How is Ford's Theatre a memorial? To whom? Explain.

• A. It was a memorial for John Wilkes Booth because they saved all of his possessions
• B. It was a memorial for Abraham Lincoln because of the event
• C. It was a memorial for Samuel Cox Jr. for his role
• D. It was a memorial for Dr. Mudd's medical work

Answer: (A)

Ford's Theatre is a memorial to Abraham Lincoln because the president was assassinated there, tying the site directly to his life and the nation’s grieving period after his death. On the night of April 14, 1865, Lincoln attended a performance and was shot by John Wilkes Booth; he died the following morning at the nearby Petersen House. That event and its aftermath are what the site preserves and commemorates—today the theatre operates as a museum and historic site dedicated to Lincoln, his presidency, and the impact of his leadership during a pivotal moment in American history. It is not a memorial for Booth or other individuals connected to the event.