the dr. samuel mudd house & museum

As we live nearby, I have been here several times, usually with visiting friends and relatives. Newly added is the campsite out back where the boy scouts have put in some work to remind us that troops were at the farm for awhile following Lincoln's assassination. Also, a civil war display in an adjoining building for history buffs. Always like to see the tents around whenever the boy scouts are there or the civil war guys are camping out (great stories).

although it was no easy task to find, my daughter LOVES President Lincoln and all that has anything to do with his legacy. So we pushed on until we found the little house off in the fields. The history lesson and to be able to venture through the infamous house was pretty cool to a ten year old ( and to her parents) The doctor's grave marker was kept in the back yard in a shed and there was also a civil war 'memorial' in another small barn out back

Even though the museum was closed for the season, we were able to visit when the house and museum were decorated for Christmas. There are family descendants manning the various duties. Many original its on display.

Like Lincoln's assassin, you have to know you want to be here, to get here, but it is well worth it! Dr. Mudd's house is a 'Must See' for history aficionados. A time capsule stop on the most infamous escape route in US history, half of the people that work there (serving as docents) are relatives, so a unique perspective on Mudd's role in this pivotal event was spectacular! Talk about walking in the footsteps of history - there is an eerie quality to experiencing this place: Actual furniture and artifacts from that fateful visit, along with the captivating story of "What did the Dr. know & when did he know it?" The property is well maintained & almost unchanged in 150 years. A broader sense of pride in the culture of rural life in 19th century Southern MD was fascinating. Truly, an uncommon site for a history buff - if you bring your 'significant other' here, I'm sure there are nice jewelry stores in Waldorf to sweeten the deal!

One of the most unique and interesting historic homes we've toured. Many of the furnishings are original to Dr. Mudd and those that aren't are mostly from the family. See the stairs Booth climbed to the upstairs bedroom in which Mudd cut off his boot and set his leg. Like traveling back in time.

Liked that some of the same furniture and pictures are still in the home. Some of the furniture was actually made by Dr. Mudd when he was in prison. It's like a step back in time. Docent was knowledgeable and interesting. Didn't like the emphasis on ghosts in the home (but in all fairness, it was featured on one of those ghost TV shows), but it was balanced by historical information.

This is a very important place of history that very few people know about. Yet, it is a place you should visit. The house tour is about thirty minutes, and they do their best to preserve the history. The tour guide was dressed in historic attire which I think it is great to get you into the history.

This tour is well worth the admission price of $7.00. You purchase your tickets in the gift shop (what used to be a kitchen in the home). The attendants operating this shop are direct descendants of Dr. Mudd and his wife Sarah. Very kind and sweet people. Our docent's name was Marilyn and she was a walking history book. She provided incredible detail about the house as we went from room to room, including details about the furnishings and personal belongings, much that is is original to Samuel and Sarah's household. There are those who might feel that the tour is slanted in a favorable view of Dr. Mudd, promoting that he was an unknowing innocent when he treated John Wilkes Boothe. So be it, theories and opinions will go on forever. So just enjoy the experience and education of seeing the couch Boothe collapsed upon when he first entered the house; the staircase he went up and the bedroom in which he was treated; the pieces of furniture made by Dr. Mudd (very talented man indeed); the actual dishes and glassware handled and used by the Mudd's; stories of their various descendants and the ability of the museum to reclaim so many artifacts. The education just went on and on. The house tour concludes in the original kitchen that used to be separate from the house (the gift shop was the kitchen added later adjoining the main house). There are other areas to tour of the museum, a farm exhibit and such, but we did not get to these. As well you are welcome to take the path that Boothe took in his continuing effort to escape when he left the house. Grand restoration, highly recommend!

We enjoyed stopping here at this preserved site along the Civil War Trail encountering the stops made by Booth and his cohort on their attempted escape from justice.

While driving through this scenic area to reach another destination, I saw the signs for the Dr. Mudd House and Museum, and thought I would check it out. It was definitely worth the trip. The grounds contain a Civil War soldier's campsite reconstruction, a shed with many original farm tools, buggies, etc., and a very interesting, although small, Civil War museum, that had a gentleman explaining the artifacts and exhibits. This all was interesting to view while awaiting the tour of the house. Dr. Mudd was a young doctor who treated John Wilkes Booth for a leg injury as he escaped after assassinating President Lincoln. The home is actually a small plantation where he and his family lived, practiced medicine and ran a farm (with a number of slaves, but you have to ask about that or it seems to be omitted from the narration). Our docent, dressed in a period costume, made the tour interesting and even a little bit amusing. You learned about the family and how they lived in the time. The furnishings, many of which are original, and the kitchen and its wares were fascinating to see. The docents and people minding the home and small gift shop are seemingly all descendants and/or connected to the Mudd family, keep in mind, and they are apparently attempting to clear him posthumously of any possible involvement, which he had been convicted of in his day and later pardoned, in regard to the Lincoln assassination, and show the family in a very positive light. You will not learn a lot of detail about the case, but the time, about an hour and 15 minutes between the tour and seeing the outside exhibits, and the cost, $7, are very well worth it.

I can't say a lot about this tour mainly because as soon as the tour started I nearly passed out. I'm not sure what caused it. We had taken the walk around the grounds, and it was very hot out. I think in the 90s. But I was fine during the walk, and I was fine when I first went inside. It wasn't until the tour started and I went into that first room that I started to feel light headed. I've always been sensitive towards the paranormal, and I've heard stories that The Mudd House is haunted, but that doesn't exactly mean it was something paranormal that caused me to feel that way. It just makes me think, you know? Mostly because I still have no idea what caused it, and it's never happened to be before or after.Either way, the people there were very kind. Someone in my tour group was a paramedic and he helped me to sit down, which was the only thing that saved me for passing out completely. The people working there offered me some chocolate and I was given a water. They completely refunded my money and the money of my friends that went with me, and that was something they didn't even have to do. I hope that I can go back someday and actually take the tour of the house. But I wanted to write this review, just to let everyone know how kind the people are that work there. They're very welcoming, and I'm sure that makes for a fun tour for everyone.

Beautiful Summer drive down to Waldorf MD. The museum was much more then we expected. The tour lasted about an hour.Two of the Mudd family descendant's were on site and seemed surprised we drove 2 1/2 hours to view the museum. The Mudd family has done a great job in preserving such a piece of history. Home had lovely furnishings, and beautiful grounds. Tour guide was very knowledgeable. We continued are drive to Clinton MD to see Surratt House Museum, completing this end of John Wilkes Booth escape.

The house is well kept and clean with much of the original furniture. The tour guide was quite knowledgeable. There is a gift shop which was operated by the great grand daughter of the Doctor. It was a very enjoyable tour and I recommend to everyone!

My husband and I visited the house on a Wednesday, the day before the 4th of July. The admission is $7.00 per person and the tour lasts about 45 minutes. We were the only two on the tour. Mary Ann, our tour guide was excellent. She seemed to know everything about the family. Two descendants of Dr. Mudd were in the gift shop. You see the actual couch where Dr. Mudd examined John Wilkes Booth's broken leg and the room where he slept. This is a very interesting tour. Beware, there have been ghost sightings.

Beautiful home and furnishings,gorgeous surroundings,friendly and knowledgeable staff. Interesting part of our country's history.