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    The Petersen House

    4.5 (73 reviews)
    Closed 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    tower of books on Abraham Lincoln!
    Christine M.

    we enjoyed the walking tour of Abraham Lincoln, the Ford Theater and coming to see how small the Petersen house was but to walk through history pretty cool. Lots of field trips! Which i do think is great not sure they are really getting it at 13-15, think 10yr olds would appreciate it more. Unless they have a project they are working on to really get into it. It's not a long tour but worth seeing!

    Cody S.

    Pretty cool piece of history. Directly across the street from ford theater where the shot happened. Still preserved the way it was the night it happened. It's definitely worth seeing. Depending on what theater package to buy it comes with it as well! Worth doing along with the theater tour, but by itself it's a little dull. Just basically walking through a hallway and a bedroom, still worth it, just don't be too hipped!

    Nick P.

    Abraham Lincoln was shot at the theatre and brought here where he died. The ticket I bought online for Ford's Theatre also included the Peterson House. Be sure to check the details before buying. The ranger gives a little detail and lets small groups at a time. It's a very short tour. Be sure to check out the tower of books all based on Lincoln.

    Julie S.

    The actual home is small, you can view 2 rooms -- the waiting room and the replica of the bed where Lincoln dies. The actual bed is in Chicago... But the museum/exhibit next door has a lot of information about the hunt for John Wilkes Booth and the famous stack of Lincoln books.

    Outside
    Kevin B.

    This is a must-see if you're visiting Ford's Theater as it completes the story of what happened on the night that President Lincoln was assassinated. Lincoln was brought here after he was shot and he died in this home. You can tour the house, which is only a few rooms, and see the room and bed where Lincoln died. There is also a museum attached to it that goes into detail about the hunt for Booth and the aftermath of the assassination, which was fascinating to read. This is an essential place to visit for American history enthusiasts and I would highly recommend coming here.

    Parlor
    Steve A.

    Good place after a Ford's Theater experience. It's included in the admission price. The Petersen House is where Lincoln died the day after being shot. Lots more information throughout here. You need to make sure you have the ticket. If you're going to Ford's Theater to learn about Lincoln, you also need to come here. It's where Lincoln was taken so he could pass away peacefully. The bedroom he died on is open for the public. Also there's two other bedrooms. The actual bed he died on isn't here though. In the museum are exhibits about the aftermath. These describe the pursuit of John Wilkes Booth, his capture, and how the country mourned. Keep in mind the theater hours. If you want a tour of the theater you might have to go in the morning. The house and theater aren't always included together.

    Marlon T.

    Abraham Lincoln died in this home. You can see the room/bed where he died. It's kinda weird, interesting, and sad all at the same time. Admission is free, you just need to grab a ticket from Ford's museum across the street. Rest in peace to this American statesman!

    11.23.18  across the street from Ford's Theatre
    May A.

    Good visit... I wasn't disappointed After our visit inside the historic Ford's theatre where President Lincoln was assassinated, we headed outside to see the house where Lincoln died. The house is located just across the street from the theatre. This is a small home and tours inside can accommodate about 15 guests at a time. It was included with our purchase of the Historic Site ticket. Our self-guided tour took about 15 mins inside. We couldn't really roam around the house, basically moving in a line to see the interior of the home and where President Lincoln was brought after he was shot and eventually died here the next morning. The Petersen House is also maintained by the National Park Service. Collect your National Park Passport stamp inside the Ford's Theatre at the Box Office. The house is remarkably maintained considering how much foot traffic from visitors and tourists it gets. Actually, we were fortunate to be able to enter the house during our visit because it had just reopened in June this year from a 6-month closure and it will be closed again in January-February 2019 for continued preservation work. It was an eye-opening experience for me to see the room in which he died in and further deepened my understanding of President Lincoln's assassination. We then visited the connecting building which was the Center for Education and Leadership. The exhibits explored the assassination aftermath and President Lincoln's legacy. I had a great experience and is a must-see when in DC. This is included with our $3/person admission fee. Review #1198

    The Petersen House - The House Where Lincoln Died sign.
    Marilu F.

    A ticket to Ford's Theatre will also grant you access to The Petersen House across the street. The Petersen House, simply put, is where Abraham Lincoln was taken after he was fatally shot on April 14, 1865, and died the morning after. A small abode, Lincoln was taken to a room, where he was attended as best as he could be. Many people came in and out, paying their last respects to the president and hoping for some sort of miracle, but Lincoln never awoke from his unconsciousness and instead went onto the next world. Today this house is well preserved. The rooms have been left as close to the original house as possible, and aside from lights and air conditioner, it is essentially the same as in the old times. Walking into this house, you are experiencing history. You will also be unaccustomed to the lack of space or at the very least I was. Times have certainly changed. At any rate, once you leave the area spent his last dying breath in, you can walk across and be connected to another section full of what happened after. Something to note that is impressing about this section: they have a tower of all the books written on Lincoln ever. That being said, there isn't much else to say; it is your typical museum, gift shop and all.

    Pam D.

    Petersen House...the house where President Lincoln died, located right across from Ford's Theatre. (It's now a museum.) A tour explaining Lincoln's assassination isn't complete without seeing this place. Go to Ford's Theatre first though!

    Dani C.

    "He Now Belongs to the Ages" - Secretary of War Edwin Stanton On April 14, 1865, after Booth shot President Lincoln at Ford's Theatre, Lincoln was carried into the Petersen boarding house across the street. The doctor at Lincoln's bedside updated the crowd each hour on the president's condition. Physicians continually removed blood clots which formed over the wound and poured out the excess brain fluid and brain matter from where the bullet had entered Lincoln's head in order to relieve pressure on the brain. However, the external and internal hemorrhaging continued throughout the night. His final update came at 7:22 a.m. on April 15, 1865: the president had died (age 56). During the president's final hours, he was surrounded by his wife and son, and various U.S. government officials. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton turned one of the rooms into an interrogation area, interviewing witnesses about what happened inside the theatre. After the Presidents passing, his body was placed in a temporary coffin covered with an American flag, and returned by hearse to the White House, accompanied by a cavalry escort. Booth was located in Virginia 11 days later and was shot by Union forces, dying two hours later. The Petersen home was purchased by the U.S. government in 1896 for $30,000.

    Andy V.

    What a cool find! With your admission to Ford's Theater you're also able to walk across the street and enter the Peterson House, the home where Lincoln was transported to after being shot at Ford's Theater and later died. First, the ticket to Ford's theater which again includes this museum was $5. You cannot beat two museums which such historical value for that price. Anyway, when I walked in I was greeted by an elderly gentleman who told me about the home. He kind of talked my ear off which was fine because I wasn't in a rush and I could tell he enjoyed being a history nerd. He showed me where Mary Todd Lincoln would sit and weep, scream even, for hours and then try to see Lincoln to check on his condition. He also let me know that the house is pretty much is in the original condition as to when Lincoln was there- of course electricity was added so lighting was updated. You can see the bed where he died which was very surreal. After that you take an elevator up to four, why, I kept thinking and then I realize there is another entire museum dedicated to Lincoln! So much stuff, from the manhunt of John Wilkes Booth to Lincoln's legacy in popular culture- it was totally amazing. Between this and Ford's Theater, I could have stayed all day. The monument of books on Lincoln is cool too. It shows his impact on our country for sure. Do yourself a favor and check this out! You will love it, and honestly, if you don't- you spent $5.

    Kathleen D.

    Keep your ticket in hand after Ford's Theatre and safely cross the street to the house where Abraham Lincoln passed away for free entry and more compelling history. The actual bed where Lincoln died is on display in Chicago, but there's a replica bed available to view if you're into that type of thing. There's also interactive exhibits to peak your interest and learn more about the events that led to the assassination. It won't take as long to walk through this home, but it's worth a visit for sure.

    There are over 15,000 books currently in print about the 16th president with more being written everyday.

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    Quick little tour but goes a long well with the Ford Theatre tour. Definitely check it out to complete that story.

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    Ask the Community - The Petersen House

    Review Highlights - The Petersen House

    Right next to Ford's Theater stands the location where Abraham Lincoln was taken following his assassination.

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    Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - She's looking right at me... it's a she, I peeked

    Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

    4.5(1.4k reviews)
    0.4 mi

    Had a wonderful time here. This was the top museum we wanted to visit on our trip to DC. I could…read morehave stayed and wandered for hours, but I let my kids lead the way. Some of the things I thought for sure they would love, were not a hit as I had expected: namely dinosaur bones and the animal displays- but it was also very crowded and a lot to take in. Every where we turned there was more info, more interesting things to see- beautiful, fascinating, interesting- but I think it can be overwhelming- it is almost too much, if that is possible! We had to pace ourselves. A museum is designed for all ages in mind, so it is difficult to know what exhibits will appeal to whom. The part my kids loved the most was the live bug displays. So many species, and so fun to try to find each creature. We stayed here a long time. The exhbits are built with children in mind, many at eye level for little ones. The exhibits with glow in the dark species were so fun! I had to block the way at the end of the exhibit so they didn't move into the mummy section, as just seeing the hint of this display really scared them. I had a blast in the gems section, but my kids were not as excited about this section as I had hoped. We had to take breaks by going to the eatery on site, perusing the gift shop (I let them fill a bag of gems, which was incredibly exciting for them!), and chill out watching a documentary in a screening area.

    What a great museum! How can you not love going here? I didn't have time to read a lot or explore…read moretoo many things in detail, but walking through, I could tell I wanted to come back. It has a decent layout and the maps guide you to the various areas nicely. Obviously dinosaurs are cool and prevalent in any Natural History museum. But they had lots of other cool things too. Probably the biggest draw is the Hope Diamond... It's big and beautiful diamond (BBD) and just something you should check out if you're here. This is one of the more popular of the museums straddling the National Mall, so plan accordingly if you want to get in and spend more time exploring. The crowds can get a little crazy. I got there at 3p and there was a line to get in.

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    Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - Line at 3p or so

    Line at 3p or so

    Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - Model jellyfish in the marine life exhibit

    Model jellyfish in the marine life exhibit

    Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - Hope diamond

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    Dumbarton Oaks - Cherry blossom tree (and engagement ring!)

    Dumbarton Oaks

    4.5(141 reviews)
    2.4 miGeorgetown

    I purposely visited recently (winter season) because entrance to the gardens is free, otherwise…read moreit's $15. The gardens are interesting even in the cold months. The couple most closely associated with this Georgetown estate, Mildred and Robert Bliss, clearly loved and thought deeply about this parcel of land when they owned it (1920/30's). Their efforts to preserve and share the space with the public are to be commended. It must have been quite something in its heyday. There's a lot of research that's supported here, as well as other activities. The website explains all that. It's a low-key sightseeing spot; quiet, contemplative.

    Most everyone in my office is off today due to the holiday, so I mad a plan to visit this museum…read more I also wanted to see the adjoining garden, but it doesn't open until much later in the afternoon. They have quite a few notable collections that I liked. The Byzantine Collection featured different artwork from the fifteenth cwntury. There were also several large sculptures that originated from the Byzantium empire which is known as Istanbul today. According to their information, the museum is continuously acquiring different works if art from this time period. There were also some pretty cool grave markers dating back to the 11th century. The museum is sort of hidden off of the main avenue in Georgetown so you will probably need to search for it. It is also free and open most days to the general public.

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    Dumbarton Oaks - Wisteria in bloom 4/12/26

    Wisteria in bloom 4/12/26

    Dumbarton Oaks - Music room

    Music room

    Dumbarton Oaks - "Child at a window", 1901 by Edouard Vuillard

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    "Child at a window", 1901 by Edouard Vuillard

    National Gallery of Art - Mother and child

    National Gallery of Art

    4.6(892 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    The Art Museum is a sight to behold, pun intended! Where else can you go to see all these amazing…read moreworks of art under one roof? I loved the comfortable seating areas offered all throughout the museum. This gave me the opportunity to really reflect on what message the artist was trying to convey. Can't wait to go back again!

    They should call this the Butts, Boobs, Balls, and Bare Feet museum. With that being said, they…read morehave some other cool art here for sure... Some Da Vinci stuff, modern art (in the east building), statues, furniture, and paintings galore. Every piece is displayed in a way that brings out the colors and life of them. The lighting people here must keep busy. It's amazing how old they are and how good they look, with zero plastic surgery... although I'm sure there's some restoration happening. This sentence fits the "things you can say about art that you can't say about your partner" category. This was probably the most difficult museum to navigate though. There's no clear way to see every room as you'll be going different directions, through different doors, hitting dead ends, and at certain points, going the wrong way even though there's not logical order to exploring. I used the paper map to make sure I saw everything... and it was a lot of work to do so. One thing that was interesting that for people wearing backpacks, the staff made them wear them on the front like they were human kangaroos... which is brilliant as people are F'ing idiots swinging them around without any care in the world if they're going to hit something (they should do this on airplanes too, BTW). So my advice, leave the backpack in the car or the hotel unless you really need all that crap with you. I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy this museum or not, but ended up really appreciating the beauty of some of the artwork. Moreso with the Oil Paintings on the 2nd floor of the middle building. And that Da Vinci painting in person... pics don't do it justice. Italians just do it better, I guess...

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    National Gallery of Art - Mankind? That is an abstraction. 
 There have always been and always will be only individuals.
  ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

    Mankind? That is an abstraction. There have always been and always will be only individuals. ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

    National Gallery of Art - "The need for mystery is greater than the need for an answer"
    -Ken Kesey

    "The need for mystery is greater than the need for an answer" -Ken Kesey

    National Gallery of Art - Ices-cream is exquisite. What a pity it isn't illegal.
          --Voltaire

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    Ices-cream is exquisite. What a pity it isn't illegal. --Voltaire

    Milken Center for the Advancement of the American Dream - Word cloud

    Milken Center for the Advancement of the American Dream

    4.8(29 reviews)
    0.4 miDowntown

    I visited the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream last weekend with my husband, and it…read morewas interesting. So what is it? It's a new museum that opened in the fall of 2025, just steps from the White House and the U.S. Treasury. It touts itself as an interactive museum which highlights the successes of American capitalism, entrepreneurship, and financial and banking institutions. The museum's namesake is Michael Milken, who partly curated and controls the museum. Located in five historic buildings, rumor has it the museum cost $500 million. Exploring the museum, I was conflicted. I love museums, and I think you should keep an open mind and learn what you can everywhere, from anyone, for your whole life. I value curiosity and critical thinking above many other things. However, this is definitely a museum with a point of view, and it's probably good to know that going in. Michael Milken is an American financier mostly known for his role in the development of the market for high-yield bonds (junk bonds), leading to his reputation as the "Junk Bond King," and his conviction and sentence on felony charges for violating securities laws. He was sentenced to 10 years (he served 2) and fined $600 million. He was pardoned by President Trump in 2020 and is considered to be one of the wealthiest people in the world (with an estimated net worth of $6 billion). None of this is to say you can't enjoy or learn from or even love the Milken Center. I just think it's relevant information to know going in as the museum deals with American financial markets and capitalism. I certainly wouldn't recommend taking your most progressive or democratic socialist friends to this museum. The museum is free to visit, but you do need to make an reservation for a timed entry (I'm not sure why, because they were not busy at all on a Sunday afternoon when we visited). There is an add on experience (the Holodeck Experience) which has an associated cost of $15 per person. We probably spent an hour and a half at the museum. You can certainly see where they spent the alleged $500 million. It's shiny and new and has lots of interactive aspects and exhibits. If you're into historical artifacts, this is not the museum for you. (They did have an iron lung, and since I'd only ever seen one other, that was a pretty interesting artifact to see.) This museum is full of videos and holograms and signs (and some art as well) but light on artifacts for sure. We wandered around the museum, not really sure what the highlights were that we shouldn't miss (we ended up missing the hologram gallery that many other reviews mention). Most of the financial floors of the museum weren't of very much interest to me, although I could see how it would be interesting/educational for kids (for example, there was an interactive quiz where you choose how much a young person with their first job should save, spend on trips, etc., and then you see how well they're doing after a bit of time). The highlights of the museum for me were the building itself and the art. The Basil Kincaid quilts are massive and and jaw dropping where they hang over the Tree of Generations. And two art-related exhibits really caught my attention: "Celebrating 250 Years: A Journey Through America with Robert Freimark" (which showcased abstract prints the artist made, each representing one of the 50 states) and "Visualizing Impact" (an exhibit showcasing art made by young artists in grades 6-12 focus on unsung heroes in history). We also did the Holodeck Experience - the add on experience for $15 per person. From their website: "It's more than just a movie--it's an unforgettable multisensory adventure held in a unique 360-degree megapixel environment. You're invited to embark on a new journey in the Perpetual Story Machine by Moment Factory, a mind-bending fusion of technology and imagination. Dive into stories of perseverance, innovation, determination, and mentorship at the breathtaking Kenneth C. Griffin Holodeck Experience. Are you ready to take the leap?" That's vague, but it's a hard experience to describe. I actually think children might enjoy it more than adults, because we found it a little silly (especially the parts where you have to "help" the Machine before the more movie-like part begins). We were alone at the experience, so it there were two staff members for the two of us. I did learn about three very different and interesting American experiences, but ultimately I found it a bit cheesy. The Milken Center is free, so I encourage anyone with some spare time to check it out for themselves. But it's not the museum for me. Some of the smaller art exhibits caught my eye, but the majority of the museum felt a bit off to me. Maybe I'm just not into these newer "museums" without artifacts. More like immersive experiences with informational signs. I doubt I'll be back, but you might get more out of it or enjoy more than I did. Who knows?

    Heart this museum that use to be the Riggs National Bank built in 1899 and is also known as the…read morepresidents bank of which over half of the U.S. presidents use to bank. It's steps from the White House and U.S. Treasury. Heart the interactive museum that celebrates the successes of entrepreneurs and the opportunities, innovation and statements and videos of personal achievements. The museum has photos, original documents from the past history of the bank, and two original bank vaults. The tree of generations greets you as you enter the main floor and is interactive, so you and your family can post instantly your digital pic. I recommend this museum to everyone and you'll feel inspired & motivated after visiting this new museum.

    Photos
    Milken Center for the Advancement of the American Dream - So pretty!

    So pretty!

    Milken Center for the Advancement of the American Dream - Holodeck

    Holodeck

    Milken Center for the Advancement of the American Dream

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    The Mansion On O Street - Hotel bedroom

    The Mansion On O Street

    3.8(448 reviews)
    1.3 miDupont Circle, Downtown
    $$$

    So much history here - so be sure to embrace that part of the mansion!…read more Otherwise, I've always just approached the mansion as a cool, quirky, fun house of stimulation. Every inch and every corner is pretty much covered with something interesting to look at. In terms of a fun house vibe, you can definitely get lost and explore the mansion for hours. But at some point, I usually adjust my lens a bit a realize that it's just a really extension collection of flea market and estate sale items that have been arranged in an way to make it interesting (it even smells like it, in a moth ball-like way!) Either way, I would recommend everyone to experience it at least once if you have a free afternoon and time to kill. It's definitely a one of a kind experience!

    O Museum - O Street, Washington DC…read more I was a judicial fellow at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and arrived at the DOT office complex in L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, D.C., for my first day of orientation. It was early on Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, and while I had been in Washington many times in my work as an administrative law judge, this was my first time meeting my contacts at NHTSA. The world now recognizes the losses sustained on that day, in New York and at the Pentagon (and on United Airlines Flight 93), but at 8:30 in the morning at NHTSA's headquarters in D.C. our world was rapidly aging amidst the tragedy. My contact at NHTSA had family members he needed to get to, and he left me to my own devices. As transport systems turned into gridlock, I left the building intending to walk to my hotel in Georgetown. I had the day to explore. All the Smithsonian museums were locked down, as were most businesses. I had no agenda other than experiencing what D.C. was like during the turmoil of 9/11. I walked from L'Enfant Plaza to Dupont Circle, hoping to have lunch at my favorite restaurant, Johnny's Half Shell. In the process, in a long wandering exploration of the District, I happened upon O Street, not far from the Dupont Circle Metro station. During the walk I passed a string of brownstone residences on O Street between 20th and 21st Streets. While my memory has faded over time, I recall walking past curious bronze sculptures of the White Rabbit, Alice, the Mad Hatter, and the Cheshire Cat, ensconced in abundant greenery that seemed to fill the streetside frontages of four or five of the brownstones. Last week I found out that what I walked past that day 25 years ago was the O Museum in the Mansion, named after the mansion's street location. It's a venue that evokes a rich historical heritage that runs the spectrum from the lives of the rich and famous to the lives of courageous civil rights activists who created cultural change in our nation's capital. I learned the museum was opened in 1980 by its founder, H.H. Leonards Spero, and is housed in a mansion that now includes a boutique hotel with themed rooms. Their "Night at the Museum" tour offers an immersive overnight experience with extended access to the museum and its collection. Also known as The Secret Door Museum, there are over one hundred themed rooms, over eighty secret doors, and thousands of artifacts spanning art, music, sports, history, and American pop culture. I stopped by the display case that housed signed guitars from Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan and saw museum rooms packed with memorabilia from folk and jazz eras, and the early days of the Beatles. Nostalgia and history reign and the displays include important artifacts relating to the civil rights era in the United States, with prominent attention given to the inspired work of Rosa Parks and other civil rights mentors. The Museum features a bar, modern restrooms, an elevator, and secret doors throughout. Reservations are recommended, but I walked in without any wait (on a weekday in February 2026). Remarkably, most of the contents - probably counting in the thousands - are for sale. (So, we're on notice by the Museum's docents: if you break it, you buy it.) I found the Museum's staff to be friendly, well-informed, and exceptionally enthusiastic about their work. I learned there are limited-time themed events, such as the Secret Door Experience ($33), a Champagne Tour ($62.50), a Secret Portal Hunt & Tour ($45.95), a Secret Gardens of Asia celebrating cherry blossoms ($50), a Mother's Day Secret Door & Champagne Tour ($54.50), a Night at the Museum overnight package ($550.77) and a host of events celebrating the life and work of Rosa Parks and other civil rights leaders. This may well be one of the most curiosity-inspiring venues anywhere in the world. And good luck finding the secret doors!

    Photos
    The Mansion On O Street - Rosa Park Room

    Rosa Park Room

    The Mansion On O Street - From the secret Halloween room if you can find it! I dare you to in and make a noise...

    From the secret Halloween room if you can find it! I dare you to in and make a noise...

    The Mansion On O Street - Rosa Parks room.

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    Rosa Parks room.

    The Petersen House - museums - Updated July 2026

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