Ford's Theatre Society to Open 'SILENT WITNESSES' Lincoln Assassination Artifact Exhibition, 3/23

Ford's Theatre Society announced that a hallmark museum exhibition, Silent Witnesses: Artifacts of the Lincoln Assassination, will return a priceless collection of items that were in the Theatre or carried by Abraham Lincoln the night of his assassination to the Center for Education and Leadership (514 Tenth Street, NW), March 23 to May 25, 2015. The exhibition will coincide with the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's assassination and death on April 14 and 15, 2015.

Included within the Silent Witnesses exhibition are: Abraham Lincoln's top hat, cuff buttons, a Brooks Brothers Great Coat and the contents of his pockets from the night of the assassination; Mary Todd Lincoln's black velvet cape; John Wilkes Booth's deringer pistol; a letter from Dr. Charles Leale, the first to attend to the wounded president; the Bunting Flag from the Presidential Box at Ford's Theatre; fragments from the gowns worn by Mary Todd Lincoln and guest Clara Harris; gloves belonging to Major Henry Rathbone; a bloody sleeve cuff and fragment from the costume worn by leading actress Laura Keene; a playbill for the performance of Our American Cousin; and a violin and drumsticks used in the orchestra the night of April 14, 1865.

Additionally, Lincoln's carriage, which transported the President, Mary Todd Lincoln, Major Henry Rathbone and his fiancée Clara Harris to Ford's Theatre, will be on display at the National Museum of American History, March 23 to May 25, 2015.

In connection with Silent Witnesses: Artifacts of the Lincoln Assassination, the Smithsonian Channel will air a one-hour special in April 2015 titled Lincoln's Last Day, which counts down the final 24 hours of Abraham Lincoln's life. Through a rare collection of intensely personal artifacts connected to the Lincoln assassination, the program will unravel the movements of each player in the deadly plot. By exploring the objects that survived-possessions like Lincoln's gold watch and hat and John Wilkes Booth's diary and deringer-Lincoln's Last Day tells the story of a moment that would transform a nation.

Lenders for Silent Witnesses include the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum; Chicago History Museum; Library of Congress; National Museum of American History; National Park Service; Pike County Historical Society; Shapell Manuscript Foundation; Studebaker National Museum; and historian James Swanson.

Silent Witnesses is presented by United Technologies, with underwriting support by Exxon Mobil Corporation and Altria Group.

"As we approach the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's assassination and remember the tremendous impact that his leadership and death had on our nation, we are proud to partner with the National Museum of American History, museums across the nation and with our colleagues at the National Park Service to bring this extraordinary collection of artifacts under one roof," said Ford's Theatre Director Paul R. Tetreault. "By seeing these remarkable items up close and reading the personal accounts of those who were present at the assassination, we hope visitors will better understand the humanity of an American icon and how this tragedy changed the course of our history."

"United Technologies is proud to make possible this national event that marks a watershed moment in American history. The artifacts and accounts on display within Silent Witnesses paint a rich picture of the assassination's personal and historical significance," said Gregg Ward, United Technologies Corporation Sr. Vice President for Global Government Relations.

"History isn't static when visitors are engaging with the real objects that help us make the connection between historic events and our lives today," said John Gray, director of the National Museum of American History. "I am pleased that we are part of this important exhibition, uniting for the first time the many stories from that night."

Capacity for Silent Witnesses: Artifacts of the Lincoln Assassination is limited. Advance daytime tickets to Silent Witness are included with the purchase of an Acoustiguide audio tour. A limited number of free day-of tickets will be available at the Ford's Theatre Box Office on a first-come basis for extended viewing hours on Thursday evenings from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Reservations for groups (15 or more) may now be reserved through the Ford's Theatre Group Sales office at www.fords.org/groups or (202) 638-2367. Advance tickets are also available to Ford's Theatre members through the Membership Hotline at (202) 434-9454. Advance tickets will be available to the general public on October 20 at 10 a.m. Ticketmaster fees apply. Visit www.fords.org/event/silent-witnesses for more details.

Silent Witnesses is part of Ford's 150: Remembering the Lincoln Assassination, a series of special events and programming marking 150 years since Lincoln's assassination at Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865. Additional programming includes: the world-premiere play The Widow Lincoln; the musical Freedom's Song: Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War; The Lincoln Tribute, an around-the-clock event on April 14 and 15 marking Lincoln's shooting and death; performances of the Society's one-act plays One Destiny and The Road From Appomattox; History on Foot walking tours; a series of free panel discussions featuring historians and scholars; Remembering Lincoln, an online collection of personal reactions and artifacts showcasing the response to Abraham Lincoln's death; and more. A full programming schedule will be announced in January 2015.

SPECIAL EXHIBITION:

Silent Witnesses: Artifacts of the Lincoln Assassination

March 23-May 25, 2015

Center for Education and Leadership (514 Tenth Street NW, Washington, DC)

This special exhibition at the Center for Education and Leadership will commemorate the assassination and death of Abraham Lincoln by reuniting-for the first time since April 1865-an extraordinary collection of artifacts that were in Ford's Theatre or carried by Lincoln the night of the assassination. Included within the exhibition are the contents of Lincoln's pockets, his top hat and his great coat from the night of his assassination; and much more. The exhibition is presented in partnership with the National Museum of American History. Lenders include the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum; Chicago History Museum; Library of Congress; National Museum of American History; National Park Service; Pike County Historical Society; Shapell Manuscript Foundation; Studebaker National Museum; and historian James Swanson.

ARTIFACTS ON DISPLAY

From the National Museum of American History

• Lincoln's Top Hat

Abraham Lincoln wore this silk top hat to Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865. The high top hat (size 7-1/8) was purchased from Washington hat maker J. Y. Davis, and personalized by Lincoln with a black silk mourning band in memory of his son Willie.

• Laura Keene's Bloody Cuff

Our American Cousin leading actress Laura Keene rushed to the president's side shortly after the shot was fired. As she cradled the president's head, drops of blood stained her sleeve cuff.

From the National Park Service, Ford's Theatre Collection

• John Wilkes Booth's Deringer

Booth's single-shot .44 caliber deringer pistol fired at the President from between six and 10 inches away, discharging a ball of lead less than a half-inch in diameter that entered Lincoln's head near his left ear.

• Brooks Brothers Great Coat

Over his clothing, Lincoln wore a greatcoat custom made by Brooks Brothers for his second inauguration. Reportedly made of wool finer than cashmere, the coat includes intricate stitching on the inner lining of an eagle and the words "One Country, One Destiny."

• Violin and Drumsticks

These instruments were used in the orchestra during the performance of Our American Cousin the night of the Lincoln assassination.

• Major Henry Rathbone's Gloves

These blood-stained gloves were worn by Major Henry Rathbone, guest of the Lincolns, to the performance of Our American Cousin at Ford's Theatre.

From the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

• Cuff Button

Mary Lincoln presented this cuff button to physician and family friend Dr. C.S. Taft, who was present the night of the assassination and at Lincoln's death.

From the Chicago History Museum

• Mary Todd Lincoln's Cape

Mary Todd Lincoln wore this black velvet cloak to Ford's Theatre.

• Fragment of Gown Worn by Mary Todd Lincoln

This gown fabric is attributed to the dress worn by Mary Todd Lincoln from the night of Lincoln's assassination.

• Fragment of Gown Worn by Clara Harris

Clara Harris was a guest of the Lincolns and was seated within the Presidential Box on April 14, 1865.

From the Library of Congress

• Contents of Lincoln's Pockets

Lincoln carried two pairs of spectacles and a lens polisher, a pocket knife, a watch fob, a linen handkerchief, a sleeve button and a brown leather wallet containing a five-dollar Confederate note. These items will be on display in Silent Witnesses. Lincoln also carried several newspaper clippings with him, which will stay in the Library of Congress collection during Silent Witnesses.

From the Pike County Historical Society

• Bunting Flag

Ford's Theatre stage manager and actor Thomas Gourlay entered the Presidential Box with actress Laura Keene. Gourlay is presumed to have taken the bunting flag hanging on the balustrade outside of the Box to use as a pillow for the president's head to rest upon.

From the Shapell Manuscript Foundation

• Letter from Dr. Charles Leale

Six weeks out of medical school, 23-year-old Dr. Charles Leale attended Our American Cousin on April 14, 1865. He would be the first on the scene when the president was shot.

From the Studebaker National Museum

• Lincoln's Barouche

On April 14, 1865, the President and Mrs. Lincoln, along with Henry Rathbone and his fiancée Clara Harris, took this carriage to attend a performance of Our American Cousin at Ford's Theatre. The Lincolns may have also taken the carriage to visit the USS Montauk on the afternoon before the play.

From Historian James Swanson

• Bloodstained Fragment of Laura Keene's Gown

This silk remnant, stained with President Lincoln's blood, is from the costume that actress Laura Keene wore during Our American Cousin.

• Our American Cousin Playbill

John T. Ford's theatre on 10th Street was to present the three-act farce by English playwright Tom Taylor about the meeting of an uncivilized American and his refined English relatives. The performance on April 14, 1865, was to be a benefit for leading actress Laura Keene, who had recently opened a two-week engagement at Ford's Theatre.

National Museum of American History - Through incomparable collections, rigorous research and dynamic public outreach, the National Museum of American History explores the infinite richness and complexity of American history. The museum is located at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W., and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit http://americanhistory.si.edu or call (202) 633-1000 for Smithsonian information.

National Park Service and Ford's Theatre Society Partnership - Since reopening in 1968, more than 100 years after the April 14, 1865, assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, Ford's Theatre has been one of the most visited sites in the nation's capital. Operated through a partnership between the private non-profit 501(c)(3) Ford's Theatre Society and the National Park Service, Ford's Theatre is the premier destination in the nation's capital to explore and celebrate Abraham Lincoln's ideals and leadership principles: courage, integrity, tolerance, equality and creative expression.

The Ford's Theatre Society was founded under the guidance of executive producer Frankie Hewitt, who, during her 35-year tenure, established Ford's as a living, working theatre producing performances that highlighted the diversity of the American experience. Since the arrival of Paul R. Tetreault as Director, critics and the theatregoing public have recognized Ford's for the superior quality of its artistic programming. With works from the nationally acclaimed Big River to the world premieres of Meet John Doe, The Heavens Are Hung In Black, Liberty Smith, Necessary Sacrifices and The Widow Lincoln, Ford's Theatre is making its mark on the American theatre landscape. Under the leadership of Wayne R. Reynolds, Board of Trustees Chairman Emeritus (Chairman 2007 to 2012), the mission of Ford's Theatre Society expanded to include education as a central pillar. This expansion led to the creation and construction of the Center for Education and Leadership, which opened in February 2012. Currently, under the leadership of Board of Trustees Chairman Eric A. Spiegel, Ford's enters a second phase of strategic planning to ensure the organization's place as a national destination for exploring Lincoln's legacy and the American experience through the intersection of history, performance and education.

For more information on Ford's Theatre and the Ford's Theatre Society, visit www.fords.org.

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