About the Museum
Chronicles life, assassination, and legacy of President John F. Kennedy. Located in former Texas School Book Depository, features extensive exhibits on JFK, 1960s America, and events of November 22, 1963.
Collections and Exhibits
Since opening on Presidents' Day in 1989, the museum has welcomed over 6 million visitors from around the world. The main exhibit, "John F. Kennedy and the Memory of a Nation," uses historic films, photographs, artifacts, and interpretive displays to document the assassination, subsequent government investigations, and the historical legacy of this pivotal moment in American history. The museum's collection includes over 90,000 items related to the assassination, President Kennedy's legacy, and 1960s culture.
Notable artifacts on display include an Associated Press teletype machine, Lee Harvey Oswald's wedding ring, the hat worn by Jack Ruby when he shot Oswald, cameras used by photographers in Dealey Plaza, military artifacts from the Kennedy funeral, and a scale-model of the plaza prepared by the FBI for the Warren Commission. The Seventh Floor Gallery, added in a 2002 expansion, hosts diverse national touring exhibits in partnership with institutions like the Andy Warhol Museum, the Museum of the Moving Image, and the Smithsonian Institution.
The museum maintains an extensive oral history collection with over 2,600 recorded interviews from eyewitnesses, bystanders, community leaders, and White House officials. Their archives include hundreds of hours of early 1960s radio and television broadcasts from Dallas stations, thousands of camera negatives from Dallas newspapers, and materials related to Kennedy's legacy including civil rights and the space race. An interactive Dealey Plaza guide, available on the museum's website since 2021, provides narrated tours and stories exploring the history of Dealey Plaza and the surrounding area.
Plan Your Visit
The Sixth Floor Museum is located at 411 Elm Street in the historic Texas School Book Depository building in downtown Dallas, overlooking Dealey Plaza. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission includes an audio guide available in seven languages. Adult admission is $24-27, with discounts for seniors and youth. For current hours, special exhibitions, and to purchase timed tickets in advance, visit www.jfk.org or call (214) 747-6660.
Explore Texas's Historical Landscape
Use the When It Was app to discover historical businesses, landmarks, and buildings throughout Texas. See how your community has transformed over the decades.
Explore When It Was →