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John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

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 Boston, 02125

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About

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum stands on a ten-acre park at Columbia Point in Dorchester, facing the harbor and the Boston skyline. I.M. Pei & Partners designed it as a nine-story white concrete tower joined to a glass-enclosed pavilion whose glasswork rises 115 feet, and it was dedicated on October 20, 1979. It is a federal facility run by the National Archives, and its museum traces Kennedy's life, leadership and legacy and the workings of the presidency.

It suits history and politics readers, families (visitors 17 and under enter free) and anyone who wants a half-day away from the Freedom Trail crowds. It is not downtown: the Red Line runs to JFK/UMass, where a free University of Massachusetts Boston shuttle continues to the Kennedy/Archives stop, and drivers get free, though limited, parking.

The permanent exhibits

The galleries run roughly in the order of a career: Young Jack, the 1960 presidential election, the inauguration, JFK Meets the Press and the Peace Corps, then a White House corridor of gifts from heads of state, a recreated Oval Office, Robert Kennedy's attorney general office, a gallery on First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, the state visit to Europe and Lift Off!, on the space program. Among the objects on display is a moon rock collected on Apollo 15 in 1971.

The pavilion

The glass pavilion is the building's great open room, 80 feet square at the floor, with a 45-by-26-foot American flag hung inside. Photography is encouraged throughout the museum unless a wall label says otherwise.

Café and practicalities

The JFK Café seats 45, looks across Boston Harbor to the skyline, and serves drinks, snacks, salads, soups and sandwiches from 10 a.m. Security works as it does at any federal building, with a metal detector and a strict limit on bag size, so leave backpacks and luggage at the hotel. The archives' research room is a separate, appointment-only service for researchers.

Adults 18 to 61 pay $24, seniors 62 and over and military veterans $12, and college students with ID $14. Visitors 17 and under, active-duty military and UMass Boston students with ID get in free, among others, and group rates are available for groups of 10 or more. Walk-up tickets are sold until 4:15 p.m., and on the early-closure days (the day before Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve) admission ends at 12:30 p.m.

Sources: JFK Library, about, fast facts, hours and admission, getting here, dining, visiting FAQ, permanent exhibits. Checked September 27, 2026.

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John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
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Location
Columbia Point
Boston, 02125

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About John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

Quick answer: John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is a museum at Columbia Point, Boston, MA 02125. I.M. Pei's harborside tribute to the 35th president on Columbia Point, with the recreated Oval Office, a 1960 campaign gallery and a café.

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The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum stands on a ten-acre park at Columbia Point in Dorchester, facing the harbor and the Boston skyline. I.M. Pei & Partners designed it as a nine-story white concrete tower joined to a glass-enclosed pavilion whose glasswork rises 115 feet, and it was dedicated on October 20, 1979. It is a federal facility run by the National Archives, and its museum traces Kennedy's life, leadership and legacy and the workings of the presidency.

It suits history and politics readers, families (visitors 17 and under enter free) and anyone who wants a half-day away from the Freedom Trail crowds. It is not downtown: the Red Line runs to JFK/UMass, where a free University of Massachusetts Boston shuttle continues to the Kennedy/Archives stop, and drivers get free, though limited, parking.

The permanent exhibits

The galleries run roughly in the order of a career: Young Jack, the 1960 presidential election, the inauguration, JFK Meets the Press and the Peace Corps, then a White House corridor of gifts from heads of state, a recreated Oval Office, Robert Kennedy's attorney general office, a gallery on First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, the state visit to Europe and Lift Off!, on the space program. Among the objects on display is a moon rock collected on Apollo 15 in 1971.

The pavilion

The glass pavilion is the building's great open room, 80 feet square at the floor, with a 45-by-26-foot American flag hung inside. Photography is encouraged throughout the museum unless a wall label says otherwise.

Café and practicalities

The JFK Café seats 45, looks across Boston Harbor to the skyline, and serves drinks, snacks, salads, soups and sandwiches from 10 a.m. Security works as it does at any federal building, with a metal detector and a strict limit on bag size, so leave backpacks and luggage at the hotel. The archives' research room is a separate, appointment-only service for researchers.

Adults 18 to 61 pay $24, seniors 62 and over and military veterans $12, and college students with ID $14. Visitors 17 and under, active-duty military and UMass Boston students with ID get in free, among others, and group rates are available for groups of 10 or more. Walk-up tickets are sold until 4:15 p.m., and on the early-closure days (the day before Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve) admission ends at 12:30 p.m.

Sources: JFK Library, about, fast facts, hours and admission, getting here, dining, visiting FAQ, permanent exhibits. Checked September 27, 2026.

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Business Hours

Open daily · 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Amenities at John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

  • Free parking (limited)
  • Cafe
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Open-captioned videos
  • Coat room
  • Museum store
  • Harbor and skyline views
  • Research room (by appointment)

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the museum's hours?
The museum is open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walk-up tickets are sold until 4:15 p.m., and the museum recommends arriving before 3:30 p.m. to have enough time before the exhibits close promptly at 5 p.m. The museum closes early, at 2 p.m., on the day before Thanksgiving (Wednesday, November 25, 2026), Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, and on those days admission ends at 12:30 p.m. It is closed on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 26, 2026) and Christmas Day.
How much are tickets?
Adults ages 18 to 61 pay $24, seniors 62 and over pay $12, military veterans pay $12, and college students with a photo ID pay $14. Admission is free for visitors 17 and under, active-duty military, UMass Boston students with ID, PreK-12 teachers and emergency personnel with ID, returned Peace Corps volunteers, and EBT and WIC cardholders. Massachusetts public library cardholders receive 50% off admission, and group rates are available for groups of 10 or more.
Do I need to book tickets in advance?
No. Tickets can be bought on site or in advance through the museum's own website, and advance purchase is optional. Online cancellations are refunded in full within a few business days.
How do I get there by public transportation?
Take the Red Line to JFK/UMass and follow the signs to the ground-level bus shelters. From there, the free UMass Boston shuttle (Paul Revere Route 1) stops at Kennedy/Archives, at University Drive North and Columbia Point, across from the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the Senate.
Is there parking?
Yes. Parking is free for museum visitors, though space is limited. Free parking is also available for motor coaches.
What is there to see inside?
The galleries follow the arc of Kennedy's career: Young Jack, the 1960 presidential campaign and inauguration, JFK Meets the Press and the Peace Corps, a White House corridor of gifts from heads of state, a recreated Oval Office, Robert Kennedy's attorney general office, a gallery on First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, and Lift Off!, on the space program, which displays a moon rock collected on Apollo 15 in 1971. The building's glass pavilion, 80 feet square with a 45-by-26-foot American flag hung inside, is the museum's great open room.
Can I bring a backpack?
No. Backpacks, suitcases and large bags are not permitted; store them in your vehicle or leave them at your hotel. Each visitor may bring one purse or diaper bag no larger than 17 by 26 inches, and it will be searched on entry.
Is there food at the museum?
Yes. The JFK Café seats 45 and looks across Boston Harbor to the skyline. It opens at 10 a.m. and serves light breakfast, lunch and snacks, including salads, soups and sandwiches.
Is the museum accessible?
Yes. The museum is wheelchair accessible, and all videos shown throughout the museum are open-captioned.

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