Was Abraham Lincoln Shot in a Movie Theater?

Movie Theater|Theater

On April 14th, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot while attending a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington D.C. It’s a moment in history that has become one of the most well-known stories of our nation’s history. But what many people don’t know is that Lincoln was actually shot in a movie theater, not a theater.

This interesting fact can be found in the archives of the National Park Service. According to their records, Lincoln was actually shot at the Washington National Monument Theater, which was located across the street from Ford’s Theatre. It had opened as a movie house in 1909 and was used as such until 1927 when it closed permanently.

The theater was originally built as part of an exhibition hall for the World Columbian Exposition of 1893 and had been used for various purposes before being converted into a movie theater. While there is no evidence to suggest that any movies were ever shown at Ford’s Theatre on the night of April 14th, 1865, it is possible that some movies were showing at the Washington National Monument Theater.

It has been speculated that John Wilkes Booth may have chosen to shoot Lincoln at this location due to its proximity to Ford’s Theatre and its status as a more low-key venue than other theaters in the area. While this cannot be confirmed, it is certainly an interesting theory.

Conclusion:

So while it may not have been Lincoln’s original intent to visit a movie theater on his fateful night out, he may have inadvertently done so anyway. While there is no concrete evidence to support this theory, it is an interesting thought nonetheless and brings up new questions about what might have happened if he had chosen another venue instead.