Ford's Theatre

Leonard Slatkin, 2026 Ford’s Theatre Lincoln Medal Honoree Leonard Slatkin accepted the 2026 Ford’s Theatre Lincoln Medal on M...

Before it was Ford’s Theatre, 511 Tenth Street was home to the First Baptist Church, a multiracial congregation.

The site between E and F Streets has been around for nearly 200 years, having been built for the congregation in June 1833.

John T. Ford leased the building from the First Baptist Church in late 1861 and renovated it into a theatre.

After a fire in 1862, Ford had a new building erected — the present-day Ford’s Theatre.

President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination wasn’t the only deadly tragedy that happened at Ford’s Theatre.

After his death, the theatre was transformed into an office building, employing hundreds of federal government workers.

On June 9, 1893, support piers in the basement collapsed.

Clerks described the crash as a “rumble like an earthquake” and “like the end of the world.”

The collapse left a 40-foot hole through all three stories of the building, killing 22 workers and leaving at least 68 more hurt.

After the collapse, Ford’s Theatre again became an office building and a storage facility for the War Department.

It was later renovated and reopened as a live theatre and historic site in 1968.

On June 4, 1919, the U.S. Senate passed the 19th Amendment, advancing the decades-long fight for women’s suffrage.

More than 60 years after his death, Abraham Lincoln’s words became part of that movement.

While running for re-election to the Illinois General Assembly in 1836, then-27-year-old Lincoln wrote: “I go for all sharing the privileges of the government who assist in bearing its burdens, by no means excluding women.”

Though historians still debate exactly what Lincoln meant by the statement, suffragists in the early 20th century embraced the quote as part of their movement.

The amendment was officially ratified the following year, granting millions of women the right to vote.

Congratulations to the Ford’s Theatre Society’s 2026 Lincoln Medalists.

This year’s honorees are Grammy Award–winning conductor Leonard Slatkin, one of the leading American conductors of his generation, and Gary Sinise—an Emmy, Golden Globe and Tony Award–winning actor, director, producer, humanitarian and advocate for active duty military, veterans and their families.

The Lincoln Medal recognizes individuals whose work, accomplishments and character reflect the enduring legacy and strength of character embodied by President Abraham Lincoln.

Happy Pride Month from Ford’s Theatre!

June is just around the corner, and we’re gearing up for a number of summer-ready events at Ford’s Theatre. ☀️

One of Washington, D.C.’s most iconic landmarks is the Lincoln Memorial, which was officially unveiled to the public in 1922.

Among the notable figures in attendance was Robert Todd Lincoln — Abraham and Mary’s only surviving son.

On May 28, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln visited Ford’s Theatre for the very first time.

He notoriously loved the arts. Outings to local plays were a way to ease his mind from the pressures of the presidency.

He visited Ford’s Theatre at least 10 times between 1862 and his assassination in 1865.

🎭 Love theatre like Lincoln? Explore the 2026-2027 season now at the link in our bio.