From the March 2015 Smithsonian Magazine "The Blood Relics" by James L. Swanson.
Big-time Abraham Lincoln Assassination buff James L. Swanson says that every April 14th, the place where the assassination and death took place "is one of the loneliest historical sites in America." He's been making pilgrimages there for more than 25 years, his first in 1987.
He was sure like-minded people would come to the site and surely te National Park service would do something.
But, nothing transpired ever in all those years.
Seeing the lack of interest the first time inspired him to write his book "Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer."
But, back in 2013, his vigil almost got him arrested as he sat on the steps of the Peterson House across the street from Ford's Theatre. A guard from there yelled at him to get off the steps, "That's private property. I'll call the police." He explained why he was there and went back only to have ten minutes later two park service police cars pull up. "Lots of men sit on those steps and urinate on the house," one policeman said.
There was more discussion and the park police finally left.
Things, however, were different this past April 14th as the Ford's Theatre Society and National Park Service are planning a big to-do for Tenth Street.
--Old Secesh
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