WASHINGTON — On Feb. 13, 2015, the Newseum will open a new exhibit, “President Lincoln Is Dead: The New York Herald Reports the Assassination,” to mark the 150th anniversary of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. The exhibit features an unparalleled collection of all seven editions issued by the Herald on April 15, 1865, chronicling the shooting of the president at Ford's Theatre, his death, the hunt for his assassin and the swearing-in of the new president.

Displayed together for the first time since 1865, the collection begins with the 2 a.m. edition, which contained the first Associated Press report that Lincoln had been shot. The exhibit also includes a recently discovered 8:45 a.m. “extra” that was one of the first newspapers to report the president's death.

Also on display is the 3 a.m. edition, which officially identified actor and Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth as the chief suspect. Later in the investigation, evidence linking Booth to the crime was discovered in his room at Washington's National Hotel, which stood on the site now occupied by the Newseum.

Bringing together all seven April 15, 1865, editions of the Herald for the exhibit was made possible in part by the loan of the day's final edition from collector Dean Melen. The remaining six editions are part of the Newseum's collection of 35,000 historic newspapers dating back nearly to the dawn of printing.

The Newseum also has partnered with Ford's Theatre Society and the Willard InterContinental Hotel to host an online contest, LincolnX3, a Lincoln-themed weekend vacation package for two in Washington, D.C. The package includes two tickets to the world premiere play “The Widow Lincoln” at Ford's Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 21; two admission tickets to the Newseum, including “President Lincoln Is Dead: The New York HeraldReports the Assassination,” and a two-night stay (Feb. 21 and 22) at the historic Willard InterContinental, where Lincoln stayed before his inauguration. For additional information or to enter the LincolnX3 contest, visit fords.org/lincolnx3.

“President Lincoln Is Dead” will be on display at the Newseum from Presidents Day weekend through Sept. 13, 2015.

ABOUT THE NEWSEUM

The mission of the Newseum is to champion the five freedoms of the First Amendment through education, information and entertainment. One of the top attractions in Washington, D.C., the Newseum's 250,000-square-foot news museum offers visitors a state-of-the-art experience that blends news history with up-to-the-second technology and hands-on exhibits. The Newseum Institute serves as a forum for First Amendment study, exploration and education. The Newseum is a 501(c)(3) public charity funded by generous individuals, corporations and foundations, including the Freedom Forum.

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