The Roof Shortly after the Civil War broke out, Tad Lincoln told Julia Taft at Sunday school, ‘You ought to see the fort we’ve got on the roof of our house.” Of potential rebel attackers, Tad said: “Let ’em come. Willie and I are ready for ’em.” According to Julia, “My brothers and I…” Abraham […]

The Attic During the Civil War, there was no third floor to the White House. (It was not completed until 1927.) The White House attic and roof were the Lincoln boys’ playground. Julia Taft, who often oversaw her own brothers as well as Willie and Tad Lincoln, recorded a typical incident in their… Abraham Lincoln’s […]

The Basement The basement of the White House contained no public areas in the Civil War years. Only the kitchen and servants’ quarters were located in the basement, which William O. Stoddard described as having the air of “an old and unsuccessful…” Abraham Lincoln’s White House >

Gideon Welles (1802-78) Connecticut Republican leader and a founder of the Hartford Evening Press, Gideon Welles, nicknamed “Father Neptune,” was the Secretary of the Navy from 1861-1869. He was a jealous Cabinet rival of Secretary of State… Abraham Lincoln’s White House >

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 >