Massachusetts Attractions: The John F. Kennedy Birthplace Historical Site

The John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site located at 83 Beals Street in Brookline, Massachusetts preserves the birthplace of America’s 35th president. Tours of the house are offered seasonally.

The president’s mother returned to the house in 1967 and restored it to the best of her recollection of its 1917 appearance. John F. Kennedy spent his boyhood at the residence on 83 Beals Street. Eight members of the Kennedy family lived at 83 Beals Street from 1914-1920. The House was donated to the American people as a gift.

Thousands of visitors’ tour the house and neighborhood in which Mrs. Kennedy’s own words were hold “many happy memories.”

The NHS offers ranger-led tours and self-guided audio tours of the birthplace in English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese.

There is no subway in Boston. There are trolleys, trains and ferries that are part of one of the oldest transit systems in the country, which is known as the “T.” Today, the Trolley lines run along the same routes that the Kennedy family rode into downtow
Boston. You will be able to follow their journey during your visit to Boston.

You will need to contact the site directly regarding program offerings as they are pending staff availability. Follow the link at the end of this article for more contact information to schedule your visit.

In the basement of the museum you will find a small visitor center with a single-use restroom. John F. Kennedy’s birthplace is located in a residential neighborhood. You will also find other public restrooms or vendors in the immediate area.

Parking is limited to duration of two hours. Vehicles may not idle while parked in the residential area. You will need to be able to use a set of stairs to access the basement Visitor Center and first and second floor rooms of the historic house. There is no wheelchair access available.

The Kennedy’s were like many other middle-class families in Brookline, Massachusetts. They relied upon their live-in domestic help. Mary O’Donaghue and Alice Michelan cooked, cleaned and cared for the children.

The home was the last house on Beals Street in 1914. The street was lined with trees. Many of the trees that lined Beals Street during President’s Kennedy’s childhood, including the tree in front of his house, grew to be 75 feet.

You can enter the John Fitzgerald Kennedy NHS visitor center and bookstore free of charge. Admission to the house museum is as follows:

• Adults $3.00 per individual aged 18 and olde
• Children are admitted FREE. Individuals 17 years of age and under are classified as children, and must be accompanied by an adult.
• America The Beautiful pass holders are admitted free.
• Group tour leaders are admitted free, however, individuals in group tours are subject to the same admission requirements as outlined above.
• Organized educational groups may qualify for a fee waiver under special guidelines. You can inquire about this at the time you make a reservation. Group visits require advance reservation, or are strongly encouraged.

If you require a program in Spanish or Japanese, you are strongly encouraged to make an advance reservation. Reservations for groups of more than ten people are absolutely required.

The house museum is small. Tours are limited to 12 visitors. A larger group is divided into tours of twelve. For groups of 24 or less, you will need to allow for one hour touring the house museum. One adult is required to accompany every twelve visitors under the age of 17. Please follow the link in the resource box at the end of this article for reservation and contact details.

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