Public Programs
Join us for a virtual event exploring leadership, creativity and Lincoln’s legacy. Or take an intimate, guided tour and explore the Lincoln assassination story in more depth.
Through our Cabinet Conversation series, you can join a live virtual conversation about leadership, creativity and Lincoln’s legacy. Or participate in an online challenge and perform Lincoln’s words on your own.
Take a walking tour of downtown Washington D.C., following an actor playing Detective James McDevitt as he investigates the Lincoln Assassination Conspiracy. Or join one of our passionate guides for an intimate tour of one of our historic spaces.
Upcoming Programs and Events
From Quill to Curtain: Crafting Plays Inspired by History
January 17, 31 and February 14, 2026
Join us for a three-part community playwriting workshop series where writers of all levels are invited to explore the art of building a narrative centered on a historical figure or event.
Written Then, Spoken Now: Remaking the Republic
February 6, 2026
In this chapter of Written Then, Spoken Now, Ford’s Theatre will be in conversation with Dr. Christopher Bonner, Chess Jakobs, dramaturg and Dr. Quincy Mills, Director of the Frederick Douglass Center for Leadership Through the Humanities.
History Talks: Inside the Petersen House
April 14, 2026
Step across the street from Ford’s Theatre and into one of the most poignant moments in American history. After Abraham Lincoln was shot on April 14, 1865, soldiers carried the wounded president to the Petersen House, where he died the next morning.
History Talks: Lesser-Known Players
May 12, 2026
There were over 1000 witnesses in the theatre on April 14, 1865, many of whom left compelling accounts of the historical tragedy and went on to live fascinating lives.
Ford’s For Me
This free sensory-friendly museum program creates an experience that is welcoming for families and people with sensory sensitivities who might benefit from an adjusted environment, including those with autism. This fall, stay tuned for more programming for older children and young adults!
Ongoing Programs
One Destiny: On Demand
Ford’s Theatre presents One Destiny: On Demand – a play that explores the fateful night of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination told from the perspectives of Ford’s Theatre owner Harry Ford and actor Harry Hawk.
Cabinet Conversations
Join us live as we stream interviews with scholars, artists and other thought leaders as they think aloud about the future of the arts, civics and history.
The Annual Abraham Lincoln Institute Symposium
The Abraham Lincoln Institute and Ford’s Theatre Society present a free symposium focused on the life, career and legacy of President Abraham Lincoln.