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John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

ArchitectureHistoryClosed · Opens 10amFrom $24JFK/UMass (MBTA Red Line), then the free UMass Boston 'Paul Revere Route 1' shuttle to the Kennedy/Archives stop

I. M. Pei's stark white concrete tower and nine-storey glass pavilion rise straight off the water at Columbia Point, on a windswept spit of Dorchester harbourfront. Inside, the museum walks visitors through John F. Kennedy's presidency roughly in sequence: the 1960 campaign against Richard Nixon and the first televised debate, the inauguration, the Oval Office with a replica of the HMS Resolute desk, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the race to put an American on the Moon. Above the galleries, the archive holds the papers of the 35th president alongside the Ernest Hemingway Collection. The visit ends in the Pavilion, a 115-foot glass atrium looking out over the Boston Harbor Islands.

What's On

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Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

Columbia Point, Boston, MA 02125, United States

Nearest station: JFK/UMass (MBTA Red Line), then the free UMass Boston 'Paul Revere Route 1' shuttle to the Kennedy/Archives stop

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Hours

Mon10:00–17:00
Tue10:00–17:00
Wed10:00–17:00
ThuToday10:00–17:00
Fri10:00–17:00
Sat10:00–17:00
Sun10:00–17:00

Admission

From $24

Seniors 62+ and military veterans $12; college students $14; free for ages 17 and under, active-duty military, UMass Boston students, teachers and emergency personnel, returned Peace Corps volunteers, EBT/WIC holders and members of any National Archives presidential library. 50% off for Massachusetts public library cardholders.

Nearby

Institute of Contemporary Art / Boston

Architecture50 min walk

Boston Children's Museum

Children50 min walk

Old State House

Architecture62 min walk

Boston Athenæum

Art63 min walk

Visitor Information

How much does John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum cost?
Standard adult admission to John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is $24. Seniors 62+ and military veterans $12; college students $14; free for ages 17 and under, active-duty military, UMass Boston students, teachers and emergency personnel, returned Peace Corps volunteers, EBT/WIC holders and members of any National Archives presidential library. 50% off for Massachusetts public library cardholders.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
What are the opening hours of John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum?
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is open Open daily 10:00–17:00; walk-up tickets are sold until 16:15. Closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day (26 November 2026) and Christmas Day, and closes early at 14:00 on 25 November, 24 December and 31 December 2026. In winter the Museum also closes on Wednesdays through January and February.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum?
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is located at Columbia Point, Boston, MA 02125, United States, in the Columbia Point, Dorchester area of Boston. The nearest station is JFK/UMass (MBTA Red Line), then the free UMass Boston 'Paul Revere Route 1' shuttle to the Kennedy/Archives stop.
What can I see at John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum?
I. M. Pei's white tower and glass pavilion on Boston Harbor, replaying JFK's 1,000 days from the 1960 campaign to the Moon. Current highlights include 1960 Presidential Election, Declaring the Revolution: America's Printed Path to Independence, Lift-off! The U.S. Space Program.
Do I need to book John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in advance?
Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends, school holidays, and special exhibitions. Tickets are normally on the museum's website, and a pre-booked timed slot helps you avoid queues at the entrance.
When is the best time to visit John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.

Fcb981, cropped and corrected by mixpix, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

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