National Historic Sites · Massachusetts
John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Park Service source material · single source. Source dates and reuse information are available beside each field.
Check the official park website for current access, conditions and visitor information.
Introduction
Background: 1
JFK’s parents never expected that their second son would grow up to be president. Yet in his birthplace home he learned values that inspired a life in public service. His mother, Rose Kennedy, recreated her family’s first home to share her memories of those early years with visitors. We commemorate not only his early life, but the ideas and principles he left behind.
Geography
Designation: 2
National Historic Site
State or territory: 3
Massachusetts
Park Map - John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site: 4
Map scope: John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
Map of John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site in Massachusetts. A blue line represents a recommended route through a web of streets past six numbered tour sites. The roads are shown in gray and the surrounding areas beige.
History and culture
Places: 5
Learn more about the unique places John F. Kennedy called home during his boyhood in the Cultural Landscape Report . Completed in 2013, this report details the history of the greater Brookline area landscapes with a special focus on 83 Beal Street, the president's birthplace. Brookline's function as a streetcar suburb is described in detail, as well as new research on the home's transition from private residence to National Historic Site. Highlights of the report include detailed neighborhood maps showing changes in street design and structures over time as well many never before seen photographs of 83 Beals Street from 1914 to the present day.
People: 6
Discover the experiences of the Kennedy family in Brookline in the Historic Resource Study. Completed in 2007, the study places the Kennedy family's experiences and attitudes while living in Brookline in the historical context of the 1900s. This context offers insight into the social identities of the Kennedy family, life at home and the character of Brookline. The study concludes with an overview of how the home at 83 Beals Street was transformed from a private residence into a National Historic Site. Contact the site for a copy of this report.
Collections: 7
The museum collection at John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site is the primary resource contributing to the site's significance as a memorial. The objects constitute an assemblage specifically created for the birthplace by Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy with the intent that they be seen by the public. As part of the 1966-1969 restoration effort, a collection of household furnishings, photographs and significant mementos were personally collected and arranged in the principal rooms of the home by Mrs. Kennedy and her consultant, Jordan Marsh interior decorator Robert Luddington. Many pieces in the collection are original to the family's tenure in the house; others are Kennedy family pieces, appropriate antiques, or period reproductions selected for interpretive value. After restoration and refurnishing were completed, Mrs. Kennedy donated the house and its contents to the National Park Service.
The park's archives consists of two collections. The Robert T. Luddington Papers, 1961-1998 (bulk dates: 1966-1969) documents the work of Robert Luddington and Rose Kennedy to refurnish the house in 1967-1969. The John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site Resource Management Records, 1963-2003 (bulk dates: 1966-1987) documents the management of the site by the National Park Service. Personal papers of the Kennedy family and John F. Kennedy's presidential papers are held at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library .
History & Culture: 8
Looking to learn more about the Kennedy family and important stories within their lives? These pages will help you. Travel back in time and explore the neighborhood the Kennedys called home in Brookline. Learn more about the family and discover some of their stories . Curious about objects on display in the home? Our collections highlight page will introduce you to these items.
Visitor information
Visitation
Sources & field notes
Source records (12)
Select a numbered reference to open a source card. Retrieval dates describe this edition’s source capture, rather than an independent verification or the date of the underlying information.
Background · Official park structured information. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS-supplied text; NPS-authored government work generally public domain, subject to third-party rights.
Designation · National Park System directory. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- Factual reference data; source attribution retained.
State or territory · National Park System directory. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- Factual reference data; source attribution retained.
Park Map - John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site · National Park Service, Harpers Ferry Center. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Source scope
- John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
- Download
- Official map PDF ↗
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- Public domain; NPS map
- Rights
- Public domain; NPS map
Places · Places — National Park Service. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Source page last updated
- December 17, 2024
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS-authored U.S. government material is generally public domain; third-party content may have separate rights.
People · People — National Park Service. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Source page last updated
- February 3, 2025
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS-authored U.S. government material is generally public domain; third-party content may have separate rights.
Collections · Collections — National Park Service. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Source page last updated
- October 4, 2022
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS-authored U.S. government material is generally public domain; third-party content may have separate rights.
History & Culture · National Park Service. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS-authored U.S. government material is generally public domain; third-party material may have separate rights. No images copied.
Physical Address · Official park structured information. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS-supplied text; NPS-authored government work generally public domain, subject to third-party rights.
Mailing Address · Official park structured information. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS-supplied text; NPS-authored government work generally public domain, subject to third-party rights.
Telephone · Official park structured information. Open source ↗
- Information date
- Not supplied by the source
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- NPS-supplied text; NPS-authored government work generally public domain, subject to third-party rights.
Recreation visits · National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics. Open source ↗
- Information date
- 2025
- Retrieved
- 2026-10-30
- Methodology
- NPS reporting unit; annual total is the sum of 12 monthly recreation visit estimates.
- Reporting unit
- John F. Kennedy NHS
- Evidence
- Single source; not independently corroborated.
- Reuse
- Factual reference data; source attribution retained.