John F. Kennedy National Historic Site

Activity Overview

On May 29th, 1917 John F. Kennedy was born at 83 Beals Street, Brookline, Massachusetts. The President of the United States was tragically assassinated on November 22nd 1963 in Dallas, Texas. Three years later, in 1966, his mother Rose Kennedy returned to the household of his birth to preserve it as a monument to his memory and to give the public and insight into the values she had taught him as he grew up. Today it is a National Historic Site and is open for the public to come and visit.

Things to Do

• Come along during the summer months to have a free tour around the Kennedy's humble home. There are a number of tours on offer such as "In Jack's Shoes" which follows various paths the future president took on a daily basis whether it be to his school or to Coolidge Corner.
• Another available tour teaches visitors about JFK's personal journey to the White House while "The Enduring Qualities: The Origins of the Kennedy Family in Boston" explores the Kennedys' ancestral roots.
• There are plenty of activities designed specifically for kids to enjoy. Perhaps the best of these is the chance to become a junior ranger. To do this your child must successfully complete a tour and activity booklet relating to the John F. Kennedy National Historic Site.

John F. Kennedy National Historic Site Insider Tips

• Two brochures relating to the museum are available online for you to download before you visit. The first gives info on the Kennedy family history and also lays out a self-guided neighborhood walking tour. The second is a transcript of Rose Kennedy's very own tour of the house recorded between 1967 and 1968.
• If you can't make it to the site or you just want to relive the experience then you can take an online virtual tour of the house and the neighborhood.