Surratt Historic Site and Museum

In Clinton, Maryland, the Surratt Historic Site and Museum explores the Surratt family, the Lincoln assassination conspiracy and the people who lived and worked on the family’s farm. Guided tours connect the house’s history with slavery in Maryland, voting rights and Native American history in the area. Inside, look for dioramas, including one of Ford’s Theatre. The museum is small, so the guided visit is the best way to hear how the site fits into a wider account of American history.

The Surratt house and the Lincoln conspiracy

The historic house is associated with the Surratt family and the conspiracy to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln. John Wilkes Booth stopped at the house after shooting Lincoln. Guided tours cover the Surratt family and the people connected to the conspiracy, placing the site within the events surrounding the assassination.

Dioramas help interpret the story, including one depicting Ford’s Theatre. The house tour gives visitors a closer look at the place itself and the history tied to it.

A wider account of the site

The museum’s interpretation extends beyond the assassination. It addresses enslaved people who lived and worked on the Surratt farm, as well as slavery in Maryland. The tour also takes in voting rights and Native American history in the area, giving the site a broader local and national context.

Tours are offered every half hour during the museum’s Thursday-to-Sunday opening days. If the museum is closed when you arrive, the garden’s information plaques provide a way to learn about the site outdoors.