Tours of the Trial Room

[L Verge]

I think that I am safe in saying that The Conspirator movie awakened many people to the assassination and the implications of the military court. I happen to be someone who understands why a military court was deemed necessary in 1865. I also think that people who are keeping up with homeland security, Guantanamo issues, American terrorists, etc. today have figured out that we might need to understand a bit of 1865 background info. If viewing a reconstructed courtroom can do the trick, more power to it.

I will be eternally grateful to an elderly volunteer who gave tours at Surratt House faithfully for years. In the year or so after 9/11, college teachers were sending students to our museum because of that event and its implications for the future. One student asked Margaret (who was then about 85 - and in better shape than I), why John Wilkes Booth was significant. Without hesitation, she said that he was one of our country's first terrorists.

That kid had asked his question in that bored manner typical of the age level and only because he was being forced to provide an answer to his professor. When Margaret came out with the analogy to 9/11, he shut up and paid attention. That's when making history relevant pays off. And, yes, Margaret is still alive at age 98 - just not giving tours anymore.