Visitors are drawn to the Surratt House Museum because of the Lincoln Assassination. It was here, just after midnight on April 15, 1865, that John Wilkes Booth and David Herold stopped after Booth fatally shot President Abraham Lincoln. The house’s notoriety increased when its owner, Mary Surratt, was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death by order of the Federal Government—the first woman in the history of the United States to suffer such a fate. Yet, the history of the Surratt House is much richer, complex, and nuanced than its infamous story. Before it served as a safehouse for Rebel agents and base for operatives involved in the Lincoln murder conspiracy, it was a family home, a post office, tavern, polling location, and the heart of an agricultural complex with two distinct communities—The Surratt family of five and an enslaved community of five to seven individuals. Through self-guided tours and interactions with museum educators, visitors will learn about the larger history of the site and the lives of those that lived on the grounds and within the house in the mid-19th century.

For the safety and health of the public and staff, a timed pre-reservation per individual is needed 24 hours in advance of your visit. You may only reserve for members of your household up to four (4) individuals.

Museum Hours
Thursday & Friday
Tours begin at 11 am & 2 pm

Saturday
11 am – 3 pm, walk-ins welcomed