Night View of the future 512 Tenth Street building located in the same block and just south of the Center for Education and Leadership and the Peterson House.

Lincoln’s Legacy, Our Legacy

Ford’s Theatre is steeped in history, and we are always looking forward.

President Abraham Lincoln’s legacy as a great American has never been more important, or more relevant. Ford’s Theatre Society is focused on finding new ways to bring Lincoln’s legacy to life for the 21st-century learner through intensive on-site educational programs, deeper theatre experiences and open civil discourse with the public.

Lincoln’s Legacy, Our Legacy: Ford’s Theatre’s Campaign for the Future  will raise $50 million to transform Ford’s Theatre into a vibrant, visible and accessible destination to explore leadership principles and find new ways to bring Lincoln’s legacy to life for current and future generations. Here, we will foster the vital voices of artists, patrons, scholars, educators and students.

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Join us in advancing Lincoln’s unfinished work.

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Our Vision

We will support our nation’s educators, broaden theatrical offerings and reimagine and reinvigorate the ways our patrons and the broader D.C. community engage with history at Ford’s Theatre.

Three young boys and two adults gather at a table in the Ford’s Theatre Museum where they put together puzzles of Abraham Lincoln’s face. A Ford’s Theatre staff member sits at the table to assist.

Education

We will support our nation’s educators, cultivate the next generation of leaders and strengthen the ways American history is taught across the country while deepening our ability to inspire and teach on the Ford’s campus.

A side view of the stage and seating at Ford’s Theatre. On the left is the Presidential Box with an American flag, a framed picture of George Washington and American flag bunting draped over the box.

Theatre

We will broaden theatrical offerings and deepen the ways we use art as a catalyst for connection and learning.

A side exterior view of historic Ford’s Theatre, a three-story brick building with five arched windows on the second and third floor. The bottom floor is white and has five arched entryways.

History

We will reimagine and reinvigorate the ways our patrons and the broader D.C. community engage with history at Ford’s Theatre.

Campaign Gallery

Night View of the future 512 Tenth Street building located in the same block and just south of the Center for Education and Leadership and the Peterson House.

Night view of the Frances and Craig Lindner Center for Culture and Leadership on the expanded Ford’s Theatre campus at 512 Tenth Street, NW—adjacent to the Center for Education and Leadership and the Petersen House. Rendering courtesy of OTJ Architects.

Rendering of the future flexible event space for larger on-site dinners, receptions and expanded public programming. Large empty room with recessed overhead lighting, carpeted floors and a wall featuring a floor to ceiling Abraham Lincoln portrait.

Our new, flexible event space will provide opportunities for larger on-site dinners, receptions and expanded public programming. Rendering courtesy of OTJ Architects.

Rendering of a multipurpose studio for rehearsals, student programs and new public programming. Large empty room with high ceilings, large windows from the ceiling down around the top 3rd of the room, wood floors and adjustable blue curtains that can cover the walls.

One of two multipurpose studios for rehearsals, student programs and new public programming. Rendering courtesy of OTJ Architects.

Rendering of a new terrace off the future flexible event space that will overlook the historic Ford’s Theatre. Elevated outdoor terrace space that has glass paneled barriers around the perimeter.

The Merrill Family Foundation Terrace connects to the event space and will offer stunning views of the historic Ford’s Theatre. Rendering courtesy of OTJ Architects.