Morbid Memorabilia: Boston Auction House Sells 75 Cent Theater Tickets From Lincoln Assassination for Six Figures
Theater Tickets Lincoln Assassination sell for more than a quarter million dollars at Boston-based auction. RR Auction in Boston sold a pair of tickets to Ford’s Theatre from the night…
Theater Tickets Lincoln Assassination sell for more than a quarter million dollars at Boston-based auction.
RR Auction in Boston sold a pair of tickets to Ford's Theatre from the night of April 14, 1865 for $262,500.
Theater Tickets Lincoln Assassination: The original tickets were sold for 75 cents apiece.
On the fateful night of April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln met his tragic end at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. The President and the First Lady, Mary Todd Lincoln, were enjoying a performance of the popular play "Our American Cousin."
The theater buzzed with excitement that evening, with the ticket prices ranging from 50 cents to a dollar, an affordable treat for many in those times. Lincoln, dressed in his signature stovepipe hat and long black coat, was in the company of some well-known individuals. Henry Rathbone and his fiancée Clara Harris joined the Lincolns in their box. (That's a whole other tragedy. The Lincolns' friends had a terrible ending as well. On December 23, 1883, Henry Rathbone attacked his family in a fit of madness. He fatally shot his wife in the head and then attempted to kill the children, but a groundskeeper prevented him from doing so. Rathbone then stabbed himself five times in the chest in an attempted suicide. Yikes)
Why was Lincoln seeing that play?
Well, it was partly to unwind after the strenuous years of the Civil War. He also had heard it was a crowd-pleaser. Little did he know, this night out would end in such a tragic manner.
The theater itself was quite the hub of activity, with its ornate interiors and gaslights casting a warm glow. It was a place to see and be seen, like a modern movie premiere.
As the play unfolded, John Wilkes Booth, an actor and Confederate sympathizer, crept into the President's box and fatally shot Lincoln in the back of the head. Chaos erupted, and Booth leaped to the stage, shouting "Sic semper tyrannis" before making his escape.
(Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)14th April 1865: The assassination of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln by actor John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theatre, Washington DC. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Authorities rushed Lincoln across the street to a boarding house. He following morning. This devastating event changed the course of history and left an indelible mark on the nation.
In that dark theater on that fateful night, a nation mourned the loss of a beloved leader.
"These front-row seats to history allowed the original theatergoers to witness a tragic performance that changed the course of our nation," said Bobby Livingston, executive vice president at RR Auction told CBS News. "We're honored to have played a part in preserving and sharing this remarkable piece of American history."
(Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)Interior view of Ford's Theatre, the presidential box being draped in two American flags, in Washington, DC circa 1975. The theatre was the site of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, who was shot by John Wilkes Booth during a performance of 'Our American Cousin' on 14th April 1865.
5 Massachusetts Towns with the Most Historical Homes
I was thinking about homes the other day. Isn't it strange that even if we spend 50 years in one house, it's really not "ours." There might have been people before you and there will probably be people after you living there. But it still feels so intimately ours. I thought it was a deep thought anyway. lol
But it opens up this broader conversation: what cities in America have the most historical homes? And, more hyper-locally focused, which towns in Massachusetts have the most historical homes per capita? We do have the 2nd most historical homes in the country, ya know?
What is a "historical home' anyway?
In the United States, a home is typically considered a historical home, and eligible for historical designation or recognition, if it meets certain criteria related to its age, architectural significance, and historical importance.
What US city has the most historical homes? Is it Boston?
No, it's not Boston. Though we did rank in the Top 10! The team at Assurance IQ crunched data from the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places to figure out which US cities and states have the most registered historical homes.
Boston came in at #9 on the Top 10 Countdown. New York City has the most historical homes, coming in at #1. Portland, Oregon came in second followed by Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. St. Louis and Chicago round out the Top 5. If you want to see the rest, check out Assurance IQ's full report RIGHT HERE.
As far as states go, Massachusetts has the second most historic homes in the country. Go us!
Which Massachusetts towns have the most historical homes?
Assurance IQ provided that info too. We won't give you the full rundown but we will give you the Top 5. These are the towns with the most historical homes PER CAPITA.
Massachusetts Towns with the Most Historic Homes - #5
BROOKLINE has the 5th most historical homes in Massachusetts. has 151.1 historical homes per capita.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlEzxUeD8qw
Massachusetts Towns with the Most Historic Homes - #4
TAUNTON has the 4th most historical homes in Massachusetts. has 160.2 historical homes per capita.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DHQO2CgTps
Massachusetts Towns with the Most Historic Homes - #3
WALTHAM has the 3rd most historical homes in Massachusetts. has 170.1 historical homes per capita.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtyfXvycHq4
Massachusetts Towns with the Most Historic Homes - #2
CAMBRIDGE has the 2nd most historical homes in Massachusetts. has 178.1 historical homes per capita.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdUqiB6Oa1w
Massachusetts Towns with the Most Historic Homes - #1
NEWTON has THE most historical homes in Massachusetts. has 215.1 historical homes per capita.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk2EJ50PizM
