Petersen House facts for kids
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Petersen House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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February 2012
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 Location in the United States
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| Location | 516 10th St., N.W. (between E and F Sts.) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
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| Area | 0.29 acres (1,200 m2) |
| Built | 1849 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| Visitation | 856,079 (2005) |
| Part of | Ford's Theatre National Historic Site (ID66000034) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Designated CP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHS | February 12, 2017 |
The Petersen House is a historic building in Washington, D.C., United States. It was built in 1849 in a style called federal style. This house is famous because President Abraham Lincoln died there on April 15, 1865. He had been shot the night before at Ford's Theatre, which is right across the street.
The house was built by William A. Petersen, who was a tailor from Germany. In 1852, John C. Breckinridge, who later became Vice-President, rented the house. By 1865, it was a boarding house, meaning people could rent rooms there. Today, it is a museum run by the National Park Service.
Contents
The Night Lincoln Was Shot
On the evening of April 14, 1865, President Lincoln and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, were watching a play called Our American Cousin. They were at Ford's Theatre. During the play, John Wilkes Booth, an actor who supported the Southern states, entered their private box. He shot President Lincoln in the back of the head.
Two other people were in the box with the Lincolns: Henry Rathbone and Clara Harris. Rathbone tried to stop Booth from escaping and was badly hurt. Doctors, including Charles Leale and Charles Sabin Taft, quickly checked on Lincoln. They decided he needed to be moved.
Moving Lincoln to Petersen House
Lincoln was carried across the street to the Petersen House. A person staying there, Henry Safford, showed them inside. Doctors worked through the night to help Lincoln. They tried to relieve pressure on his brain. However, the bleeding continued.
During the night, guards stood outside the house. They kept crowds from coming in. Many important people came to see the President. These included members of Lincoln's Cabinet and generals. However, Secretary of State William Seward could not come. He had also been attacked that same night by one of Booth's helpers.
Lincoln's Final Moments
President Abraham Lincoln passed away in the Petersen House on April 15, 1865, at 7:22 in the morning. He was 56 years old. His son, Robert Todd Lincoln, was in the room. Other important people there included Senator Charles Sumner and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton.
John Wilkes Booth was found in Virginia about two weeks later. A Union soldier, Sergeant Boston Corbett, shot him. Booth died a few hours later.
Petersen House Today
Since 1933, the National Park Service has taken care of the Petersen House. It is now a historical museum. They have tried to make it look just like it did when Lincoln died there.
The actual bed Lincoln used and other items from the room were bought by a collector. They are now on display at the Chicago History Museum. But at the Petersen House, you can see copies of these items. The pillow and pillowcases that Lincoln used, which still have bloodstains, are the real ones. The museum also has a large collection of books about Lincoln.
The Petersen House is part of the Ford's Theatre National Historic Site. It is usually open to visitors every day from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You do not have to pay to get in, but you might need a timed ticket.
Gallery
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Lincoln on his deathbed
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Lincoln's deathbed
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Room in the Petersen House where Abraham Lincoln died
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The Pillow Abraham Lincoln died on
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Petersen House around 1918. The plaque seen in the 1925 photo was not yet there.
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A modern recreation of the bedroom
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The front parlor
