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David Herold, (LOC)
On Friday, April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot in the head while watching a play at Ford’s Theatre. The assassin, actor John Wilkes Booth, jumped to the stage floor and fled. President Lincoln died as a result of his wound the following morning. With Booth’s escape, the largest manhunt in American history ensued, as law enforcement and military searched for the assassin. Aided by fellow conspirators such as David Herold, Booth evaded authorities until Union Army soldiers located Booth at a Virginia farm. Surrounded, Booth was shot and killed in that fateful confrontation. Eventually, eight other conspirators were implicated in the conspiracy. After a trial by military tribunal, four were imprisoned and four others, including Herold, were executed.
The story of the 16th president’s assassination is a well known one. Hundreds of books, thousands of articles, and dozens of special exhibits are just some of the ways this story has been told. But have you ever seen the story told using the graves of those involved with the assassination?
In partnership with our friends at Ford’s Theatre, please join us on Saturday, April 18th from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM for a special event. One part speaking engagement and one part docent-led tour, this first entry in our 2026 Cemetery Speaker Series features keynote remarks on the Lincoln Assassination from Ford’s Theatre’s Daiya Malone, followed by a complimentary docent-led tour of the gravesites of individuals related to the assassination, including David Herold, Charles Forbes, and others.
HCC is thrilled to welcome Daiya Malone as this event’s speaker. Malone is the Interpretive Programs Manager at Ford’s Theatre, developing interpretive resources for students, teachers, and general audiences. She is passionate about creating exciting and dynamic ways to engage with history for all learners. Before joining Ford’s Education last year, Daiya worked as a museum operations manager and an exhibitions manager. She has an M.A. in Art History from American University and a B.A. in Humanities from The King’s College.
Tickets are only $10 and all proceeds go to benefitting our non-profit mission of historical preservation and education. Space is limited so be sure to reserve your spot today! Keynote remarks will take place either outside or inside the Chapel, weather depending and the walking tour will take place on the grounds. The tour is approximately 45 minutes in length. Please come prepared with comfortable clothing and shoes, as the tours often stray from the main paths.
The event is rain or shine. Smoking is prohibited and dogs are not allowed to attend the event unless they are a service animal.
