Fairfax County, Virginia
Don't be confused by the fact that Day 14 is following Day 15...I got confused, but I've got it all sorted out now. Problem is, I don't readily know how to correct the order of my posts, without a fair deal of trouble, so, you get to suffer. :-)
Anyway, on Day 14, Monday, we had reservations to visit Ford's Theater - you know, that infamous location of Lincoln's assassination? Yeah, that Ford's Theater.
I had been there before, back in 1993, but it's changed a bit since then (they've added a section on the side with the requisite gift shop and so on), in fact, when we walked up to it I didn't recognize it! But, having not been there in over a decade, I was happy to return. These days they have created a huge exhibit in the basement where, in 1993, there was a much smaller one that focused on the assassination itself. Nowadays, they focus on the entire Lincoln presidency; I found that a bit disappointing...
But the one thing they've added that I did appreciate was the presentation in the theater. According to my sister, they used to have a Park Ranger just tell the story of what happened that night in April 1865, now they have the Ranger dressed up as a constable who was present at the time of the event! The Ranger did a splendid job of portraying the constable who was the first police officer on the scene that night. He gave a first person narrative of the events and after the presentation even answered questions from the audience, still in character!
Although we weren't allowed to enter or get a real good look at the presidential box (which is now totally off-limits, despite the fact that the theater is a fully functioning theater and has been thus since it was refurbished in the 1960's) I was able to get a few shots of it from the lower gallery. I will post the more interesting photos for you.
BELOW: 1) Ford's Theater. 1) Box opposite Presidential box. 2) Stage. 3) Presidential Box. 4) Petersen Boarding House where Lincoln succumbed to his wounds.
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