The library and museum is a must-see for visitors to Boston. The history of JFK and the... read more
The library and museum is a must-see for visitors to Boston. The history of JFK and the... read more
Located in Dorchester near the University of Massachusetts, this is a must for anyone interested in... read more
The JFK Presidential Library and Museum in a must visit when in Boston. It's a fascinating insight to a man, his family and the path his life took from Boston to the White House as the 35th President. The museum has an extraordinary range of exhibits and personal items from the extended Kennedy family. Located on the water at Columbia Point with beautiful views back to Boston, it was an unforgettable 3 hour journey through American history and the life of a truly remarkable man. The legacy of JFK lives on at this amazing memorial.
I remember the campaign, the feeling of excitement for us young folks, then the Cuban missile crisis, the civil rights issues and then Dallas. This beautiful museum brings back all those memories both good and bad. It is well done, clean and spacious. We were young back then. Now there is a special 100th Birthday exhibit added at the end of the tour. Lots of construction going on around the museum allow at least two hours for your visit.
Loved this visit! One of my favorite finds was the original painting of President Kennedy by Jamie Wyeth, and the postcards of it. Also the colors depicted in what appeared to be various rooms of the White House made this so enjoyable. Lots of photos and info about his life and the First Lady. Also it seemed very well cared for and clean. The grounds are very pretty and the views are spectacular. Enjoyed the gift shop very much.
We stopped here for the afternoon and spent several hours reading, listening and looking at all the things in the museum. We especially loved going through the "100" artifacts to celebrate Kennedy's birthday. This museum could be done in an hour or several hours. It just depends on how much a person wants to pay attention to everything. There are videos to watch and lots of artifacts. The building is very spacious so there aren't a lot of traffic jams trying to look at everything. The only issue was the construction heading into the complex but nothing of that was of great concern. Just had to watch out for construction vehicles.
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum and Library is the official repository for the original papers and correspondence of the Kennedy Administration. Located at Columbia Point in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood, next to the University of Massachusetts, the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate and the Massachusetts Archives and Commonwealth Museum, the JFK highlights all aspects of the 35th President's life through a series of exhibits focusing on his boyhood and early family life to his 1960 Presidential campaign to his assassination in Dallas in 1963. But did you know that Columbia Point wasn't the original choice as the site of the JFK Library? Originally, it was planned to be built at Harvard University in Cambridge along the banks of the Charles River. Finally, Columbia Point was chosen and the library was opened in 1979 on land that originally was a garbage dump. The first floor contains video monitors, family photographs, political memorabilia, an orientation film narrated by President Kennedy and a documentary on the Cuban Missile Crisis. There are seven permanent exhibits--Campaign Trail, which focuses on the 1960 Presidential campaign, the New Frontier and 1960 Democratic National Convention memorabilia; Briefing Room, an exhibit on JFK's speeches and press conferences; Space Race, a view of the U.S. space program and the Mercury-Redstone 3 space capsule in which astronaut Alan B. Shepard became the first American in space; Attorney General's office, an exhibit on attorney general Robert F. Kennedy, the president's brother; Oval Office, displaying items that JFK kept in the Oval Office and information on the American Civil Rights Movement; First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, displaying artifacts, footage and pieces of clothing from her life; and the Kennedy Family, photographs and artifacts and historical information about one of the nation's most famous families. But that's not all. The JFK Library also is home to the most extensive collection of documents, photographs, books, letters and personal belongings of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway, including 90 percent of Hemingway's existing manuscript materials. It's more than one person can cover in one day.
This Library/museum is in a beautiful location on the harbor! It was wonderfully done and loaded with information! It sets you up with where you go back into history in the order of events in his shortened life. No need for an actual tour guide because everything is set in order with news footage and audio documentation! Awesomely done! Great for the whole family!