Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

Learn about John F. Kennedy's life at this Presidential Library and Museum.

John F. Kennedy was the 35th U.S. President. The JFK Presidential Library and Museum celebrates his life and accomplishments. It features a large collection of items depicting his story. Inside, visitors will see his oval office furniture, a camel saddle that was given to him by the president of Niger, and a coconut that Kennedy inscribed with a rescue message for the crew of the PT 109 during World War II. The Presidential Library and Museum sits encompasses 10 acres and is located next to the Boston campus of the University of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Archives. It holds the original papers and correspondence of the Kennedy Administration plus books and papers by and about Ernest Hemingway.

The first floor of the museum has video monitors, family photographs, and political memorabilia. Visitors begin by watching a film narrated by former President Kennedy and another theatre shows visitors a documentary about the Cuban Missile Crisis. Permanent exhibits include the U.S. Space Program during Project Mercury, an exhibit called the Briefing Room, an area dedicated to Jackie Kennedy, and partial replicas of the Kennedy oval office. Other exhibits are periodically cycled through. Outside of the museum, guests can view Kennedy's sailboat the Victura. If you get hungry, stop by the café which serves soup, salad, boxed sandwiches, and pizza slices. They also serve tea, coffee, and other beverages. This museum is a great area where you can walk on the Columbia Point harbor walk or enjoy a picnic during the summer.