What happened at Fort McNair during the Lincoln assassination?
Posted on Mar 19, 2026 / Travel
After President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, several of the conspirators were captured and brought to what was then the Washington Arsenal. They were held in a prison on the site and later tried by a military tribunal. The trial took place in a building now known as Grant Hall, which still stands today. Four of the conspirators, including Mary Surratt, were found guilty and executed there, making her the first woman executed by the U.S. federal government. The event is one of the most well-known moments in the fort’s history. Today, parts of the site connected to the trial are sometimes opened for educational tours. It’s a major historical connection that draws interest from history fans.
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