Physical / Mobility

 

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Parking and Transportation

Ford’s Theatre is in downtown Washington, DC, where street parking options are limited.

There are several metered parking spaces within two blocks of Ford’s Theatre that are reserved for vehicles with disability placards or plates. To see the location of these spaces, check the accessible paid parking map.

See our Directions and Transportation page for more parking options and public transit information.
 
Glass double doors at the front of a building with a glass overhang and a wide brick sidewalk out front.
Start your visit in the main entrance lobby where park rangers and staff are available to assist you.

NPS / Kelsey Graczyk

Entrance

There is a wide brick sidewalk in front of Ford’s Theatre. You can open the front doors with the handle or by pressing the automatic push button to the left of the door.

During busy times, you may be asked to line up outside of the entrance in advance of your ticketed entry time.
 
A large room with a bench next to the wall, three counters with windows in the middle with box office signs over each one, and a wide ramp down towards doors to a theatre.
Rest on a bench, shop for souvenirs, or use the restrooms in the lobby before starting your historic site visit.

NPS / Kelsey Graczyk

Lobby

Inside you will find:
  • The box office where you can pick up tickets.
  • Men’s and women’s restrooms with accessible stalls and infant/child changing tables.
  • Benches to sit and rest.
  • A gift shop selling t-shirts, books, mugs, and other souvenirs.
  • Elevator to the basement museum and theatre balcony.
 

Wheelchairs for Loan

Three wheelchairs of different sizes are available to borrow for use at Ford’s Theatre. Wheelchairs are first-come first-served. Ask a park ranger or Ford’s Theatre Society staff for assistance.
  • Large: 24 inch seat width
  • Medium: 22 inch seat width
  • Small/Child: 15.75 inch seat width
 
An open door to a staircase leading down with a sign for a museum next to the doorframe.
There is an elevator in the main lobby for visitors who are unable to use the stairs.

NPS / Laurel Brodsky

Museum

The museum is on the basement level.

How to Get There

  • A narrow staircase with 29 steps connects the orchestra level of the theatre to the museum.
  • You can also take an elevator in the theatre lobby next to the box office.
 
A dimly lit room with a bench in front of a video screen and informational panels on the wall with photos and text.
The museum is dimly lit to protect the artifacts on display.

NPS / Laurel Brodsky

Inside the Museum

  • Low-pile carpeted floors.
  • Several benches to sit and rest.
  • Space to move around exhibits with a mobility device.
  • Bookstore selling books, t-shirts, toys, and other souvenirs.
  • Women’s and Men’s restrooms with accessible stalls.
 
Rows of tiered seats with aisles with steps on either side.
Chairs in the back row can be removed to make space for a wheelchair.

NPS / Laurel Brodsky

Theatre

Orchestra Section (First Floor)

The orchestra section is on the ground floor. You can get there by a ramp from the lobby. The floor has low-pile carpet. Accessible seating is in the back row (row O). All other seats can only be reached by steps, and there are no handrails.
 
A carpeted staircase curves up above a doorway blocked off by a retractible belt.
Mind your step! This historic staircase up the balcony has steps with varying depths.

NPS / Kelsey Graczyk

Balcony

A spiral staircase with 25 steps connects the orchestra level to the balcony. You can also take the elevator in the lobby to reach the balcony.

The floor has low-pile carpet. There are three wheelchair-accessible seats in the back row (Row H). Other than the back row, all seats require using steps. The steps in the center aisles do not have handrails, but the steps along the theatre walls do have handrails.

 
Red carpeted steps with a handrailing lead along a wall with rows of tiered theatre seating to the right.
There are four sets of two steps down to the door of the Presidential Box.

NPS / Laurel Brodsky

Presidential Box

On the balcony level, there are eight steps down to the door of the presidential box. When the viewing area is open, you can see the area where Lincoln sat when he was shot. The viewing area is narrow and enclosed.

If you cannot use stairs, or the viewing area is closed, ask a ranger to see photos.
 
Two drinking fountains at different heights next to a doorway to a hallway with an elevator and a door to a men's restroom.
The elevator, restrooms, and drinking fountains are on the opposite side of the theatre as the Presidential Box.

NPS / Laurel Brodsky

Restrooms and Drinking Fountain

Men’s and Women’s restrooms, each with an accessible stall, are next to the elevator. There are no changing tables on the balcony level.

Two drinking fountains are between the elevator and the women’s restroom.
 
A row of conjoined buildings of different heights and building materials on a street, one of which has a portrait of Lincoln in the window next to a shorter brick building with a staircase up to the front door.
Petersen House is next door to a Ford's Theatre Society building which provides elevator access to the room where Lincoln died.

NPS / Kelsey Graczyk

Petersen House

Petersen House, where President Lincoln died, is across the street from Ford’s Theatre. There is a timed crosswalk with a curb cut to cross 10th Street.

There are ten steps up a curved staircase with a railing to enter through the front door. For elevator access, ask a park ranger or Ford’s Theatre Society staff for assistance.
 
A bed behind a railing next to a doorway with a ramp into a narrow hallway.
A small and steep ramp connects the room where Lincoln died to the front rooms of Petersen House.

NPS / Laurel Brodsky

The Ford's Theatre Society building next door has an elevator that reaches two exhibit levels and the back porch of Petersen House.

From the porch, you can view the room where Lincoln died. The doorway from the porch into that room is 28 inches wide and has a one-inch floor lip. The rooms have low-pile carpet. A small, steep ramp connects the back room to the front rooms of Petersen House.

Please note, some wheelchairs and mobility devices may not fit through the narrow doorways of Petersen House.
 
A hallway imitating an alleyway with a streetlight, brick walls, and exhibit panels with photos and text.
Learn about the aftermath of President Lincon's assassination.

NPS / Laurel Brodsky

Aftermath Exhibits

The Aftermath Exhibits are on the third and fourth floors of the Ford’s Theatre Society building next to Petersen House. The exhibits tell the story of the hunt for President Lincoln’s assassin and how the country reacted to the president’s death.

The exhibit begins on the fourth floor and continues on the third floor. You can reach both floors by using the elevator located off the back porch of Petersen House. There are benches on both floors of the exhibit.
 
A doorway leading to two drinking fountains and the door to a family restroom.
The restrooms on both floors are at the opposite side of the building as the spiral staircase.

NPS / Laurel Brodsky

Restrooms and Drinking Fountains

There are two accessible family restrooms with changing tables on the third floor of the Aftermath Exhibits and on the main floor of the Ford's Theatre Society building. Water fountains are next to the restrooms on each floor.
 
A carpeted room with displays of hats and t-shirts on the left and a staircase with railing on the right.
The ground floor has restrooms, a gift shop, and a cafe.

NPS / Laurel Brodsky

Gift Shop and Exit

You can use the large spiral staircase or the elevators to go from the third and fourth floors to the ground level.

There is a gift shop and cafe operated by Ford’s Theatre Society. The exit through the cafe has heavy glass doors. If you need accessible doors, ask for help to use the doors next to the spiral staircase.
 

Questions?

Please contact us for additional information or for help planning your visit.
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Voice: 202-426-6841
 
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Last updated: February 20, 2026

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1100 Ohio Drive SW
Washington, DC 20242

Phone:

202-426-6841

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