John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum — Attraction in Boston

I was at the JFK Library to register new citizens to vote today. I met with three staffs that were unfriendly, rude and at times even hostile. The first one was the security guard by the name of T. F. at the front desk for information. After the ceremony I was trying to do my best to register as many new citizens as I could; when I met a group of 5 people walking out the hallway together, I went and asked each one of them if they had registered to vote; T. Flynn came from his station which was not close by and told me out loud not to ask the same question again and again; there were five of them and I asked just once to each of them and that was not asking the same question again and again! What does he know about my job? He was telling me how to do my job! Afterwards when I went to speak to him, he couldn't even helped a young lady who wanted to know where she should go to her meeting. T. Flynn couldn't tell the difference between JFK Library and Edward M. Kennedy Institute. I helped the young lady and told her where she should go for her meeting. The second staff by the name of K.M.B. She literally ran after me and chased me down the hall all the way to the cafe when I told her that I hope to register more people that will vote for Hillary. It was a conversation between she and I and no one was around to hear. She did not have to chase me down the hall to tell me what I can say and cannot say as if I do not know my job, Again! Later when I was talking to the security guard, T.F. she walked in and without asking what was the conversation about, she told me to "get out of here!" and she proceeded to walk me out of the Library, I told her I was being profiled by her and the security guard, T.F. Once she walked me out the library, I told her about more than 100 years ago, Rose Kennedy said something, like, "I wish the good people of Boston will accepted us" K.M.B. said that was "irrelevant" . What was the irrelevance, K.M.B.? The third staff was a middle age woman with glasses who wore a blue flower pattern dress, she was very upset when I was outside the hallway, she told me, "you go back there!". I was just told by my field organizer that I should register to vote outside the hallway where the new citizens will be walking out after the ceremony. Staffs should be intelligent to work at the JFK Library and not just going around telling some visitors off, especially the People of Colors, to show off their authority over us and don't just automatically think that we are all unintelligent and unkind, like you. Overall I had a terrible time with the three staffs, I certainly feel unwelcome by them. Can there be a little bit of diversity personnel working at JFK Library? People of Colors can only work in the kitchen or the housekeeper dept.? I, as an Asian American would like to feel welcome at the JFK Library! OR it is what I was doing? I was there to register people to vote. Did that upset all three of them? If it is the case then next time when JFK Library has a swear in ceremony for new citizens, all three of them should call in sick or take a day off! The security guard T.F. should have some training lessons to understand the difference between the JFK Library and The Edward M. Kennedy Institute because he is at the front desk for information where people comes in to ask questions. I guess he is set for life and he will be at his job the rest of his life? JFK Library should never allowed their staffs talk to any visitors like they talked to me today! All three staffs should read and learn more about the great place where they work and should know more about JFK's life, his works, his words, his books, his Presidency and what does JFK means to millions of people on this earth. They sure represent the worse of Boston I have ever encountered and all three work at the JFK Library!!! What a shame! The working environment must be awful at the...

Really fantastic museum with historic artifacts to accompany the written stories and movie clips (I had no idea that JFK was the first president to televise a debate!)

The museum is laid out such that you don’t feel like you’re on top of other people as you go at your own pace, through it, and it explores really important themes and connection points in a well organized and easy to consume format.

With a Kennedy running for president, what better time to visit the JFK Museum?!

Admission is discounted for Veterans and Massachusetts Teachers Association members, and free for those on WIC, EBT, and Commonwealth Care, as well as for University of Massachusetts students.

Highlights:

Lead the US and Russia through the Cold War, ending with the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963. He showed wisdom and restraint through the Cuban Missile crisis in particular, and we made it through without any nuclear weapons fired. Reagan was the one who famously cried: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” But kennedy helped get us there.

Massively influential in advocating for equality during the Civil Rights movement, with his successor finally passing a slew of acts ending segregating and legalized racism, starting with the Voting Rights of of 1964, which he fought for during his tenure.

Lead the US in the Space Race, until we got the first man on the moon (there’s a moon rock in the museum)!!!

Kennedy’s family is responsible for major breakthroughs for people with disabilities. He was a sickly kid himself, and, after earning his Purple Heart, was even more shot health-wise. He also had a sister, Rosemary, who was intellectually disabled. While people with intellectual disabilities were often institutionalized, his mom made sure Rosemary was as much an active member of the family as anyone. Sadly she did end up institutionalized after a lobotomy in her ewrly 20s.

While President, JFK established the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, with a focus on mental health and disability care, and passed the Maternal and Child Health and Mental Retardation Planning Amendment to the Social Security Act, paving the way for inclusion of those with disabilities.

His son, Ted Kennedy, advocated for and helped passed the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, which protects people with disabilities in the workplace, and requires reasonable accommodations (I, as a disabled person, am SO glad to have started working AFTER this was passed).

His sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, started the Special Olympics in 1968.

His brother Robert F Kennedy was a prominent lawyer whose assassination prompted the Secret Service to begin protecting presidential candidates (feels pretty relevant).

JFK was an Irish Catholic at a time when Protestantism reigned in American Politics. He brought greater acceptance of religious diversity to the American people and to the world.

JFK was the first president to participate in a televised presidential debate!

I do wish it humanized him and the family. There is no mention of scandals or controversies.

I wish presidential museums were more accurate that way, not just glowy.

Fully accessible.

Well air conditioned...

I really enjoyed coming here. You get a great sense of JFK's campaign and his presidency. I also enjoyed the building itself. I.M. Pei did great work. Although as a previous reviewer pointed out the museum doesn't cover much, if anything at all about two things: Jackie Kennedy, and his assassination.

Also an important thing that was not brought up: The US sent missiles to Turkey before the Soviet Union sent missiles to Cuba. This is a very important fact that is often missed in US history that I believe is very important for the museum to cover. I also felt like the Cuban Missile Crisis film was a bit sensationalized. I won't spoil anything and I encourage you to view it yourself.

Other than that the parts that I enjoyed the most were seeing his campaign material and to see what life was like in the late 50s-early 60s. Everything from his campaign material, cameras, and even household items from the time.

One thing that I didn't know was that the museum has a cafe. I was looking for places to eat nearby but it's not brought up on the website or Google Maps. I didn't find out until the person at the admissions desk told me. This should be something that is much easier to know about, plus the fact that it closes an hour before the museum closes.

Lastly I wanted to say that the freeze dried ice cream bar I got at the museum store was very good. It's very crumbly but it was certainly an interesting experience eating it. I recommend you give the neapolitan flavor a try if...