FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: July 17, 2014
Contact Leah Rubalcaba -- 703-696-3283
WASHINGTON -- Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall announces its quarterly Public Open House of Grant Hall's historic third-floor courtroom, located on the Fort McNair side of the Joint Base in southwest Washington D.C., from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014. The courtroom is the site of the military tribunal, held from May through June 1865, of those thought responsible for the plot to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln.
During a recent renovation of Grant Hall, which was originally part of Washington's Federal Penitentiary from 1826 to 1881, the third floor of the building was restored to depict the courtroom as it appeared during the 1865 trial. Courtroom features were recreated based on artistic renderings and written descriptions of court proceedings. Some furnishings and artifacts on display are on loan from the production company of a 2010 historical film about the trial, and other artifacts and documentation are from the National Defense University Library.
Members of the public are invited to the Public Open House, which is free to attend. Please be advised, however, that the third floor courtroom is only accessible by walking up two flights of stairs. Due to the historical nature of the structure, the building has no elevator.
Additionally, the Fire Marshal has limited the number of people allowed in the courtroom at one time, so entry will be regulated to adhere to those numbers.
Large groups of 20 or more and those arriving in buses are asked to call the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Public Affairs in advance at 703-696-3283 in order to schedule a tour time for the day of the Public Open House.
Also, due to the very small size and historical nature of the building, there are no public restrooms available inside Grant Hall. Public restrooms will be available to visitors at the Fort McNair Officers Club and at the Fort McNair Fitness Center (directions to those facilities are noted below).
ACCESS TO FORT MCNAIR
● Visitors may enter Fort McNair through the 2nd Street Gate, located just east of the
intersection of 2nd Street and P Street in Southwest Washington, D.C. This is the only gate
open on weekends. All vehicles are subject to search.
● Individuals 18 years of age and older must have either a valid Department of Defense ID,
state driver's license or state identification card with photo.
● In the event individuals do not have one of the verification documents listed above, then they
must present two forms of ID -- one being an identification card with photo (such as a student
ID or a workplace security badge).
● Drivers must have a valid driver's license, proof of insurance and car registration.
● Visitors may also walk or ride a bicycle onto the installation. A valid photo ID will also be
required of visitors walking or riding bicycles.
PARKING
● Vehicles may be parked in one of three parking lots -- two located off of 5th Avenue and one
located next to the Fort McNair tennis courts.
● Buses may offload visitors in the parking lot next to the tennis courts, but must then proceed
to the "car-pool" parking lot located at the corner of E Street and 4th Avenue.
● Bicyclists may park their bicycles at a rack located in front of the Fort McNair Fitness Center
where there are a limited number of unsecured slots for bicycles. It is recommended that
bicyclists bring the appropriate items to secure their bicycles. There are no bicycle racks
near Grant Hall.
DIRECTIONS TO PARKING AND GRANT HALL
Vehicles
● After clearing security at Fort McNair's 2nd Street Gate, turn right at the first stop sign.
Lincoln Hall is on the left. Continue to the next stop sign and turn left on 5th Avenue. There
are two parking lots to the right where vehicles may be parked. If you park here, after you
exit your vehicle, proceed to 4th Avenue (on the opposite side the parking lot) and follow 4th
Avenue to the left. Turn right on C Street, then right on 3rd Avenue. A historical marker on
the Lincoln assassination trial is on the left. Grant Hall is on the left past the tennis courts,
and entry is from the front, north side of the building.
● Another option for parking is to continue on 5th Avenue to C Street and turn right. Go past
4th Avenue to the parking lot next to the tennis courts. You may park there. Upon exiting
your vehicle, walk to 3rd Avenue (on the south side of the tennis courts) and turn left. A
historical marker on the Lincoln assassination trial is on the left. Grant Hall is on the left past
the tennis courts and entry is from the front, north side of the building.
Buses
● Groups arriving in chartered buses need to contact the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall
Public Affairs Office in advance at 703-696-3283 in order to coordinate a scheduled tour time
for the day of the Public Open House. Additionally, please forward a group manifest -- no
later than three days before the open house -- to usarmy.jbmhh.asa.list.pao-all@mail.mil and
provide a group contact name with cell phone number for the day of the event.
● After clearing security at Fort McNair's 2nd Street Gate, turn right at the first stop sign.
Lincoln Hall is on the left. Continue to the next stop sign and turn left on 5th Avenue. Turn
right on C Street and go past 4th Avenue to the parking lot next to the tennis courts. Buses
may offload visitors here.
● Once visitors are off the bus, walk to 3rd Avenue (on the south side of the tennis courts) and
turn left. A historical marker on the Lincoln assassination trial is on the left. Grant Hall is on
the left past the tennis courts and entry is from the front, north side of the building.
● Buses must then proceed to the "car-pool" parking lot located at the corner of E Street and
4th Avenue. First, proceed to 2nd Avenue, turn left and continue to E Street at the end of the
Fort McNair peninsula. Follow E Street to 4th Avenue. The "car-pool" parking lot is on the
right of 4th Avenue. To retrieve visitors following their visit to Grant Hall, bus drivers will
access 4th Avenue to the right from the parking lot, turn left on C Street and continue to the
parking lot next to the tennis courts.
Walking
● Visitors arriving on foot must travel the same route as vehicles to get to Grant Hall. After
clearing security at the 2nd Street Gate, turn right at the first stop sign. Continue to the next
stop sign and turn left on 5th Avenue. Turn right on C Street, go past 4th Avenue, then right
on 3rd Avenue. A historical marker on the Lincoln assassination trial is on the left. Grant Hall
is on the left past the tennis courts and entry is from the front, north side of the building.
Bicycles
● For those entering the installation on bicycles, a bicycle rack is located in front of the Fort
McNair Fitness Center with a limited number of unsecured slots for bicycles. It is
recommended that bicyclists bring the appropriate items to secure their bicycles. There are
no bicycle racks by Grant Hall.
● After clearing security at the 2nd Street Gate, visitors on bicycles are to turn right at the first
stop sign. Lincoln Hall is on the left. Continue to the next stop sign and turn right on 5th
Avenue. The next building on the right is the Fort McNair Fitness Center. There is a bicycle
rack in front of the building where you may park and secure your bicycle. Then walk on 5th
Avenue to the left to C Street. Turn right on C Street, go past 4th Avenue, and right on 3rd
Avenue. A historical marker on the Lincoln assassination trial is on the left. Grant Hall is on
the left past the tennis courts and entry is from the front, north side of the building.
PHOTOGRAPHY
● Photography is allowed of the exterior of Grant Hall, the historical marker and the courtroom.
● Photography is not allowed of any of the residences on the installation or the access control
point at the gate.
REFRESHMENTS
● The Fort McNair Officers Club will be selling refreshments and souvenirs under a tent next to
Grant Hall at the end of 3rd Avenue -- cash only.
● Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall information will also be available at this location.
RESTROOMS
Public restrooms are available at the Fort McNair Officers Club and the Fitness Center.
Fort McNair Officers Club
● Upon exiting Grant Hall, proceed straight on the front sidewalk to 2nd Avenue. Turn left on
2nd Avenue. The Officers Club is the large building on the right at the corner of 2nd Avenue
and C Street.
Fort McNair Fitness Center
● Upon exiting Grant Hall, return to 3rd Avenue behind the building, turn right and continue to
C Street. Turn left on C Street, go past 4th Avenue, to 5th Avenue. Turn left on 5th Avenue
and go past Lincoln Hall and the parking lot on the right. The Fitness Center is the next large
building on the right.
FUTURE OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE
● Grant Hall Public Open Houses will be held quarterly on the first Saturday of the second
month of each quarter. During a calendar year, those months are February, May, August
and November. Subsequent dates for Grant Hall Public Open Houses over the next year
are: Nov. 1, 2014, Feb. 7, 2015 and May 2, 2015.
● Open House hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
INFORMATION
For a site map, please go to www.army.mil/article/12426/ . For additional information, please call Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Public Affairs at 703-696-3283.
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