This work investigates the historical significance and operational history of Ford's Theatre as the site of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. The author, Stanley W. McClure, utilizes his background as a National Park Service historian to provide a detailed account of the events of April 14, 1865, and the subsequent preservation of the site. The text serves as an official administrative and historical overview of the theatre's role in American memory.

Experts and historians recognize this text as a foundational administrative document for the National Park Service's interpretation of the site. Readers frequently note the factual density and objective tone maintained throughout the historical narrative.