9110 Brandywine Road, Clinton, MD 20735
301-868-1121; TTY 301-699-2544; Fax 301-868-8177
James O. Hall Research Center: 301-868-6185

INTRODUCTION

Built in 1852 as a middle-class farm house for the family of John and Mary Surratt, the historic Surratt House also served as a tavern and hostelry, a post office, and a polling place during the crucial decade before the Civil War. During the war, it became a safehouse in the Confederate underground system which flourished in Southern Maryland.

Today, the museum presents a variety of programs and events, recapturing the history of the mid-19th century life and focusing on the fascinating web of the Lincoln assassination conspiracy and the involvement of the Surratt family.

Restored to its original form, the site offers a view of middle-class farm life, Civil War intrigue, and a lesson in American history as the events surrounding the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln are brought to life.