A sacred place where one of the two greatest Americans took his last breath. I was overcome to be in the room where Lincoln died Almost as breathtaking is the tower of books on Lincoln that is in the gift shop. Almost has to be seen to be believed read more

My friend and I were randomly walking around Washington, D.C. when we passed a sign that said "Abraham Lincoln died in this house" outside the Petersen House. You bet that the next day we showed up to see if we could tour it, and it was SUCH a blast. Ford's Theatre and Petersen House was incredible. Just getting to be in the room that Lincoln passed away in was wild. read more

See all

I need everyone to know this! The bed in this house is NOT the bed in which Abraham Lincoln died! The actual death bed is housed at the Chicago Museum (long story how it ended up there, but it's there!) This spot is fine to visit. You get to see the room where Lincoln died. The rangers are helpful and will answer any questions you have. But this is just a walk through, and THIS IS NOT THE DEATH BED! I wish the site would post this, as I saw tons of people snapping pics because they thought this was the bed . . . and more than a few Yelp! reviews seem to think so too. There is a small museum upstairs that asks us why we are still enthralled with Lincoln all these years later. My favorite part is the GIANT book tower, showing you just how many books have been written about Lincoln. It makes a huge impression and is incredibly clever. Entry was included with my Ford's theater tour (that true for every tour). Worth a stop for diehards, but probably a fail for the casual tourist. read more

See all

we enjoyed the walking tour of Abraham Lincoln, the Ford Theater and coming to see how small the Petersen house was but to walk through history pretty cool. Lots of field trips! Which i do think is great not sure they are really getting it at 13-15, think 10yr olds would appreciate it more. Unless they have a project they are working on to really get into it. It's not a long tour but worth seeing! read more

The Petersen House - tower of books on Abraham Lincoln! - Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Right next to Ford's Theater stands the location where Abraham Lincoln was taken following his assassination. Visitors can explore this site as part of their ticket to the Ford's Theatre museum, making it a convenient stop after touring the museum. read more

Pretty cool piece of history. Directly across the street from ford theater where the shot happened. Still preserved the way it was the night it happened. It's definitely worth seeing. Depending on what theater package to buy it comes with it as well! Worth doing along with the theater tour, but by itself it's a little dull. Just basically walking through a hallway and a bedroom, still worth it, just don't be too hipped! read more

The Petersen House - Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

Where Lincoln passed after the shooting. Right across the street from the theatre. Not a very robust exhibit but it adds to the continuity from across the street to his final breaths. read more

Abraham Lincoln was shot at the theatre and brought here where he died. The ticket I bought online for Ford's Theatre also included the Peterson House. Be sure to check the details before buying. The ranger gives a little detail and lets small groups at a time. It's a very short tour. Be sure to check out the tower of books all based on Lincoln. read more

See all

The actual home is small, you can view 2 rooms -- the waiting room and the replica of the bed where Lincoln dies. The actual bed is in Chicago... But the museum/exhibit next door has a lot of information about the hunt for John Wilkes Booth and the famous stack of Lincoln books. read more

See all

This is a must-see if you're visiting Ford's Theater as it completes the story of what happened on the night that President Lincoln was assassinated. Lincoln was brought here after he was shot and he died in this home. You can tour the house, which is only a few rooms, and see the room and bed where Lincoln died. There is also a museum attached to it that goes into detail about the hunt for Booth and the aftermath of the assassination, which was fascinating to read. This is an essential place to visit for American history enthusiasts and I would highly recommend coming here. read more

See all

Good place after a Ford's Theater experience. It's included in the admission price. The Petersen House is where Lincoln died the day after being shot. Lots more information throughout here. You need to make sure you have the ticket. If you're going to Ford's Theater to learn about Lincoln, you also need to come here. It's where Lincoln was taken so he could pass away peacefully. The bedroom he died on is open for the public. Also there's two other bedrooms. The actual bed he died on isn't here though. In the museum are exhibits about the aftermath. These describe the pursuit of John Wilkes Booth, his capture, and how the country mourned. Keep in mind the theater hours. If you want a tour of the theater you might have to go in the morning. The house and theater aren't always included together. read more

See all

Abraham Lincoln died in this home. You can see the room/bed where he died. It's kinda weird, interesting, and sad all at the same time. Admission is free, you just need to grab a ticket from Ford's museum across the street. Rest in peace to this American statesman! read more

See all

Good visit... I wasn't disappointed After our visit inside the historic Ford's theatre where President Lincoln was assassinated, we headed outside to see the house where Lincoln died. The house is located just across the street from the theatre. This is a small home and tours inside can accommodate about 15 guests at a time. It was included with our purchase of the Historic Site ticket. Our self-guided tour took about 15 mins inside. We couldn't really roam around the house, basically moving in a line to see the interior of the home and where President Lincoln was brought after he was shot and eventually died here the next morning. The Petersen House is also maintained by the National Park Service. Collect your National Park Passport stamp inside the Ford's Theatre at the Box Office. The house is remarkably maintained considering how much foot traffic from visitors and tourists it gets. Actually, we were fortunate to be able to enter the house during our visit because it had just reopened in June this year from a 6-month closure and it will be closed again in January-February 2019 for continued preservation work. It was an eye-opening experience for me to see the room in which he died in and further deepened my understanding of President Lincoln's assassination. We then visited the connecting building which was the Center for Education and Leadership. The exhibits explored the assassination aftermath and President Lincoln's legacy. I had a great experience and is a must-see when in DC. This is included with our $3/person admission fee. Review #1198 read more

See all

Take this tour right after going into the Ford theater. I appreciated the Park Ranger who gave a thorough explanation prior to entering the home, and then another one as we entered the first room. She let small group in one at a time, as not to crowd the space and let us all get pics and see the space appropriately. This is a must see to fully embrace the full experience. read more

Quick little tour but goes a long well with the Ford Theatre tour. Definitely check it out to complete that story.

Petersen House...the house where President Lincoln died, located right across from Ford's Theatre. (It's now a museum.) A tour explaining Lincoln's assassination isn't complete without seeing this place. Go to Ford's Theatre first though! read more

See all

A ticket to Ford's Theatre will also grant you access to The Petersen House across the street. The Petersen House, simply put, is where Abraham Lincoln was taken after he was fatally shot on April 14, 1865, and died the morning after. A small abode, Lincoln was taken to a room, where he was attended as best as he could be. Many people came in and out, paying their last respects to the president and hoping for some sort of miracle, but Lincoln never awoke from his unconsciousness and instead went onto the next world. Today this house is well preserved. The rooms have been left as close to the original house as possible, and aside from lights and air conditioner, it is essentially the same as in the old times. Walking into this house, you are experiencing history. You will also be unaccustomed to the lack of space or at the very least I was. Times have certainly changed. At any rate, once you leave the area spent his last dying breath in, you can walk across and be connected to another section full of what happened after. Something to note that is impressing about this section: they have a tower of all the books written on Lincoln ever. That being said, there isn't much else to say; it is your typical museum, gift shop and all. read more

See all

Went as part of the Lincoln/Ford's Theatre tour. Sometimes, to get in the house you have to wait in line. But it's worth it. The house doesn't seem to be that big on the inside, because the front exterior doesn't do it justice! The house is restored to 1860's style, then add the importance of Lincoln's death. Tour includes going in the room where Lincoln died, and all the artifacts are behind glass. I'm still not sure if the bed in the room is the actual one Lincoln died on, or if its a replica. Still, it's worth the experience. A lot of it is told in great detail, including the room where Mary Todd Lincoln was informed of her husband's death. Then you go into the museum part, where you check out many more parts of history. You'll also see four stories of a tower of nothing but books about Abraham Lincoln. Can look but not touch. Definitely recommended! read more

"He Now Belongs to the Ages" - Secretary of War Edwin Stanton On April 14, 1865, after Booth shot President Lincoln at Ford's Theatre, Lincoln was carried into the Petersen boarding house across the street. The doctor at Lincoln's bedside updated the crowd each hour on the president's condition. Physicians continually removed blood clots which formed over the wound and poured out the excess brain fluid and brain matter from where the bullet had entered Lincoln's head in order to relieve pressure on the brain. However, the external and internal hemorrhaging continued throughout the night. His final update came at 7:22 a.m. on April 15, 1865: the president had died (age 56). During the president's final hours, he was surrounded by his wife and son, and various U.S. government officials. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton turned one of the rooms into an interrogation area, interviewing witnesses about what happened inside the theatre. After the Presidents passing, his body was placed in a temporary coffin covered with an American flag, and returned by hearse to the White House, accompanied by a cavalry escort. Booth was located in Virginia 11 days later and was shot by Union forces, dying two hours later. The Petersen home was purchased by the U.S. government in 1896 for $30,000. read more

See all

Keep your ticket in hand after Ford's Theatre and safely cross the street to the house where Abraham Lincoln passed away for free entry and more compelling history. The actual bed where Lincoln died is on display in Chicago, but there's a replica bed available to view if you're into that type of thing. There's also interactive exhibits to peak your interest and learn more about the events that led to the assassination. It won't take as long to walk through this home, but it's worth a visit for sure. read more

See all

What a cool find! With your admission to Ford's Theater you're also able to walk across the street and enter the Peterson House, the home where Lincoln was transported to after being shot at Ford's Theater and later died. First, the ticket to Ford's theater which again includes this museum was $5. You cannot beat two museums which such historical value for that price. Anyway, when I walked in I was greeted by an elderly gentleman who told me about the home. He kind of talked my ear off which was fine because I wasn't in a rush and I could tell he enjoyed being a history nerd. He showed me where Mary Todd Lincoln would sit and weep, scream even, for hours and then try to see Lincoln to check on his condition. He also let me know that the house is pretty much is in the original condition as to when Lincoln was there- of course electricity was added so lighting was updated. You can see the bed where he died which was very surreal. After that you take an elevator up to four, why, I kept thinking and then I realize there is another entire museum dedicated to Lincoln! So much stuff, from the manhunt of John Wilkes Booth to Lincoln's legacy in popular culture- it was totally amazing. Between this and Ford's Theater, I could have stayed all day. The monument of books on Lincoln is cool too. It shows his impact on our country for sure. Do yourself a favor and check this out! You will love it, and honestly, if you don't- you spent $5. read more

See all

The House Where Lincoln Died is the house where he lives on. Great people don't die. Their physical body dies where their spirit lives forever. On April 15, 1865; history would change. Across the street, President Lincoln was assassinated in the Ford Theatre. He physically died in the Peterson Boarding House that is known as the House Where Lincoln Died. The House Where Lincoln Died is managed by the National Park Service as the Ford Theatre National Historic Site. I highly recommend visiting the Ford Theatre prior to stepping inside the House Where Lincoln Died/ Petersen Boarding House. The Ford Theatre which I will soon be reviewing leaves off at the theatre booth where John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Lincoln. The Petersen House tells the story of President Lincoln's final hours and the search for John Wilkes Booth. The ticket for the Ford Theatre (no charge) is the admission ticket for this National Historic Site. The House Where Lincoln Died is the Petersen House.* This is a four story museum inside a 19th century row house that was built in 1849 by William Peterson. As soon as you walk inside you leave the future and step back to April 15, 1865 when President Lincoln was assasinated. The exhibits include the room where President Lincoln died exactly as it looked that morning. This includes a replica of the bed where President Lincoln passed away. Past the room where President Lincoln passed away is an elevator leading up to the fourth floor. Once the elevator opens up, there are fascinating exhibits that tell the story of the days leading from the President's assassination to the capture of John Wilkes Booth. Unlike the hallways of some campuses, here learning is fun. There is an overload of facts. What is interesting is that John Wilkes Booth was upset that the World did not see him as a hero. There are maps and signs explaining John Wilkes Booth's escape from the Ford Theatre. There is a New York Times article called "The Nation Mourns" printed immediately after the President died. There is also the last image of the late President. One of the most fascinating sights in this National Historic Site is a four level tower made up of books written about President Lincoln. The two pictures below show the amazing sight of Abraham Lincoln books towering up to floor floors. It is an appropriate sight because by the time I left both the Ford Theatre and the House Where Lincoln Died / Petersen Boarding House, many I developed an interest in this amazing President's life. ............................................................................... *There are many reviews under the Petersen Boarding House Yelp listing. read more

Bottom Line: Not only can you see where President Lincoln died, but there is also an adjoining museum. The Peterson House was a much richer experience than I expected. I expected to just see the bedroom where President Lincoln passed away, but there were two other rooms on display plus an adjacent museum. The original spindle bed in which Lincoln passed is located a museum in Chicago so the one here is a replica. Nevertheless, its easy to imagine Lincoln's final hours here and the sorrow and disbelief that must have overwhelmed those with him. Once you see the bedroom, then you can take an elevator upstairs to a three-level museum. The adjoining museum contains more information about what happened after his death including his famous funeral train and the pursuit of his assassins. The museum also shows the fascination and love this country has for our 16th president. I was astonished by the three or four story stack of books about Lincoln! There are currently over 15,000 books in print about Lincoln and more are being written each day! Overall, Petersen House, as well as Ford's Theatre, are great places to pay respects to an awesome president and I appreciate the National Park Service's efforts to maintain these historical sites for generations to come. read more

The Petersen House - There are over 15,000 books currently in print about the 16th president with more being written everyday. - Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place is supper cool. If you want to see the room that President Lincoln died in, here it is. There are a lot of replica items and several actual ones too. They are all noted on the descriptions so you know what is what. You can get free tickets across the street at the ford theater. The line can get long, so plane to spend 2 hours in both locations. The ford theater is the location that Lincoln was shot. You start the tour by entering here and hearing the story and events that led up to the day from a Park Ranger. He spoke for about 30-40 minutes. Then they send you across the street to the room Lincoln last lived. I'd recommend sitting toward the back of the theater so you can make a quick exit across the street and not have to wait in another line to get into the house. The house is converted into a four story display of Lincoln items. There's a lot to see and well worth the visit. read more

See all

Ford's Theatre (where Abe was shot) and The Petersen House across the street (where Abe passed away) are a great one-two punch in detailing the shooting of Abe and the pursuit of Booth. A self guided tour of artifacts followed by a staff lead narration in the theatre really paint a good story of the horrible event and its conclusion. read more

See all

A must-see for fans of Lincoln. While the Petersen house has none of the original artifacts from the night that Lincoln was shot, the building has preserved as it would have looked during the Victorian era as a tribute to one of our greatest presidents. The park service folks and volunteers were wonderful and full of knowledge you would expect from Lincoln buffs. "Don't know what questions to ask? Well, these are the questions we hear the most...." A great educational experience! After exiting the house, you walk into the neighboring educational center. This is a brand new museum experience featuring the pursuit of John Wilkes Booth and status of the newly reunited states of America at the time Lincoln was assassinated. Ah yes, the book column is dizzyingly tall and pretty sweet. Hat tip to all of the private funders who helped make this new (FREE) museum possible. Their names are listed in various exhibits as well as on the stairs of the spiral staircase and on a plaque in the bookstore. read more

The Petersen House - ...otherwise, it's just an old house. - Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Definitely come here after Ford's. Ford's has the feel of a real gallery or museum. But like everything in DC you're bound to get museum fatigue. I like this place better because it's less like a museum and more like, well, a historic home where some major sh*t went down. The Petersen House tells you more about the fateful night and what happened next. It'll answer all your questions and all your kids' questions about who, what, where, when, etc. And I liked the flow of the tour. As you walk through the rooms you 'experience' different ways the nation responded to his death. Plus, you'll follow along as the the criminals' story unfolds. Their fates are revealed too. read more

The Petersen House can be viewed as an extension of the Ford's Theater tour across the street. It is not a guaranteed part of the tour so be sure to check the website that the Petersen House is open during your visit. The Petersen House is where Lincoln was taken to die after being shot in the theater. The first floor of the house looks like a historic re-creation, and the upper floor is a museum with exhibits. The basement has a gift shop to stock up on your Lincoln needs. It's free to visit! read more

Make sure to save your ticket after you finish the Ford's Theater presentation. Walk across and check out the house that President Lincoln passed away. You have to wait in line then walk through for a few minutes to see the house. Very good learning experience! read more

See all

Great museum. Walkable distance from Archives metro station. Across the street from Ford's Theater (also a must see). read more

See all

Mostly everything has been said below so I will summarize tips for visiting: -You must get a ticket for the ford theatre to enter the Peterson house! -None of the furniture is original. It was all sold in an auction so these are all replicas. -last entry is at 5pm! A line does form so plan accordingly! :) read more

Unlike Ford's Theatre across the street, you can see pretty much all of the exhibits in only a few minutes here, which was a plus for me. This is where President Lincoln was taken after he was shot, and where he passed away shortly there after. The room where he was tended to is the sames as when he was there, with lots of period details. After touring the boarding house there is an exhibit about John Wilkes Booth's escape and manhunt which has some neat interactive maps and didn't take too long to complete. To enter the boarding house there is no admission, but you do need a ticket (also free) from the ford's theater across the street. read more

See all

It's only interesting because Lincoln died here. In all respects, it's just two rooms of a house that, due to pushing people, you walk through in less than one minute. You need a ticket (it's free) from the Ford's Theater box office and the wait to get in was about 15 minutes. However, I rate it four stars because I consider it a must-see when visiting DC. Its a neat place in history! read more

The Petersen House - Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

See all

After you leave Fords theater be sure and keep your ticket so you can get into the Petersen house across the street. This feels like you are walking back in time when you see the bed Lincoln died in. Then you step back to today with interactive electronic displays that are fun and educational. read more

Excellent spot to bring people who love to rubberneck accident scenes or enjoy viewing "Faces of Death." OK, it's not *that* gory, but they'll still like visiting the house where Lincoln died after being shot by John Wilkes Booth. Unfortunately, most of the original furniture and artifacts from the house have been purchased by private collectors, so what you see is mostly reproduction. And unfortunately, the Petersen House is closed for renovation until Spring, 2011, which I learned the hard way. This is good news, however, since the old space was a bit run down, dark, and depressing. Still, despite this, you can't beat the Petersen House for historical significance. It also makes a nice, quick stop with history buff (or gore loving) visitors. Other than ogling the bedroom where Lincoln took his last breath and the tree out front where countless school children have disposed of their gum before entering the house, there wasn't a whole lot going on here. It will be nice to see what the revamp does for this place. read more

If you're planning a visit to DC this is a place you should visit. Tickets were free. If you go to Ford's Theater they will give you tickets. Make a donation if you wish. - The Peterson house is located across the street from Ford's Theater. It's easy to access and to tour. - The items in the house are replicas. The actual bed where Lincoln died is in Chicago. The replica is protected by glass. - There's a museum right off the house which is comprehensive. It has a tower of books stacked almost 3 stories high. The Park Service maintains the Peterson House and Ford's theater. They do have tours. On the day we visited they didn't. It was self guided. Take a good camera. The light is dim in the house. Hope you visit! read more

I enjoyed this tour. Ford's Theatre was closed to tours so my mom and I very spontaneously headed across the street. I had never heard of this place, but it's really cool! The tickets are free and it's not too long of a line to get inside. The house is on the small side so you can get in and out quickly. There are Park Rangers (?) on sight to answer any questions, nice visuals, and it's pretty cool to say you were in the room where Lincoln breathed his last breath at 7:22 a.m. on April 15. Also, solid gift shop! read more

The house is part of the Ford's Theatre tour that follows immediately after the visit of the Ford's Theatre itself. It shows you how the house was when they rushed the President from Ford's to a location to put him and get him out of the street when he was shot. You can imagine the bustle of people that were out there when the shooting happened on that Good Friday, and to get him out of site was the most important thing that they had to do following the shot from John Wilkes Booth. The house was called the Petersen boarding house where tenants stayed in rented rooms along with the Petersen's. There was a room vacant and furnished. They rushed Lincoln over there where he would die hours later the next morning at 7:22am; the Saturday before Easter Sunday. 3 rooms are furnished with period furniture and such to replicate what it would have been like that night the President was rushed there to his death bed. The house itself is connected to the The Center for Education and Leadership from the back porch. The House is open 9:30 am to 5:30 pm daily. read more

Across from the Ford Theater is the Peterson House where Lincoln died on April 15, 1865...it's really sad..and hard to believe this gentle yet so strong president was taken away from us at the start on the US reconstruction. This was part of the Ford Theater experience. But his legacy lives on even to today. read more

See all

If you're making the trip to see Ford's Theatre, your visit isn't complete without crossing the street to come here. (I mean that kind of literally, since your free ticket to Ford's includes admission to the Petersen House. Why wouldn't you walk across the street and see it?) Granted, the Petersen House doesn't have the drama that you can feel at Ford's. It doesn't feel quite as impressive, but you have to remember, this place became a piece of history by complete happenstance. In a row of boarding houses, it was the first to identify itself as having an open bed on which to lay a dying president. So when you walk in and see a small place with narrow hallways and cramped quarters, (and yes, a replica bed because the actual bed was given to Lincoln's presidential site in Illinois,) I think it adds to the experience to see that the place a mythical figure like Lincoln died was a run of the mill, 1865 boarding house with beds too small for Lincoln to even fit on. I did really enjoy that since my last visit the museum/learning center next door has opened up to give more info on what happened to Booth, his co-conspirators, and VP turned president Andrew Johnson after Lincoln's death. read more