John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum |
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| General information | |
| Location | Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States |
| Coordinates | 42°18′57.21″N 71°2′2.71″W / 42.3158917°N 71.0340861°W |
| Named for | John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917–1963) |
| Construction started | August 1977 Groundbreaking: June 12, 1977 |
| Inaugurated | Dedicated on October 20, 1979 Rededicated on October 29, 1993 |
| Cost | $20.8 million |
| Management | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Technical details | |
| Size | 10 acres (40,000 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | I. M. Pei |
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is a special place that tells the story of John F. Kennedy, who was the 35th president of the United States from 1961 to 1963. It's located in Boston, Massachusetts, right by the water. This building holds many of President Kennedy's original papers and important items from his time as president.
The library and museum are part of a larger system of "Presidential Libraries." These libraries are managed by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), which keeps important government records.
The library and museum were officially opened in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter and members of the Kennedy family. You can get there easily from the highway or by taking a shuttle bus or walking from the JFK/UMass train station.
Contents
Building the Kennedy Library
Choosing the First Location
Back in 1963, President Kennedy and his architect, John Carl Warnecke, looked at different places near Harvard University in Boston. They wanted to find the perfect spot for his future library and museum. At that time, there were only four other presidential libraries in the U.S.
Kennedy thought these other libraries were too far from places where scholars could study. He wanted his library to be close to a university, so students and researchers could use it easily. He chose a spot near the Harvard Business School, facing the Charles River.
President Kennedy encouraged everyone in his team to save both personal and official items. He wanted the library to be a "complete record of a Presidential era." That's why it was named the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, including the word "museum."
Starting the Project After Kennedy's Death
After President Kennedy was sadly assassinated in November 1963, his family and friends decided to build the library as a memorial. His wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, helped make the final decisions. They looked at many architects from around the world.
Work on the library started soon after his death. In January 1964, Robert F. Kennedy, the President's brother, announced a special "oral-history" project. This project would record interviews with people who knew President Kennedy, including family, friends, and politicians. This way, their stories could be saved for the library.
Many people wanted to help. By March 1964, over $4 million had been promised, including many small donations from the public. Countries like Venezuela and Puerto Rico also gave large amounts of money. The oral-history project began with interviews from Jacqueline Kennedy and Robert Kennedy.
Selecting the Architect for the Library
On December 13, 1964, the Kennedy family chose I. M. Pei to design the library. Even though Pei was not as famous as some other architects, Mrs. Kennedy felt he had great ideas and imagination. She said he didn't just have one way to solve a problem. She also felt a personal connection, saying he was "full of promise, like Jack."
At this time, people started to wonder if Harvard was the best place for the library. Pei knew he might have to start his design from scratch if the location changed.
Challenges and Changes Over the Years
Building the library faced many delays. In 1966, it was thought the project would be finished by 1970. But the land chosen, an old train yard, wasn't cleared until 1970. By then, building costs had gone up a lot.
Robert F. Kennedy was leading the library project until he was assassinated in 1968. His younger brother, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, then took over.
By 1971, construction still hadn't started. The documents and papers meant for the library were stored in a temporary place. The architect, Pei, was asked to save money by using less expensive materials, like concrete instead of stone.
Meanwhile, the community in Cambridge, where the library was first planned, became worried. They feared that a million tourists visiting each year would cause too much traffic and change their neighborhood. They even filed a lawsuit.
Because of these concerns, the Kennedy family decided in February 1975 to find a new location. They wanted the library to be a "happy place" without arguments.
A New Home and a New Design
In 1975, a new site was chosen: a 10-acre area on the Columbia Point peninsula in Boston, next to the University of Massachusetts Boston. This land used to be a garbage dump, but it was cleaned up and covered with 15 feet of earth. The good news was that the community here welcomed the library.
The official groundbreaking for the library happened on June 12, 1977, and construction began in August. Even though it was a former landfill, the site offered beautiful views of Boston and the ocean.
The new design was a simple, modern building with a large glass section. A tall, 125-foot concrete tower holds offices and archives. A round part contains two theaters. These are connected to the tower by a glass pavilion. The use of concrete helped keep the cost within the $20.8 million budget.
More than 30 million people donated money to help build the library. Over 225 construction workers helped finish it by the end of 1979.
The Dedication Ceremony
The library was officially opened on October 20, 1979. The Kennedy family, President Jimmy Carter, and many others gathered for the ceremony. President Kennedy's daughter, Caroline Kennedy, introduced her brother, John F. Kennedy Jr., who read a poem.
President Carter spoke about John F. Kennedy, saying he represented "the ideals of a generation." He accepted the library "on behalf of the American people." Senator Edward M. Kennedy said his brother's life "filled America with pride and made the nation young again."
Exploring the Exhibits and Collection
The museum on the library's first floor has many interesting things. You can see videos, family photos, and items from President Kennedy's political life. Visitors start by watching a film about President Kennedy. Another film shows a documentary about the Cuban Missile Crisis.
There are seven main exhibits to explore:
- Campaign Trail: This exhibit shows what the 1960 presidential campaign was like. You can see items from the 1960 Democratic National Convention and a copy of a Kennedy campaign office.
- The Briefing Room: Learn about President Kennedy's famous speeches and press conferences.
- The Space Race: This exhibit is all about the exciting Space Race and the U.S. space program. It used to feature the Freedom 7 space capsule, which carried Alan B. Shepard, the first American in space.
- Attorney General's Office: This section focuses on Robert F. Kennedy, President Kennedy's brother and a close advisor. It shows his work fighting crime and his role in the American Civil Rights Movement. You can see items from his actual office.
- The Oval Office: Learn about the American Civil Rights Movement during Kennedy's presidency. This exhibit also displays items Kennedy kept in the Oval Office and a copy of his famous Resolute desk.
- First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy: Discover the life of First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. There are videos and artifacts from her life, including some of her clothing.
- The Kennedy Family: This exhibit shares stories and items from the famous Kennedy family. You can see things like a Red Cross jacket and a special walking stick.
The library also has a collection of art, including portraits and paintings. Outside, from May to October, you can see Kennedy's 25-foot Wianno Senior sailboat called Victura. This boat was very important to the Kennedy family.
Special Collections and Archives
Audiovisual Records
The library has a huge collection of sights and sounds! This includes over 400,000 photos from 1863 to 1984, millions of feet of film, and 11,000 audio recordings.
Oral History Project
Started in 1964, the oral-history project is a unique effort to record interviews with people who knew President Kennedy. It began with about 150 people and now has over 1,100 interviews, and it's still growing! This project helps save personal stories and memories for future generations.
Important Artifacts
The library keeps many interesting artifacts. One famous item is the original coconut shell on which Kennedy carved a rescue message. This message helped save his crew when their boat, the PT-109, sank during World War II.
The Ernest Hemingway Collection
The library is also home to a special collection of items from the famous writer Ernest Hemingway. His widow, Mary Hemingway, and Jacqueline Kennedy agreed in 1968 that his papers would be kept here. In 1961, President Kennedy even helped Mary Hemingway travel to Cuba to get her husband's belongings after he passed away.
The Ernest Hemingway Collection has almost all of Hemingway's original writings, making the Kennedy Library a very important place for studying his life and work. It includes:
- Over 1,000 handwritten drafts of his books, like The Sun Also Rises, and many different endings for A Farewell to Arms.
- Research materials he used for his books.
- Thousands of letters he wrote or received from other famous writers and people.
- More than 10,000 photographs, newspaper clippings, and other small items.
- Books from his own library, many with his notes written in them.
See also
In Spanish: Biblioteca y Museo Presidencial de John F. Kennedy para niños
- List of memorials to John F. Kennedy
- Presidential memorials in the United States
