The JFK Library and Presidential Museum

On our next day (Tuesday the 23rd) we rented a car in order to visit Salem (which I was excited to see) and the temple, but then also decided to see the JFK Library and Museum on the UMass Boston campus also, since we've been to the LBJ Library in Austin. We figured we'd be fair.

The JFK Library is gorgeous and right on the Dorchester Bay. The building was designed by IM Pei and was opened to the public in 1979. I recommend it just for the view alone (though it was pretty foggy and rainy when we were there). There's an introductory film that talks about JFK's life prior to his run for senate, then the bulk of the museum focuses on his political career, specifically his short time as president.

We took way too many pictures to include them all, but here are some highlights:

The Presidential Seal in the lobby

Oregon voted for Nixon (the shame!)

The whole Kennedy family (9 kids!!!)

The main hall of the museum, which slightly resembles the White House

The cameras and other equipment from the infamous, first televised presidential debate

A letter from a kid thanking the First Lady for her televised tour of the White House

(apparently his father would have preferred "Maverick")

From Jackie Bouvier's yearbook, it reads: "Ambition: Not to be a housewife"

Interestingly, she became the ultimate housewife.

The main hall, with the Dorchester Sound through the windows

Interestingly, there was basically nothing about JFK's assassination, which was strange for us after having been to the Sixth Floor Museum (about which I am realizing now I've neglected to post). If you want to know more about the JFK Library, you can go here.