The Assasin's End Collection

The Booth & Garrett Farm Exhibit offers a compelling look at one of the most dramatic chapters in American history—told through the lens of Port Royal’s local landscape. This exhibit centers on the Garrett Farm, the site where John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of Abraham Lincoln, made his final stand in April 1865.

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A National Event Reaches Port Royal

Following the assassination of President Lincoln on April 14, 1865, Booth fled Washington, D.C., traveling south through Maryland and into Virginia. His escape ended just outside Port Royal at the Garrett Farm, where he and accomplice David Herold sought refuge.

On April 26, 1865, Union soldiers tracked Booth to a tobacco barn on the property. After refusing to surrender, Booth was shot and killed, bringing an end to one of the most intense manhunts in American history.

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The Garrett Farm Story

The Garrett family, local farmers in the Port Royal area, became unexpectedly tied to this historic event. Unaware of Booth’s identity at first, they provided him shelter—only to later find their property at the center of a national crisis.

The exhibit explores:

The final days of Booth’s escape and his journey into Virginia
The Garrett family’s experience, caught in a moment they did not seek
Artifacts and interpretations that connect the site to the broader story of the Civil War’s closing days
The impact on Port Royal, as the quiet rural community became the focus of national attention

Local Ground, National Significance

The events at Garrett Farm remind us that history is often shaped in unexpected places. What was once a working farm became the final chapter in a story that shook the nation.

Through this exhibit, visitors can explore how Port Royal—typically known for its colonial roots—also holds a direct connection to the closing moments of the Civil War and the legacy of one of America’s most significant historical events.