited. Once it’s time, the staff will scan your ticket and everyone heads downstairs into the museum.
The museum
There is no set structure for exploring the museum. Once you are in the basement, you are free to explore anywhere, so you can bypass any crowds that look like they’re waiting. The museum has a bunch of storyboards and placards to read about, and there are some interesting artifacts as well. You’ll spend about 30-45 minutes exploring the museum before heading to the theatre for the ranger talk. There were probably at least 100 people in the museum, but it was large enough that it didn’t feel too crowded.
The coolest parts of the museum were the various artifacts from the night of the shooting, including the Derringer pistol that John Wilkes Booth used. After you go down the stairs, take a right and the gun is tucked away in a room close to the back wall. There are other interesting artifacts, like a pillow from Petersen House which was placed under Lincoln’s head, and the boot removed by Dr. Mudd who treated John Wilkes Booth’s broken leg.
The timeline describing the hours of the day from both Lincoln and Booth’s perspectives was also interesting. This is located next to the stairs that lead to the Theatre.
According to one of the park rangers, folks should be allowed to start heading to the theatre after about 30 minutes.
Ford’s Theatre and a ranger talk
Folks can get settled into the theatre and choose to sit in the ground floor seats or head up to seats on the balcony level. Either way, you can still see the reconstructed booth where President Lincoln was assassinated. Sitting on the ground floor will give you quicker access to exit the theatre to visit Petersen House next. The Park Ranger’s talk begins at the 45-minute mark.
The Park Ranger will give a brief history of the theater and what transpired the day of the assassination, and will also stay afterwards to answer any questions. When the Park Ranger finished his talk, there was no explicit guidance on what to do next. We just knew that Petersen House was supposed to be “next”. We exited the theater to head straight to Petersen House. That was the right move because we got there early enough that we didn’t have to wait in line to enter. It seems like they only let a handful of people in at a time (10-ish?), so there is a chance that visitors will have to wait in a short line before entering.
We realized after-the-fact that there are some days where the Ford’s Theatre part is Walkthrough instead of a Ranger Talk. It was not available on the days we were considering. It’s also unclear from my research if it is guided or self-guided. From what I have found online, it may be self-guided and does not give access to the reconstructed presidential box.
Petersen House
The Petersen Boarding House is the house where Lincoln died at 7:22 am on April 15, 1865. Instead of transporting the President on a bumpy 6-block carriage ride back to the White House, William Petersen shouted to the soldiers, “Bring him in here!” so the President could be cared for across the street in their home in a vacant bedroom.
You can see Petersen House across the street as you exit Ford’s Theatre. Once you get to the entrance, you will be greeted by another Park Ranger. The main house consists of 3 modest rooms, including the room where Lincoln died. None of the furniture is original to the house. The original bed where he died is on display at the Chicago History Museum.
Once you have toured the rooms, you will make your way to an elevator that takes you upstairs to exhibits on the aftermath of the President’s death and the evolution of his legacy.
As you make your way to each exhibit, you’ll also see a huge tower of books written about Lincoln. The plaque notes that he is the most written-about president in history, and is a fitting memorial given his love of reading and books.
Next: Travel time to the restaurant for lunch is around 10 minutes by car. At least double this time to get out of the garage, accommodate for any traffic, and find parking.
Stop 2: Lunch at Lincoln
- Proposed start time: 11:30 AM (if driving, leave enough time to find parking)
- Cost: $20-30 entrees
- Duration: 1 – 1.5 hours
- Reservations recommended, particularly on weekends
Grab your car and head to lunch at a Lincoln- a presidential-themed restaurant located at 1110 Vermont Ave NW in D.C. This restaurant is located along Lincoln’s historic commute from the President’s Cottage to the White House.
Some of Lincoln’s favorite foods were supposedly oysters, chicken fricassee, baked beans, and apples (particularly apple pie). While the menu does not always offer the above, I did see recently that apple crisp is offered as a dessert.
Enjoy your lunch!
Next: Travel time to President Lincoln’s Cottage is around 16 minutes. Don’t worry about arriving “too early” at the next stop, as if you arrive early, you can use that time to explore the museum before the tour.
Stop 3: President Lincoln’s Cottage
- Proposed start time: 2:00 PM (arrive as early as you’d like to explore the museum first; if not, accommodate for at least 5 min to check in at the security gate)
- Cost: $15 per adult; less for children and military (reserve tickets ahead of time)
- Duration: 1.25 – 2 hours
Many people know about Lincoln’s accomplishments, and sites like the Lincoln Memorial with its iconic 19-foot statue of Lincoln, and his assassination at Ford’s Theatre. But one aspect of his legacy that is harder to convey is his ability to connect with everyday people and treat all people with respect no matter their race, status, origin, or profession. This is where President Lincoln’s Cottage stands out and helps to represent and remind visitors. The Cottage itself and guided tour brings to light more of his vision for unity, deep empathy, humility, and respect for others. Their tour spends a lot of time reflecting on Lincoln’s interactions with others and how he was as a leader making tough decisions.
The rooms today in the Cottage might be bare, but the ideas that originated there were significant. This is a place where visitors can reflect on the meaning of Lincoln’s lasting legacy. The tours often ask visitors a lot of reflective questions, and as a result it may be a different type of tour than you might be used to, so keep that in mind.
About Lincoln’s Cottage
President Lincoln’s Cottage is a historic site situated on a hilltop overlooking downtown Washington, D.C. It was built in 1842 by a banker named George W. Riggs. The federal government purchased the property in 1851 to establish a retreat for disabled soldiers. Lincoln used the cottage as a seasonal residence during his presidency, where he also spent time with disabled soldiers and veterans. Though not as easy to get to, allies and adversaries would still visit the Cottage from time to time to speak with Lincoln.
This cottage is where Lincoln made important decisions throughout the Civil War, and where he developed some of his loftiest ideas, like the Emancipation Proclamation. The Lincolns were also at the cottage on April 13, 1865, the day before that fateful night at Ford’s Theatre.
Reserving tickets
Go to their website and choose a date for the Signature Guided Cottage Tour. As of December 2024, tickets are $15 for adults, and children 6-12 are $5 pre- tax and convenience fees). Cottage Members and military personnel get a discount.
Note: For an additional cost, there is also a self-guided Landscape tour using an app (on both iOS and Android) around the grounds of the Cottage (around 1.5 miles total). Since it is self-guided, you can explore at any point when the Cottage is open. We did not end up doing this, but if you choose to explore after the guided tour, you likely won’t have time to visit the National Museum of Health and Medicine. Alternatively, you could skip lunch and do this tour first ahead of the guided tour (or do an earlier guided tour with this afterwards).
Getting to Lincoln’s Cottage
When you arrive by car, security personnel will greet you and will emphasize restricted access to parts of the property. Much of the land is federal property as the Cottage shares the grounds with the Armed Forces Retirement Home, which is restricted for guests.
The officer will ask for your identification, so make sure you have your ID with you. You will make a left to find parking at Parking Lot 2. Parking is free.
What to expect on arrival
Head to the Visitor Education Center when you arrive and check in at the desk in the gift shop. Don’t worry if you get there early because you can tour the Visitor Education Center museum and parts of the grounds before the official guided tour.
We arrived 55 minutes early, and that was more than enough time to explore the museum and take a photo with the Lincoln statue outside. Note: guests are not to climb the horse!
Wait in the lobby outside the gift shop closer to the time of the tour to meet with your guide.
Touring the cottage itself
When we visited, there was no photography allowed inside, but the exterior is free to take pictures of. Since the Cottage really emphasizes Lincoln’s time there as a space for him to think on “big ideas”, the tour guides asks a lot of self-reflective questions (which is unlike many other historical tours). You’ll end the tour thinking a lot more about Lincoln’s presidency and family and impact on our nation and its people.
The rooms inside are largely unfurnished, as there are very few period photographs of the inside. While it makes it much different from other tours, I like that furniture was not staged just for the sake of it being there, as it might not have been true to where furniture was actually placed.
The Lincoln-themed day is almost done!
If you are feeling up to it, you have the options of:
- Continuing onto Stop 4 at the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Maryland (a 23 minute drive from the Cottage)
- Continuing with a self-guided Landscape tour of the Cottage (for an additional fee)
- Visiting Rock Creek Cemetery which is a 3-minute drive (or 9-minute walk) from the Cottage. While not Lincoln-themed, The Adams Memorial (commonly called Grief) is a hauntingly beautiful memorial commissioned by Henry Adams after his wife Marian “Clover” Hooper Adams committed suicide
- Print a cemetery map online before visiting
- There is no guided tour unlike Congressional Cemetery
Travel time to the National Museum of Health and Medicine is around 22 minutes.
Stop 4: The National Museum of Health and Medicine (NMHM)
- Proposed start time: 4:00 PM (as of December 2024, the museum closes at 5:30 PM)
- Cost: free
- Duration: 1-1.5 hours
We unfortunately did not make it to this museum as it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, but this was originally planned as our last stop of the day. Admission is free, and there is ample parking.
About the museum
The museum was originally known as the Army Medical Museum and was established during the Civil War. The location of the museum was originally in the Ford’s Theatre building from 1866-1887.
Various locations housed the NMHM collections and exhibits until officially landing at its current location in Silver Spring, Maryland in 2011. In 2015 the NMHM became part of the Defense Health Agency.
Admission is free.
The museum itself
From what we have read, it is small, but much of the artifacts in the museum are worth seeing, including the Abraham Lincoln exhibit. The bullet that killed Lincoln is on display here, as well as fragments of his skull, hair, and part of the doctor’s blood-stained shirt cuff.
Itineraries for additional Lincoln-themed days
If you can’t get enough of Lincoln and exploring D.C., or feel like the first itinerary is not for you, below are more Lincoln-themed days! Make it a long weekend!
Day 2: The Lincoln Memorial and museums
- Explore the Lincoln Memorial (free) before the museums open
- Explore the National Museum of American History (free) when they open at 10 AM
- You can find Lincoln’s top hat here
- See https://www.si.edu/spotlight/abraham-lincoln for what else you may be able to find about Lincoln in the National Museum of American History
- Many other cool artifacts to see – for example the chairs that Grant and Lee sat in during the surrender at Appomattox are also here
- Have lunch at Willard Continental – where President-elect Abraham Lincoln took up residence for ten days prior to his inauguration in 1861
- Explore the National Portrait Gallery (free)
- There is a collection of presidential portraits here, including the penny image of Lincoln
- The “Lincoln Gallery” was the site of Lincoln’s second inaugural ball – here you can see high-vaulted ceilings, marbled floors, and unique works of art
- See https://www.si.edu/spotlight/abraham-lincoln for what else you may be able to find about Lincoln in the National Portrait Gallery
- Visit New York Avenue Presbyterian Church (free), which is where Lincoln worshipped regularly during the Civil War
- If you want to explore more, take a 15-minute drive up to Oak Hill Cemetery (free). You can see the crypt of Lincoln’s son Willie who died in 1862 at the age of 11 and was temporarily laid there until he was moved to Illinois. The book Lincoln in the Bardo is loosely based off the fact that Lincoln reportedly would visit and even take his son out of his casket to hold and mourn him
Day 3: Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
Frederick Douglass is one of the most recognized abolitionists before and during the time of the Civil War. Douglass was also an author, politician, and formerly enslaved man
While Douglass and Lincoln had distinct roles in history, their stories are intertwined, especially regarding the fight for civil rights. Visiting the Douglass House will showcase the perspectives of someone who both challenged and influenced Lincoln. Including this as part of the overall itinerary will add depth to the Lincoln-theme by showcasing not just his life and history, but also the voices that influenced and challenged him
- Frederick Douglass National Historic Site (in the Anacostia neighborhood)
- Cost: free, but online reservations are $1.00 to cover the online processing fee. Make reservations to ensure a spot on the guided tour
- Duration: Tour is 1 hour, but if you arrive early, you can watch a 20-min video about Douglass’s life
- Open only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays
- This house is an opportunity to explore Douglass’s life and role as an abolitionist, as the writings and demonstrations of many abolitionists were also what contributed to the freeing of enslaved African Americans, complementing Lincoln’s own efforts to end slavery
- Lincoln Park (Capitol Hill)
- If you’re interested and have more time, head into D.C.’s Capitol Hill area and relax in Lincoln Park
- The park features monuments of Abraham Lincoln and Mary McLeod Bethune, a Civil Rights leader and educator
- The Emancipation Group statue was unveiled on April 14, 1876, 11 years after Lincoln’s death in front of a crowd of over 25,000. Attendees included Frederick Douglass, President Ulysses S. Grant, and members of Congress. Frederick Douglass gave a keynote address and expressed both praise and critique of the statue for its depiction of a black man on his knees in front of President Lincoln (it is unclear whether the critique came during the unveiling or afterwards). You can learn more about the park here and Frederick Douglass’s thoughts on the statue here
Lincoln’s legacy of leadership and humanity
I don’t have a favorite president, but Lincoln might come close. I’ve come to admire not just his accomplishments and perseverance, but how he led with grace. Even during intense division and criticism, he remained calm, practical and focused on a vision to bring the nation together. Learning more about this period in history and the people involved has been fascinating. “With malice toward none, with charity for all.”
