John F. Kennedy JFK Library & Museum
Other Ideas: Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art; Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; Boston Tea Party Ship & Museum (for kids and adults); Charles Hayden Planetarium - Now Open!; New Bedford Whaling Museum
The John F. Kennedy JFK Library and Museum is dedicated to the memory of our nation's thirty-fifth president and to all those who through the art of politics seek a new and better world. Younger children will enjoy the Museum's Celebrate! series of free family performances. Check out the Celebrate! schedule .
About the JFK Library Museum:
Step back into the re-created world of the early 1960’s and experience first-hand the life and legacy of John and Jacqueline Kennedy through 25 exhibits, 3 theaters and 20 video presentations.
Start your visit with a 17-minute film that introduces you to the brash young senator, from the beginning of his meteoric rise right up to his 1960 nomination to the Democratic presidential ticket. The exhibits that follow represent a timeline of ensuing years, telling the stories through props, film clips, front pages & photos.
Be sure to visit to the Situation Theater, where videos replay anxious moments of the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the threat of the atomic bomb loomed in our backyard.
Jacqueline admirers will find the former first lady well represented too; look for some of her notes and photos, as well as a pillbox hat or two. Other museum highlights: replica of oval office, space memorabilia, piece of Berlin Wall.
Campaign Trail Exhibit
Visitors experience sights and sounds of the 1960 Presidential race between Kennedy and Nixon. Particularly riveting is the reproduction of the Chicago television studio where the first televised debate took place, and the reporting of the election-night returns, which reveals how close the race was (one of the closest in American history).
The Space Race Exhibit
The exhibit tells the story of President Kennedy’s challenge to America to beat the Russians to the moon before the end of the decade.
The Big Glass Atrium
The JFK Museum and Library was designed by I.M. Pei, a fact that is undeniable when you’re in the massive, glass-enclosed atrium, where a 300-pound flag hangs from the ceiling. From May through October, you can see Kennedy’s boat, The Victura, on the lawn outside.
The Walkway Along the Water
On nice days, you can stroll along the waterfront on a beautiful walkway behind the Museum. Enjoy spectacular views, ocean breezes, and watch the airplanes fly over toward Logan.
In addition to the ongoing Museum exhibits, families are invited to enjoy free, culturally rich performances over the course of the year with the Celebrate! Series.
Parking at the library is free. The Museum Cafe serves light lunches and snacks from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Museum Store is open daily during museum hours.
For more information call (617) 514-1600 or toll-free 1 (866) JFK-1960
The museum passesBoston Public Library and many other local library networks offer museum passes to the JFK Library and Museum.
There are many interesting museums to visit in Boston - peruse our Boston Museums guide to find out which one you should visit next.
The Boston area is known for all kinds of weather, so visiting a museum is one of many fun things to do on a rainy day in Boston.
For more ideas on the best places to visit in Boston, our Things to do in Boston guide is a great place to start! We've compiled some of our favorite spots for you right here.
| HOURS | ↑ top |
The JFK Museum is open seven (7) days per week, from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The final introductory film begins at 3:55 p.m.
JFK Library Museum is closed on the following holidays:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November)
Christmas Day (December 25)
JFK Library Museum closes at 2:00 p.m. on the following days:
Day before Thanksgiving (4th Wednesday in November)
Christmas Eve (December 24)
New Year's Eve (December 31)The final introductory film begins at 3:55 p.m.
| COST | ↑ top |
View Current Admission Rates
Adults $14
Seniors 62+ $12
College Students with ID $12
Youth/Teens 13-17 $10
US Armed Forces Veterans $4 off Adult or Senior Admission
Free Admission for:
Children 12 and under
Members of the JFK Presidential Library and Museum
Members of any Presidential Library operated by the National Archives
Members of the John F. Kennedy Library New Frontier Network
CAC carriers of the US Armed Forces
*Many Boston-area library branches offer discount passes to JFK Library.
| WEBSITE | ↑ top |
| LOCATION | ↑ top |
Columbia Point, Boston, MA map
Phone: (617) 514-1600
From the North:
Route I-93 or Route I-95 south to Boston and onto Southeast Expressway (Route 3/I-93). Take Exit 15, follow signs to the University of Massachusetts and JFK Library.
From the West:
Massachusetts Turnpike (Route I-90) to 'Expressway South' (Route 3/I-93), southbound to Exit 15. Follow signs to the University of Massachusetts and JFK Library.
From the South:
Take I-93N to exit 14. Follow signs to JFK Library, approximately 1/4 mile after exit ramp. JFK Library located next to UMass Boston.
| TIPS | ↑ top |
- The library is best for school kids familiar with this period in history.
- Take time for appreciate the stellar views of the city across the water. The dramatic glass pavilion atrium with a giant American Flag is a majestic tribute to Kennedy.
- From May - November, look for JFK's Victura, a sailing sloop given to him when he was 15 years old, docked outside.
| REVIEWS | ↑ top |
John F Kennedy Museum| RELATED LINKS | ↑ top |
Info changes frequently. We cannot warrant it. Verify with John F. Kennedy JFK Library & Museum before making the trek. If you find an error, please report it...