New York Avenue Presbyterian Church At the corner of New York Avenue and Thirteenth Street was the church, less than four blocks from the White House, where President Lincoln normally worshiped. (The existing church is a replacement for the one that existed during the Civil War.) It was a relatively new building, having only… Abraham […]

Ford’s Theater Ford’s Theater on 10th Street between E and F Streets, was the site of President Lincoln’s assassination on April 14, 1865. The President often visited there to relax and enjoy his love of the theater. The building was formerly a Baptist church and had been turned into a theater in late 1861, remodeled, […]

Grover’s Theater Grover’s on E Street between 13th and 14th Streets was one of two theaters favored by President and Mrs. Lincoln for small theater parties. They made scores of visits to Grover’s. “The proprietors of Grover’s Theatre fitted up a handsome and commodious box for…” Abraham Lincoln’s White House >

Kirkwood House Vice President Andrew Johnson stayed here and was supposed to have been assassinated here on April 14, 1865. Instead, he was awakened to be told of Lincoln’s assassination the next morning and later took the oath of office as President here. Johnson’s room was… Abraham Lincoln’s White House >

The National Hotel The National Hotel was the primary competitor to the Willard. It was located at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 6th Street, several blocks from the White House. During the 1830s and 1840s, the hotel was called Gadsby’s and was… Abraham Lincoln’s White House >

Willard’s Hotel Willard’s Hotel was the capital’s pre-eminent hotel, located close to the White House at the corner of E Street and 14th Street. Before the war, it had been frequented by both northerners and southerners. The Willard Brothers had… Abraham Lincoln’s White House >

General Dan Sickles (1819-1914) Sickles was seriously wounded and his leg was later amputated. He was moved to a private house in Washington to recuperate. On July 5, President Lincoln visited him. Sickles later claimed that during this visit, Mr. Lincoln… Abraham Lincoln’s White House >

Isaac Newton Commissioner of Agriculture, horticulturalist, and political ally of Attorney General Edward Bates, Isaac Newton was first appointed chief clerk in the Patent Office’s Bureau of Agriculture in 1861.   In May 1862, Congress authorized the appointment of a commissioner of agriculture to oversee the dissemination of information about agriculture and samples for planting. […]

Oliver ‘Pet’ Spencer Halsted (1819-1871) A shady lawyer-businessmen who promoted arms purchases during the Civil War, Oliver ‘Pet’ Spencer Halsted was an unsuccessful politician who was more successful behind the political scenes. He was described by the New York Tribune’s reporter as… Abraham Lincoln’s White House >

Charles J. Colchester “Lord” Charles J. Colchester was a medium whose spiritual gifts were as fake as his noble pedigree. He conducted seances for Mrs. Lincoln – including at least one at the Soldier’s Home. His shenanigans were exposed by journalist Noah Brooks, who was one Mrs. Lincoln’s benign male favorites. Brooks not only exposed […]