Theodore Roosevelt Presidential LibraryPublic Lands Directory

Alerts and conditions

Information Tours by appointment unavailable on certain dates in November - January

Tours by appointment are not available on the following dates: November: 6-13, 25-27 December: 24-25, 31 January: 1-8

Overview

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.

From the National Park Service

History

The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.

What to see and do

Activities

  • Guided Tours
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Park Film
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store

Browse hiking, biking and paddling routes on AllTrails

Plan your visit

Hours

Operating Hours: Hours for the visitor center and house at John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site vary by season. The grounds are open year-round, dawn to dusk. The site is currently closed for the off season. During the off season, late-October through late-May, the house and visitor center are closed to the public, with tours available Wednesdays and Fridays, by appointment, with at least two weeks advanced notice. In the open season, late-May through late-October, the site is open Thursdays through Sundays.

Getting there

By Subway: Take Green line ("C" -Cleveland Circle) trolley to Coolidge Corner stop. Walk four blocks north on Harvard Street, turn right on Beals Street and continue to number 83. By Car: From Exit 131 (I-90 E) follow the Allston/Brighton exit ramp, merge onto Cambridge Street and go one mile. At the fourth light, turn left on Harvard Street and proceed about one mile. Turn left on Beals Street and go to number 83. Limited Street Parking available.

Visitor centers

  • Visitor Center

Weather

Typical New England Weather: Warm, humid summers and cold winters. Any available outdoor programs take place rain or shine but may be modified or canceled due to high heat index.

Phone: 617-566-7937

Whose lands these are

These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.

Photos

Room with white wicker furniture, including bassinet and rocking chair. Long white baby dress hangs.
Nursery · NPS / Robert Perron
Dining room with oval dining table with six place settings of silver and fine china.
Kennedy Dining Room · NPS / Robert Perron

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