Bel Air Home Of Assassin John Wilkes Booth Declared Historic Landmark

BEL AIR, MD — The historic Tudor Hall in Bel Air has been designed as a Harford County historic landmark based on its Gothic Revival architecture and historical significance.

Tudor Hall first served as the home of the Booth family. Husband Junius Brutus Booth, who married his mistress, Mary Ann Holmes, gained fame worldwide in the 1800s for dramatic portrayal of Shakespeare's plays. Their son, John Wilkes Booth, assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. Tudor Hall also was home to enslaved and later free laborers Joseph and Ann Hall, historian Ella Mahoney, the Worthington, Baker and the Fox families, according to county officials.

“This historic landmark, with its notable architecture, serves as an important reminder of our county’s incredibly rich history of triumph and tragedy,” Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly said. “It was the home of a world-famous actor who delighted the masses, but also home to an assassin who took the life of one of our most beloved presidents.”

Historic Tudor Hall is located at 17 Tudor Lane in Bel Air. General tours will be given at 1 p.m. and talking tours at 2 p.m. on the following dates in 2025:

• April 6 and 27
• May 4 and 18
• June 1 and 15 and 29
• July 15 and 27
• Aug. 10 and 24
• Sept. 7 and 21
• Oct. 5 and 19
• Nov. 9