In Pursuit of John Wilkes Booth

As many of you know, I have two favorite places in DC Metro- Ford's Theatre and Mt. Vernon Estate.
2011 marked the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War and there have been many opportunities to learn more about the historic events that took place  here. It is my impression that President Lincoln is well deserving of his popularity- an astute statesman, war strategist and kind, compassionate man.

A must see in  DC is Ford's Theatre and Museum  http://www.fordstheatre.org/home/plan-your-visit/daytime-visits-fords-theatre/museum    The clothing that President Lincoln was wearing the night of the assassination is on display as well as the murder weapon.  The Museum of American History  also has some stunning Lincoln artifacts.

Right across the street, is the Petersen House http://www.fordstheatre.org/home/performances-events /tours/petersen-house both venues are operated by the National Park Service and admission is free.  The Petersen House is where Lincoln was carried after being shot, he died there the next morning. The house is sandwiched between modern day tourist traps that sell souvenirs and I believe The Lincoln Waffle House a greasy spoon that I visited with Holly and Ryne on their visit

It must be lonely to be a park ranger at the Petersen House since it is easily overlooked and takes a backseat to the more glamorous Ford's Theatre.  Worth the trip across the street and you may even be lucky enough to jaywalk directly to it.

My sister Mary Beth told me about a great book about Lincoln, entitled Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin.  I got the audio book from Sandy for Christmas and I will be listening to it on the long drive home in February. Coincidentally, a Steven Spielberg movie is being made from the book and has been filming in Richmond and DC during our time here. It seems there was an uproar in Richmond, as the lighting of the Christmas tree at the capitol was postponed to accommodate the filming of the movie. It will star Daniel Day Lewis and Sally Field and should be a real winner- looking forward to it!

Tom is reading Manhunt by James L Swanson and it is a good read. Another good book I've heard of is My Thoughts be Bloody by Nora Titone describing the rivalry between John Wilkes Booth and his brother Edwin.

  After seeing the movie, The Conspirators we became intrigued with Mary Surratt  who was hanged as a conspirator in the Lincoln assassination.   We took a trip to Maryland to see The Surratt House and Tavern Museum formerly in Surrattsville MD, now Clinton MD.  It was only about an hour's drive and was tucked in among suburbia. http://www.surratt.org/

We had a nice personalized tour from a friendly senior docent- lovely and unhurried as it was just us and another family. Interesting to see the former tavern and inn which has been restored and preserved by The Surratt Society and is a facility of the Maryland Capital Park and Planning Commission. Only $3.50 for admission and you can take all the pictures you want- yahoo!

After that, we decide to head to Dr. Mudd's farmhouse about 5 miles away as the crow flies. He is the Dr. who treated Wilkes Booth after he broke his leg while making his getaway from Ford's Theatre.  An amazing distance to travel on horseback with a broken leg.  We knew the farmhouse was closed for the season, it would be hard to get to on a snowy day in Winter.  It's in Beantown MD- how about that!
http://www.somd.lib.md.us/MUSEUMS/Mudd.htm

Mary Surratt's Boardinghouse still stands in DC but is now the Wok and Roll Chinese restaurant with a small plaque marking it, courtesy of the Chinatown Lion's Club. We made a quick side trip there on the day we took the NPR tour.

On the way home we stopped at Fort Washington, which is across from the Virginia side of the Potomac and visible from The Mount Vernon Estate.  It was a bitterly cold day and we were pretty much the only ones there except for the deer who were not at all disturbed by visitors and continued to munch on the grass while we took pictures.  This is another site worth the trip- but probably more pleasant on a warm day with a lovely view and unpretentious visitor's center. http://www.nps.gov/fowa/index.htm

Tom surveys the guard's quarters and gets nostalgic for his days as a Sheriff's Deputy. 








We didn't make it back to Port Royal Virgina where Wilkes-Booth was shot and killed.  Too much to see and too little time left.  It has been quite an adventure on our quest to see to see as much as we can of the historical sites all around us. Now, on to Old Town Alexandria.