Ford's Theater

Today, we began our day with a visit to Ford's Theater, a significant historical site where the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth happened. Fords’s is still a working theater and years ago it was on the itinerary to see a show there. These days we have a better time at a very popular dinner theater that we will visit tonight.

During our visit, I stumbled upon a charming piece of history involving Lincoln's son, Thomas, affectionately known as Tad. In 1863, Tad befriended a turkey that had been sent to the White House to become Christmas dinner. Not wanting to part with his new companion, Tad named the turkey Jack and boldly interrupted a Cabinet meeting to request a presidential pardon for him - a heartwarming tradition that is upheld to this day! I have been to Ford’s many times but I inly just learned this wonderful story today!

Following our time at the theater, we ventured across the street to the Petersen House, the solemn site where Lincoln passed. Here we saw the gun Booth used in the assassination and the very bed where Lincoln succumbed to his injuries. It was a moment of reflection and the students seemed to understand the significance.

After that solemn experience, we lightened the mood by bringing the kids to one of their favorite pastimes. Shopping. We visited a pretty decent gift shop, as gift shops go. 😉Read more