The Dr. Samuel A. Mudd House is a must-see for any self-respecting history buff living in or visiting the Waldorf area. On April 15th, 1865, Dr. Mudd treated John Wilkes Booth’s leg, which Booth broke while fleeing from the Ford’s Theater after assassinating Abraham Lincoln. Because he provided medical treatment to Booth in his home, and because of his prior association with Booth for the purpose of negotiating the potential sale of his farm to Booth, Dr. Mudd was suspected, then convicted of co-conspiracy for the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, though he insisted upon his innocence.

Despite later being pardoned for the crime by President Andrew Johnson, the numerous attempts Mudd’s descendents have made to expunge his conviction from public record have all failed. Moreover, historians still speculate on Mudd’s involvement in Lincoln’s assassination and how much he actually knew of Booth’s plans. Thus, the Mudd story has all the components of any great thriller, and the debate over his innocence only adds to the intrigue.

A visit to the Mudd House rewards you with a look at the home and surrounding grounds, which have remained in the Mudd family and still look much like they did when Samuel A. Mudd lived there. You can even see the very table where Dr. Mudd treated Booth’s leg, as well as the room in which Booth slept.

The Mudd House is located at 3725 Dr. Samuel Mudd Road, Waldorf, MD 20601. For detailed directions to the house, click here.

Admission to the Mudd House is as follows:

Adults: $6

Kids age 6-16: $2

Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Society Members: free

Proceeds go toward the general upkeep and maintenance of the grounds, which were gratefully placed on the Register of Historical Places on October 1st, 1974.