Lincoln Discussion Symposium

Hello,

Does anyone know if and where the original door which Booth escaped into Baptist alley is kept?

- Mike

(02-07-2015 07:53 PM)mgambuzza Wrote: [ -> ]Hello,

Does anyone know if and where the original door which Booth escaped into Baptist alley is kept?

- Mike

I don't think the door that Booth exited to the alley was preserved. During the conspirators' trial in mid-May the members of the military commission visited Ford's Theatre and examined the door, but left it in place. During the gutting and renovation of Ford's, in the fall of 1865, laborers placed windows in the alley wall and built a new doorway, after removing the large, centered scenery door and the back stage door Booth used. I think the doors were treated as debris and carted away.

(02-10-2015 10:38 PM)Diane T. Putney Wrote: [ -> ]

(02-07-2015 07:53 PM)mgambuzza Wrote: [ -> ]Hello,

Does anyone know if and where the original door which Booth escaped into Baptist alley is kept?

- Mike

I don't think the door that Booth exited to the alley was preserved. During the conspirators' trial in mid-May the members of the military commission visited Ford's Theatre and examined the door, but left it in place. During the gutting and renovation of Ford's, in the fall of 1865, laborers placed windows in the alley wall and built a new doorway, after removing the large, centered scenery door and the back stage door Booth used. I think the doors were treated as debris and carted away.

Thanks Diane.

I agree with Diane. The door was most likely scrapped. When the government modified the building, they had relatively little concern with preserving the historical integrity of the building. They did however retain the presidential box and built around it.