Assassination of Abe Lincoln

On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth, shot President Abraham Lincoln in the back of the head at a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. John Wilkes Booth was originally planning to kidnap President Lincoln. However, he didn't show up to the place where John Wilkes Booth was waiting. President Lincoln died the next day surrounded by his friends and loved ones. His assassination took place only five days after the Civil War had ended.

The president’s body was put in a coffin, covered with a flag and escorted by soldiers to the White House. News of the president’s death traveled quickly, and by the end of the day flags across the country were hung, businesses were closed and people who had celebrated the end of the Civil War were shocked by the death of their president.

President was interred on May 4, 1865, at Oak Ridge Cemetery, near Springfield.

Did You Know ?

The search for John Wilkes Booth was one of the largest manhunts in history, with 10,000 federal troops, detectives, police tracking down the killer.