Ford’s Theatre – January 29, 2011

Ford’s Theatre is a historic theatre and has been in existence since the 1860’s. Sure, almost everything can be ‘historic’ in Washington, DC, but this is even more so, as it is also the site of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

On Saturday, Aaron and I had the opportunity to visit Ford’s Theatre and take in a special event – “Papa Day” – a 30 minute short play, enacted by an actress who played the character, Elizabeth Hobbs Keckly. Ms. Keckly was a former slave, who used her abilities as a successful seamstress to earn enough to buy her freedom and later on, that of her son, George. In “Papa Day”, the actress portrayed her very well and shared stories of life in the Lincoln White House. The term “Papa Day” came as a result of Tad Lincoln’s lisp. He used to call his father “Papa Dear” but to the untrained ear who had no idea of his lisp, it sounded like “Papa Day”.

Elizabeth Keckly became a family friend and the personal dressmaker of Mary Todd Lincoln, who was said to have had an exquisite collection of dresses, most of them made by Ms. Keckly. She went on to share gentle and humorous stories of the Lincoln family and gave us an insight into the personal life of Abraham Lincoln and his family. We thoroughly enjoyed the performance!

As this narration was taking place, we felt a really special feeling – we were sitting in the second row of the orchestra section and have a clear view of the theatre box where Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth. Ford’s Theatre has a really special feel to it due to this fact. It was surreal to look up and imagine how the whole thing went down, and to know that we were walking in the place that Abraham Lincoln visited quite frequently, as he loved the arts and theatre.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford%27s_Theatre

Once the play was over, we had a chance to wander around and go to the balcony area where the actual theatre box was located. No one has been allowed into that place and it is closed off, except for a door with half plexiglass so one could peer into the very place that the President sat and a placard that shows where and how Booth entered to fire a single shot, 6 inches away from the left ear of Abraham Lincoln. It was an amazing feeling to be there!

President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14th, 1865. after he was shot, he was moved to the Petersen House across the street, where he later died. Aaron and I also had the chance to tour the museum and read about his life, his family, his America and to be immersed in his intelligence.