The 160th anniversary of the assassination of President Lincoln is on April 14, and both the Ford’s Theatre Society and the National Park Service have planned activities to commemorate the tragedy.

Lincoln was mortally wounded by the Confederate sympathizer and actor John Wilkes Booth during a showing of “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theatre in the District of Columbia. Lincoln died on the morning of April 15, 1865, at the Petersen House across the street from the theater.  

He was the first U.S. president to be assassinated.

On the anniversary of the shooting, the Ford’s Theatre Society will offer a virtual field trip over Zoom for students fifth grade and up, and the Petersen House will host house tours every 30 minutes from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

On April 15 at 7:22 a.m., the exact time that Lincoln died in 1865, the NPS will hold a wreath-laying ceremony at the Petersen House. The service and Ford’s Theatre Society team up to honor Lincoln and his death each year.

Other events will take place on April 14 and 15. At 2 p.m. each day, NPS rangers will offer 35-minute walking tours of the neighborhood around the theater. 

Another walking tour held by the Ford’s Theatre Society centers on the investigation of the assassination and will be available throughout April and May.

A play centered on the assassination, “One Destiny,” resumed showings at Ford’s Theatre.

The 40-minute play will be performed on April 14 and 15 and will have other showings through May 17. In addition, PBS and the Ford’s Theatre Society have partnered to create a three-part video series on the assassination, with episodes airing on April 14, 22 and 29.

Tickets to the virtual field trip, investigation-centered walking tour and “One Destiny” shows, as well as video-on-demand streaming of the play, can be bought on the Ford’s Theatre website. Tickets to visit the Ford’s Theatre historic site and museum are available for dates through May 26.

“At Ford’s, we take very seriously the responsibility to inspire the next generation of leaders. Commemorating the assassination of Abraham Lincoln provides the opportunity to explore how the tragic event impacted our nation and examine Lincoln’s continued legacy, in addition to celebrating the life of a great American leader,” Ford’s Theatre Director Paul Tetreault said in a release.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.