description Lincoln's Top Hat Overview
Lincoln's top hat is the silk stovepipe hat worn by President Abraham Lincoln to Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., on the night he was assassinated in April 1865. Lincoln used the hat's interior band to hold notes and papers, and its great height contributed to his recognizable public appearance. The artifact was retained by the War Department after his death and is now preserved by the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.
help Lincoln's Top Hat FAQ
Did Abraham Lincoln wear this top hat to Ford's Theatre?
Yes. Lincoln wore the silk top hat to Ford's Theatre on 14 April 1865, the night John Wilkes Booth shot him during a performance of Our American Cousin.
Why is there a black mourning band around Lincoln's hat?
Lincoln added the band in remembrance of his son Willie, who died in 1862. The band remained on the hat during the final years of his presidency.
Did Lincoln really store papers inside his hat?
Lincoln was known to place notes and documents inside his tall hats. This habit contributed to the familiar image of the president using his hat as a portable place for papers.
Where is Lincoln's Ford's Theatre top hat now?
The hat is held by the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. It became one of the museum's most recognizable objects associated with Lincoln's assassination.
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