Assassination Day

 I went to Washington DC for a few days. Its my favorite city. I think I've been there four times in my life. This might be my last, though. I'm not sure I've seen everything, but I've definitely hit the point of diminishing returns. I really didn't see that much new this time, but a few things, and some, of course, were worth revisiting. So here we go - Day 1.

Its Lincoln assassination day. I wasn't necessarily looking to have a themed day, but its kind of how it turned out to be. I don't want to brag, but I'm kind of an expert on assassinations in general. If you want to learn more about assassinations, and who doesn't, a couple of good starter books: Assassination Vacation, by Sarah Vowel. Yes, the title is pretty much what it is about. She took a vacation trip to visit sights associated with presidential assassinations. That fact that she would think to do such a thing makes me a big fan of hers. I haven't done that in a single trip. My visits have been more spread out, but we've seen pretty much the same sights. Also, there is a book telling the story of presidential assassinations told in Lego format. Its actually pretty helpful.

Anyway, I've seen Ford's Theater and didn't think I needed to go back again, but we were in the neighborhood, so pretty much had to go. The main level is the stage level. The second floor contains the balcony where Lincoln sat. The bottom is a museum. They've made some changes to that museum, that I didn't particularly care for, but its still got Booth's derringer, which is fun in a morbid kind of way.

Interesting fact: Lincoln invited General Grant and his wife Julia to go with them. They begged off because they didn't care for nutty Mary Lincoln. Abe instead invited a Major Rathbone and his fiancee. The major did perform pretty heroically in his tussle with Booth. What most don't know is years later he married his finance, went nuts, and ended up killing her. I told you assassinations were interesting.


Across the street is the house where they took Lincoln and that he died in the next morning. One thing I had never seen before was the alley way behind Ford's Theater. I didn't know it even still existed. Booth escaped out the back of the theater and headed down the alley. That was fun to see.

Another new thing I found is Mary Surratt's Inn where they met to hatch their plots. I didn't know that still existed either. It does and it is now a "Wok and Roll Restaurant". I am being completely serious. That seems a bit inappropriate, at least it still exists. It took some sleuthing to figure how where it was, but I did it.