John F. Kennedy Library and Museum - Boston, Massachusetts

Address:Columbia Point
Boston, Massachusetts
Tel: (617) 514-1600

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, Massachusetts is a place where you can explore everything about the history and the legacy of our nation's thirty-fifth president. The Presidential Library portrays the selfless way that President Kennedy devoted his life to public service, and helps the visitor understand the rigors of public life, and the office of the presidency. Students and researchers are also invited to glean knowledge and understanding from the president's multitude of official records.

The Library Museum features period settings, more than 20 impressive multimedia exhibits, and three theaters. At the library, you can feel as Kennedy felt by reading his words and hearing his voice, taken from some of the darkest days of his presidency, as well as some of the most hopeful moments. Be strengthened by our youngest president's wit and optimism, and hear his messages that are still relevant in our time.

Begin your visit by watching a film narrated by President Kennedy himself, an orientation film, and a short documentary on the Cuban Missile Crisis. The permanent exhibits feature details about the US Space Program and Project Mercury, the original mission to launch Americans into orbit. There are also fascinating tidbits about the presidential campaign trail. Perhaps the most fascinating Kennedy artifact on display is the coconut that Kennedy carved a distress message into when he was shipwrecked and stranded on a small pacific island during world war two. He later had that coconut carved into a paperweight and it sat on his desk throughout his presidency.

Try to visit during the summer months, when the presidential sailboat, the Victura, is docked nearby and on display on the museum grounds at the edge of Boston Harbor. The grounds themselves are particularly beautiful in the fall, when you can really take in the amazing 9.5 acre landscaped park for all its glory. The landscaping is meant to resemble Cape Cod, a familiar Kennedy home, and the surrounding grounds overlook Boston, Dorchester Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean.

All multimedia exhibits offer closed captioning.