Celebrating the Return of Ford’s Theatre and Museum

In mid-October, Ford's Theatre Society and the National Park Service began a phased reopening schedule for Ford's Theatre and the Ford's Theatre Museum, one of the most visited sites in the nation's capital.

Ford's Theatre reopened its doors in 1968, more than a hundred years after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Operated through a partnership between Ford's Theatre Society and the National Park Service, Ford's Theatre is the premier destination in the nation's capital to explore and celebrate Abraham Lincoln's life and legacy.

As part of the phased reopening, Ford's Theatre and its museum is operating with a modified schedule for daytime visitation on Wednesdays through Sundays with tickets required in advance. In addition, visits to Ford's Theatre are self-guided.

National Park Service ranger talks will not be scheduled during this initial reopening stage, and the Petersen House (The House where Lincoln Died) and the Aftermath Exhibits at the Center for Education and Leadership remain closed.

"For the last several months, Ford's Theatre Society and the National Park Service have been working together to adjust our visitor experience to meet new health and safety guidelines," said Paul R. Tetreault, Director, Ford's Theatre. "We are excited to welcome you back to the historic site and share Lincoln's legacy with you. We also appreciate that not everyone will be ready or able to join us in person. We continue to offer a variety of virtual programming, bringing Ford's programming directly to you."

Those virtual events include Cabinet Conversations—interviews with historians, artists and leaders; guided tours and more.

"Ford's Theatre is a must-see for any trip to our nation's capital, providing insight into the far-reaching and profound consequences that President Lincoln's assassination and death had, and continues to have, on our nation," said Jeff Reinbold, superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks. "Working with public health officials and our partners at Ford's Theatre Society, we are pleased to reopen the historic theatre and museum while providing for the health and safety of our staff and visitors."

There are several new procedures and policies in place to mitigate risk of COVID-19:

• Face coverings are required.
• Physical distancing protocols will be in place.
• Advance tickets are required.
• Temperature and wellness checks are required to enter the site.
• Contactless check-in will be in place.
• A low-touch experience is provided.
• One-way visitor paths are in place.
• Increased cleaning will be implemented.

Tickets will be available each Friday for the following Wednesday-Sunday. Timed entry to Ford's Theatre and museum will be available on the hour from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., and from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. The site will be closed during the 1 p.m. hour for cleaning. Adhering to capacity policies set forth by DC Health, a maximum number of 25 visitors per hour are permitted in the building during this stage of reopening.

To see a full list of policies, visit Ford's Theatre.

Courtesy of Groups Today.

Photo courtesy of Ford's Theatre.