FORD'S THEATRE REOPENS TO THE PUBLIC

THE FORD'S THEATRE SOCIETY AND THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT THE FORD'S THEATRE MUSEUM, HAS BEEN REOPENED TO THE PUBLIC. LOCATED BELOW THE NEWLY RESTORED FORD'S THEATRE, THE MUSEUM USES 21st CENTURY TECHNOLOGY TO TRANSPORT VISITORS TO 19th CENTURY WASHINGTON. THE MUSEUM'S REMARKABLE COLLECTION OF HISTORIC ARTIFACTS ARE SUPPLEMENTED WITH A VARIETY OF NARRATIVE DEVICES -- ENVIRONMENTAL RECREATIONS, VIDEOS, AND THREE DIMENSIONAL FIGURES, BRINGING TO LIGHT ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S PRESIDENCY AND LIFE IN WASHINGTON DC. THE NEW EXHIBITS INSIDE THE MUSEUM SHOWCASE LINCOLN'S ARRIVAL IN WASHINGTON DC, BY TRAIN, THE ASSEMBLY OF LINCOLN'S PRESIDENTIAL CABINET, LIFE IN THE LINCOLN WHITE HOUSE, CIVIL WAR MILESTONES AND GENERALS, VIDEO FEATURES DEMONSTRATING LINCOLN'S ROLE AS EMANCIPATOR AND ORATOR AND THREE DIMENSIONAL FIGURES OF THE ASSASSINATION CONSPIRATORS. THE MUSEUM ALSO IS HOME TO A HOST OF VALUABLE ARTIFACTS INCLUDING POLITICAL CAMPAIGN PARAPHERNALIA, A FORD'S THEATRE PLAYBILL, THE CLOTHING AND BOOTS WORN BY ABRAHAM LINCOLN THE NIGHT OF HIS ASSASSINATION, THE DERINGER PISTOL USED BY JOHN WILKES BOOTH AND OTHER WEAPONS AND PERSONAL ITEMS BELONGING TO THE ASSASSINATION CONSPIRATORS.
IN AUGUST 2007, THE 144 YEAR OLD THEATRE, WHERE PRESIDENT LINCOLN WAS ASSASSINATED IN APRIL 1865, AND MUSEUM WERE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC AND WORK BEGAN ON RENOVATIONS, RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORIC BUILDING. IN FEBRUARY 2009, THE RESTORED AND RENOVATED THEATRE REOPENED, WHICH GETS AN ESTIMATED 1 MILLION VISITORS EACH YEAR NOT, BUT THE MUSEUM WAS CLOSED UNTIL RECENTLY.