Like many cities, Washington, DC, has its fair share of walking tours. Straight-up historical tours, architectural tours, presidential tours, garden tours, ghost tours…you name it. Oh, let’s not forget the Segway tours. It seems like there are more tourists cruising around downtown DC on Segways than there are cars.

And if I’m being perfectly honest, we’re not a big walking tour family. In fact, I don’t think we’ve ever done one until very recently. But when I found out that Ford’s Theatre offers a tour that covers the events leading up to and immediately following the Lincoln assassination? And that the tour guide is in character as the detective who was on duty the night Lincoln was shot? And that everyone on the tour plays the role of a deputy and is given “evidence” to reveal at some point during the tour?

Oh yeah. We’re in. That’s totally in our wheelhouse.

The History on Foot tour brings you back to the evening of April 14, 1865. Your tour guide is Detective James McDevitt, the officer who was on duty that night at the Washington Metropolitan Police headquarters, just up the street from Ford’s Theatre.

Although the tour begins outside Ford’s Theatre, it doesn’t actually go inside the theatre or the Petersen House across the street where Lincoln ultimately died. Admission to both – which are part of Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site – is free but separate. You need to get timed entry tickets, and depending on the time of year you visit, you should get them in advance.

But tickets for the History on Foot tour is entirely separate – and totally worth it. After setting some historical context outside both Ford’s Theatre and the Petersen House, Detective McDevitt walks you through the evening of April 14 (and the following day) as you piece together the clues and try to determine who was involved in the plot to kill the president.

The tour meanders around downtown DC and makes several stops at buildings that played a critical role in both the conspiracy to assassinate Lincoln and the investigation that followed. The entire time, McDevitt doesn’t break character – describing modern buildings and hotels as if they were their 19th century counterparts and warning us to watch out for carriages in the street as we cross.

The highlight of the experience for the little Roarbots was the evidence they received in a sealed envelope. Several times during the tour, McDevitt asks if anyone in the group has information about one of the suspects or witnesses. Inside each sealed envelope is a letter by or statement from those individuals.

This is the only time the tour guide breaks character. While reading the evidence, he assumes those roles. If you’re an introvert or tend to be embarrassed by small spectacles in public places, this might not be your cup of tea. But it really is all kinds of fun.

The entire thing lasts about two hours and travels nearly two miles before finishing up at Lafayette Square, next to the White House. In other words, wear comfy shoes.

Ford’s Theatre provides the deputy badges, but be sure to bring your imagination, sense of adventure, and historical curiosity about the Lincoln Assassination Conspiracy. It was so much more than just John Wilkes Booth. And the History on Foot tour – and Detective McDevitt – help bring it all back to life.

Tours run (rain or shine) from March through October and cost $18/person. It’s an amazing tour that’s absolutely an only-in-Washington experience. The tour works well if you’re in town during the spring for the cherry blossoms, the summer for our spectacular humidity, or the fall – when it makes a perfectly spooky alternative ghost tour.

After our recent walk through the events of April 14, 1865, the kids got a chance to sit down with Detective McDevitt (Matt Dewberry) and ask him a few questions. They had a few for the detective and a few for Matt.

As always, the kids came up with all of the questions. They’re in charge here. (Turn on the captions if you can’t hear the questions. Lafayette Square is a noisy place.)

(Disclosure: We were invited by Ford’s Theatre to experience the History on Foot walking tour. All opinions remain my own.)