washington post review of Ford's Theatre

[Lincoln Wonk]

The Rangers and the history volunteers do a great job. Unfortunately, I have the feeling that the NPS now takes orders from the reverse side of the Ford's Theatre project. They have accomplished a great deal of upgrade over the past decade, but some of what I've seen is too glossy for the solemn old building, in my opinion.

Now you all have gotten me thinking that I want to go back to Ford's. I just realized I haven't been there in like two years. It sounds like things have really changed.

[Dennis Urban]

I and my daughter are scheduled to go to Ford's next week on a timed admittance. Last there in 2009. I appreciate the comments about reproduction artifacts and time in the museum. Would be helpful if the ranger would announce how much time is allocated once the group enters the particular area. Then we could course around the repros and go directly to the real thing. Last week I toured the Surratt House for the first time in 30 years. My daughter and I were the only folks on this afternoon's tour. My first comment/question to the docent was to inquire as to what furniture, etc. was original to the house. Not unexpectedly she knew and pointed out what I wanted to know as we went along. I really appreciate such information from knowledgeable guides.

[Tim1965]

I've had mixed experiences with the NPS Rangers. During one tour in 2011, a Ranger speaking in the theater declined to give any talk about the theater, assassination, or other topics. Instead, the Ranger asked the audience if they had questions. It was surprising to find the Ranger uninformative. (The whole audience was shocked, frankly, that the Ranger wouldn't speak.) At a second tour a year later, the Ranger gave a short talk about the assassination (primarily Booth's escape from the box) which people found helpful and enjoyed. A third tour in 2014 found a really talkative Ranger who gave a good history of the theater, including its 1865 gutting and its 1893 collapse, as well as a bit more about the play, how Booth entered the theater and box, and Booth's escape.

I don't know if this represents an improvement over time by the Park Service, or the random selection of each Ranger's abilities and expertise. I've never had the opportunity to hear a volunteer guide the tour.

[ReignetteC]

I've had mixed experiences with the NPS Rangers. During one tour in 2011, a Ranger speaking in the theater declined to give any talk about the theater, assassination, or other topics. Instead, the Ranger asked the audience if they had questions. It was surprising to find the Ranger uninformative. (The whole audience was shocked, frankly, that the Ranger wouldn't speak.) At a second tour a year later, the Ranger gave a short talk about the assassination (primarily Booth's escape from the box) which people found helpful and enjoyed. A third tour in 2014 found a really talkative Ranger who gave a good history of the theater, including its 1865 gutting and its 1893 collapse, as well as a bit more about the play, how Booth entered the theater and box, and Booth's escape.

I don't know if this represents an improvement over time by the Park Service, or the random selection of each Ranger's abilities and expertise. I've never had the opportunity to hear a volunteer guide the tour.

Last year, while at Ford's, I sat in on Eric's "ranger talk." (I do not know his last name but I believe some of the forum members do.) His "talk" was exceptional!

[L Verge]

I've had mixed experiences with the NPS Rangers. During one tour in 2011, a Ranger speaking in the theater declined to give any talk about the theater, assassination, or other topics. Instead, the Ranger asked the audience if they had questions. It was surprising to find the Ranger uninformative. (The whole audience was shocked, frankly, that the Ranger wouldn't speak.) At a second tour a year later, the Ranger gave a short talk about the assassination (primarily Booth's escape from the box) which people found helpful and enjoyed. A third tour in 2014 found a really talkative Ranger who gave a good history of the theater, including its 1865 gutting and its 1893 collapse, as well as a bit more about the play, how Booth entered the theater and box, and Booth's escape.

I don't know if this represents an improvement over time by the Park Service, or the random selection of each Ranger's abilities and expertise. I've never had the opportunity to hear a volunteer guide the tour.

Last year, while at Ford's, I sat in on Eric's "ranger talk." (I do not know his last name but I believe some of the forum members do.) His "talk" was exceptional!

Eric Martin is a rare Ranger - very knowledgeable and very devoted to his history. They should clone him. Ford's has had a handful of such Rangers over the years.

[Lincoln Wonk]

I've had mixed experiences with the NPS Rangers. During one tour in 2011, a Ranger speaking in the theater declined to give any talk about the theater, assassination, or other topics. Instead, the Ranger asked the audience if they had questions. It was surprising to find the Ranger uninformative. (The whole audience was shocked, frankly, that the Ranger wouldn't speak.) At a second tour a year later, the Ranger gave a short talk about the assassination (primarily Booth's escape from the box) which people found helpful and enjoyed. A third tour in 2014 found a really talkative Ranger who gave a good history of the theater, including its 1865 gutting and its 1893 collapse, as well as a bit more about the play, how Booth entered the theater and box, and Booth's escape.

I don't know if this represents an improvement over time by the Park Service, or the random selection of each Ranger's abilities and expertise. I've never had the opportunity to hear a volunteer guide the tour.

Last year, while at Ford's, I sat in on Eric's "ranger talk." (I do not know his last name but I believe some of the forum members do.) His "talk" was exceptional!

Eric Martin is a rare Ranger - very knowledgeable and very devoted to his history. They should clone him. Ford's has had a handful of such Rangers over the years.

Eric is a treasure, and he's so willing to talk with visitors in the museum and bookshop too.

[Dennis Urban]

My visit with my 12 year old daughter to Ford's Theatre and the Petersen House was poorly managed by the NPS. It seems as if their goal is to get as many folks through in a minimum amount of time. Through my fault, we arrived 10-15 minutes late for our morning appointment. We had advance tickets with us. The outside person directed us inside. We approached the ranger admitting folks to the downstairs museum, showed our tickets and was directed to the ticket window (first mistake by NPs staff). After a short wait at the ticket window, seeing we already had tickets, we were sent back from where we came. This time we were admitted downstairs.

I do not know if when first admitted, folks were told how much time they would have downstairs but I doubt this was done. It should have been (second mistake). After a very few minutes downstairs the group was hustled upstairs to the theatre where we sat and sat. We sat for approximately 15 minutes of dead time without explanation (third mistake) while a costumed docent (as we later learned) sat mutely in the back of the theatre. This time could have been better spent downstairs with the exhibits. He later came forward and proved to be our narrator. His presentation was very well done. He did not take questions as apparently no time was allowed for such (fourth mistake). We were now directed out of the theatre and across the street to the Petersen House.

Seeing the group was large, the outside Ranger checked tickets and admitted a portion of the group. This was a good decision as space inside the house is small. Once inside, there was no docent to answer questions (fifth mistake). We had to move quickly through the rooms as a segment of the group came very shortly behind us (sixth mistake). I waited as people cleared out to take a few unobstructed photos in an extremely pressed time frame. From that point we went took the elevators to top floor of the history center next door.

Here we were free to spend as much time on each floor as we desired. Again I saw no one present at any exhibit to answer questions (seventh mistake). The exhibits seemed disjointed and lacked continuity (eighth mistake). For example, why was Lewis Lowell's saddle displayed after the mock up of the Lincoln funeral railroad coach and coffin sealing equipment (ninth mistake)? This was a nicely presented display. The displays and references to black history after Lincoln and to the civil rights movement seemed out of place in a venue devoted to Lincoln (tenth mistake). There is after all a new African American museum on the Mall.

Curiously, the keys said to have been taken from Booth at the Garrett farm were displayed and also referenced in a second descriptive panel. We know this to be inaccurate but this has not yet been corrected by the NPS (tenth mistake).

All in all, the experience for me and my daughter was very disappointing. For her, with few previous exposures to the assassination history, she did not learn all she could have. I am not usually so critical but as a historical purist I like to see the real thing, not replicas as was exhibited in some cases (eleventh mistake). The best advice I can give those contemplating the tour is to do your reading and study in advance of your visit so you can be better prepared for your hurried experience and make the most of the time you are given.

[ReignetteC]

I spent some time last Friday reviewing files in an office at Ford's Theatre. While there, I "bought" a ticket for a museum tour and ranger talk. The price? ZERO. There is no admission fee to Ford's if obtained on site. There is a nominal fee to reserve a ticket via its Website.

We had 25 minutes to spend in the museum. That wasn't enough time for me, but for most folks, it was probably too long. (Crowds of folks sat on the floor while they waited to gain entrance to the theatre.)

I ran into Eric Martin (he did not give the ranger talk) and I passed along the good wishes from the forum members, especially Laurie. Then I ran into (almost literally) the "professor," Jim Garrett. I was especially glad to see Jim and I look forward to returning to D.C. with my family so they can "learn" from the professor on one of his amazing tours. We'll be back when it's a lot cooler.

I can't say enough great things about the NPS rangers at Ford's. I am really thankful for their expertise.

[Lincoln Wonk]

I spent some time last Friday reviewing files in an office at Ford's Theatre. While there, I "bought" a ticket for a museum tour and ranger talk. The price? ZERO. There is no admission fee to Ford's if obtained on site. There is a nominal fee to reserve a ticket via its Website.

We had 25 minutes to spend in the museum. That wasn't enough time for me, but for most folks, it was probably too long. (Crowds of folks sat on the floor while they waited to gain entrance to the theatre.)

I ran into Eric Martin (he did not give the ranger talk) and I passed along the good wishes from the forum members, especially Laurie. Then I ran into (almost literally) the "professor," Jim Garrett. I was especially glad to see Jim and I look forward to returning to D.C. with my family so they can "learn" from the professor on one of his amazing tours. We'll be back when it's a lot cooler.


I can't say enough great things about the NPS rangers at Ford's. I am really thankful for their expertise.

The rangers are great.