Tours of the Trial Room

[RJNorton]

Thanks to Laurie for sending this information.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: Jan. 4, 2019

Contact Leah Rubalcaba – 703-696-3283

FORT MCNAIR, Washington, D.C. – Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall announces its next quarterly Public Open House of Grant Hall’s historic third-floor courtroom, located on the Fort McNair side of the Joint Base in southwest Washington D.C., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2. The courtroom is the site of the military tribunal, held from May through June 1865, of those thought responsible for the plot to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln.

During a 2009-2012 renovation of Grant Hall, which was originally part of Washington’s Federal Penitentiary from 1829 to 1868, the third floor of the building was restored to depict the courtroom as it appeared during the 1865 trial. Courtroom features were recreated based on artistic renderings and written descriptions of court proceedings. Some furnishings and artifacts on display are on loan from the production company of a 2011 historical film about the trial, and other artifacts and documentation are from the National Defense University Library.

RESERVATIONS

Members of the public are invited to the Public Open House, which is free to attend. Guests without a Department of Defense (DoD), Federal or AIE (Automated Installation Entry) ID are asked to register in advance. Please go to the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Facebook Events Page at https://www.facebook.com/pg/jbmhh/events/
and access the Grant Hall Open House site. First click on the tab the shows the open house date you want to attend. From that page, click on the “Find Tickets” tab to access the reservation site. Open the envelope, read the information and click on the “RSVP” button to complete your reservation.

If your computer server does not allow you to access the registration site, please email your reservation to usarmy.jbmhh.asa.list.pao-all@mail.mil Full names of all attendees are required, as well as a valid telephone and email contact.

BASE ACCESS PROCEDURES

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall has implemented increased access control measures at all its gates. To enter Fort McNair for the Grant Hall Public Open House, please be advised of:

1. 100% Vehicle Searches – except for DoD, Federal and AIE (Automated Installation Entry) ID card holders

2. 100% ID and Background Checks – all persons 18 years of age and older (without a DoD, Federal or AIE ID) must have a legal photo ID and will be vetted through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC-III) background check system; this process may take 15-20 minutes.

3. Visitors may save time at the gate by filling out the Request for Installation Access form in advance at https://www.army.mil/e2/c/downloads/531162.pdf

Check “Visitor” at the top of the form. In Section A, fill out items 1 thru 10; at item 11, check “Event Attendee;” at item 12, write in the date of the open house; and at item 13, write in “To attend the Grant Hall Courtroom open house.” Sign at Section C at the top of the second page. Print both pages and bring the completed form the day of the event to present to the gate guard.

PARKING

Grant Hall Open House parking is limited to the parking lot by the tennis courts.

PLEASE BE ADVISED

● The third floor courtroom is only accessible by walking up two flights of stairs. Due to the historical nature of the structure, the building has no elevator.

● Also, for visitors who may choose to walk onto the base, please know that sidewalks are not available the entire route from the gate security check point to Grant Hall, so pedestrians may have to walk on grass or on streets at times to reach Grant Hall by foot.

● The Fire Marshal has limited the number of people allowed in the courtroom at one time, so entry will be regulated to adhere to those numbers.

● No back packs or large bags are allowed inside Grant Hall.

● Large groups of 20 or more and those arriving in buses are asked to call the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Public Affairs in advance at 703-696-3283 in order to schedule a tour time for the day of the Public Open House.

FUTURE OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE

Grant Hall Public Open Houses are held quarterly on the first Saturday of the second month of each quarter. During a calendar year, those months are February, May, August and November. The next Grant Hall Public Open Houses are Feb. 2, May 4, Aug. 3, and Nov. 2 in 2019. Open House hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

The most up-to-date information on base access or closures due to inclement weather or when mission dictates will be updated on JBM-HH’s Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/jbmhh

For additional information, call Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Public Affairs at 703-696-3283 during normal business hours.