For $27.50, admission should be included to the Theater museum, Petersen House, and the special exhibits at the Learning Center. After all, what better way to create excitement for what Ford's Theater advertises as a John Wilkes Booth manhunt than seeing the artifacts directly related to the assassination? Unfortunately, for those looking to recreate a pivotal moment in our Nation's history, the event is mischaracterized, mislabeled, and misguided. As a ticket holder, you are a "Deputy" detective on the trail of John Wilkes Booth. Our tour had 40-50 people of all ages, too big of a group to successfully navigate the sidewalks and crosswalks in the already crowded city streets. We stopped at every intersection, waiting for stragglers to catch up, so we could cross the street. That creates a lot of dead time in the tour. Trust me, you cross a lot of streets between Ford's Theater and the White House.
"Bill," the actor playing Detective McDevitt on this particular tour, did a wonderful job in the role, but pointing out the National Portrait Gallery, the fact that it was once used as a hospital, the fact that Walt Whitman was a nurse to wounded Union soldiers, that President Lincoln held his 2nd Inaugural Ball there, Samuel Morse's telegraph office, Clara Barton's office, the Hay Market, a statue of General Hancock, and the office of Alexander Gardner have nothing to do with the pursuit of John Wilkes Booth in the wake of his assassination of President Lincoln.
As the tour paused at several former landmarks related to the conspiracy, "Bill," as Detective McDevitt, read written statements given by hotel and livery owners and people of interest to investigators in the wake of the assassination. Curiously, none of these statements appear to have been taken by Detective McDevitt himself, begging the questions, exactly why are we following him around the City, and what "clues" are we really discovering on our walk? The tour doesn't even include a stop at the Mary Surratt boarding house, a structure that still stands, unlike most of the other locations mentioned along the way. The imaginary voice inflections and witness accents utilized by "Bill" in his reading of written statements did little to add to their importance or chosen use on the tour.
If you're looking for entertainment, exercise, or an excuse to get outside, and if you don't mind paying the money, then you may enjoy this tour. If you are a fan of history, visit museums, or enjoy viewing historical artifacts, you will most likely be disappointed.
