Thursday, February 28, 2013

John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum and Library



For the past 15 years, I have been a huge fan of President John F. Kennedy.  I have spent countless hours researching his life, presenting my research, and collecting odds and ends of memorabilia.  Therefore, in June of 2010, I made a pilgrimage to his Presidential Library in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Photo Credit: Jeremy S. Allen
JFK was president from 1960 until his notorious assassination on November 22, 1963.  Shortly thereafter, his family sought to create a library as a memorial to his life and his presidency.   Donations poured in, and by March of 1964, $4.3million had been pledged to assist with the library as well as to create a trust for various other JFK-related projects.  

By the end of 1964, I.M. Pei had been selected to be the architect of the library.  It wasn’t smooth-sailing from here on out, however.  Various set-backs and changes in location, however, delayed the library from opening until 1979.


Today, the building itself features a large glass pavilion, a 125 foot tall concrete tower, and two theatres. One of the films shown is an orientation film narrated by JFK, and another film shown is a documentary on the Cuban Missile Crisis.  

  After viewing the videos, visitors will travel through seven main exhibits, starting with the “Campaign Trail.”  This is set up to feel like you were with JFK as he ran for president in 1960.  


Next, the museum begins to feel like you are in the White House.  Each room of the “White House,” features numerous audio-visual components where you view and/or listen to speeches of JFK.  First stop here is “The Briefing Room.” 

As many people know, JFK promised to land a man on the moon by the end of the 1960’s.  Therefore, an entire room is dedicated to The Space Race.  Here, the Mercury-Redstone 3 space capsule is on display until it returns to the Smithsonian in 2016.  


Critical to President Kennedy’s success in office was his relationship with his Attorney General brother, Bobby Kennedy.  Therefore, a room is set up to feel like RFK’s office, including items he personally had in his actual office.

 


The Oval Office comes next, including items that JFK kept in his office during his presidency.  For me, the most-poignant artifact here was the desk calendar, never flipped beyond the month of his death. 


 





Wife Jackie Kennedy has a room that includes her drawings, writings, and some of her famous clothing. 







Lastly, the entire Kennedy Family have a room that includes artifacts from sister Kathleen and numerous family photos.

There is a narrow passage that shows video footage from the around the world on the day of his assassination, but as the museum is intended to be a celebration of his life, Kennedy’s death is not emphasized. 
 

Lastly, visitors pass a piece of the Berlin Wall into a giant glassed pavilion overlooking the sea.  In the summer months, JFK’s Wianno Senior sailboat “Victura” is displayed through these windows.  

The museum also features a small cafĂ© and a fine gift shop (in which I admittedly probably spent way too much money).  

The Presidential Library is open 7 days per week from 9-5 except on major holidays.  Parking is free, so admission is just $12.00 for adults.  


Ultimately, since JFK means so much to mean, this museum was incredibly moving.  Admittedly, my years of extensive research had me pretty well-informed, so I don’t know that I would say I learned a lot.  But, seeing things he touched—the hand-written copy of his “Profiles in Courage” for example, left me literally breathless.  



I don’t think children will really enjoy themselves.  While the audio-visual components are defiantly interesting, there are not a lot of hands-on exhibits (which children tend to prefer).  I would recommend this to students interested in history, people interested in the 1960s or American presidents, and, of course, any one who loves JFK.  

For more information, be sure to visit the museum's website: http://www.jfklibrary.org/