The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is a stark reminder of one of the most important moments in American History—the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. On November 22, 1963, J.F. Kennedy was assassinated and it changed history forever. It impacted the legacy of President Kennedy and the future of the United States. The museum is located inside the historic Texas School Book Depository building. Some of the Museum highlights include the sniper's perch, the FBI model used by the Warren Commission, and the twelve cameras that were used by eyewitnesses in Dealey Plaza. The museum remains one of the most important & most visited historic sites in Dallas, TX, attracting millions of people from around the world each year. 

 

 

What to Know

The Dealey Plaza is a National Historic Landmark District. The Plaza is the place where J.F. Kennedy was shot while he was riding in a motorcade through downtown Dallas. Harvey aimed for the President while the motorcade turned on Elm Street. At the Museum, visitors can learn about the details of his assassination and legacy, and how it impacted everything afterward. The museum offers a lot of exhibitions and artifacts for you to see. It also covers many other subjects including the early life of J.F. Kennedy and his political career. You can also book guided tours if you want a more in-depth experience.

 

When you’re visiting the museum at Dealey Plaza, you’ll not just be able to see the physical location of events but also engage with the broader understanding of the social, political, and cultural changes in the U.S. in the 1960s. The most significant exhibit here is the John F. Kennedy and the Memory of a Nation. It provides the historical context of the events of 1963 and also what happened afterward. The 6th floor of the Texas School Book Depository was the major crime scene for these actions. The exhibit provides various photographs, news footage, artifacts, and evidentiary areas. 

 

The introductory section of the exhibit highlights the social movements and all the political events of the 60s. You will find artifacts, images, and short video footage. Also, there is some information on the early life of JFK and the issues he faced throughout his political career. You can also see a short video, where many enthusiasts are cheering for Kennedy throughout their two-day political trip.

 

The Corner Window showcases when the shots were fired as the motorcade reached Dealey Plaza on November 22. Along with the President, the Texas Governor General was also struck and seriously injured. Dallas law enforcement officials started a search of the Texas School Book Depository immediately. And within 45 minutes they found 3 spent cartridge shells on what we know as the sniper's perch.

 

Following these 45 minutes, an officer named J.D. Tippit was murdered in the Oak Cliff section of Dallas. And Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested on suspicion of both murders. After that Harvey was shot in the basement of the Dallas Police Department by Jack Ruby, who was a local nightclub owner. Some of the artifacts at the museum include Lee Harvey’s wedding ring, Jack Ruby’s hat, and the camera used by Bob Jackson. He was a photographer at Dallas Times Herald and his photo of the shooting won the Pulitzer Prize. 

 

In 1964, the Warren Commission's 889-page report was presented to President Johnson and it suggested that Harvey assassinated J.F. Kennedy. There are still many lingering questions that need to be answered but the reports concluded Harvey to be the murderer. Many significant artifacts here include a scale model of Dealey Plaza prepared by the FBI for use by the Warren Commission and the twelve cameras that were used by eyewitnesses. Also, The Corner Staircase features an Italian-made Mannlicher-Carcano rifle identical to the one found at the northwest corner of the sixth floor. 

 

With that, the museum has The Memory Books where you can leave a recollection memory or a comment. It becomes a part of the institutional Archives. Moreover, the area surrounding the Texas School Book Depository is also rich with historical significance. Located to the northwest of the plaza, the Grassy Knoll has been the subject of conspiracy theories about the assassination of J.F. Kennedy. The theories suggest that there might be a second shooter who was involved.

 

The museum was named after the sixth floor of the building where the sniper's perch and rifle were found after the assassination of President Kennedy. As we know, Lee Harvey Oswald fatally shot the President from the sixth floor of this building. So, the building played a major role in the assassination of the J.F.K. Everyone can see the exact location from where the shots were fired, known as the “sniper’s perch.” 

 

How to Get There

If you’re traveling via public transportation such as Dallas Area Rapid Transit Line, then you can find West End Station. From this station, the museum is located 3 blocks away on the west side. If you’re driving, then paid parking is available just adjacent to the Museum. The fees vary according to the lots. And please note that buses and other big vehicles are not allowed.

 

Also, the last ticket is available at 4:15 pm; after that, there are no more tickets issued. Because the museum is open to the public from 10 am to 5 pm. So arrive early or before 4 pm, so that you can enter. The admission fee for adults is $25 and for kids under 5, it is free. For senior citizens, the fee is $23. The fee is charged because the Museum is a non-profit organization and revenue earned from the admission helps support the cause. 

 

Best Time to Visit 

Usually, Dallas is very hot in the summer, so maybe try to avoid going there during this time. However, you can still visit the museum early in the morning when it opens at 10 am. The weather is bearable at this time of the day. On the other hand, Spring and Fall offer more pleasant weather conditions with less humidity. You can walk around easily without any discomfort. The fall also brings gorgeous fall foliage with different colors of red, yellow, and orange. And the winters are not that harsh in Dallas—they’re usually in the range of 4-15 degrees Celsius. So, you can also visit during winter if you’re someone who doesn’t like summer heat at all. 

 

With that, keep in mind if you want to avoid crowds then weekdays are your best options. The plaza is very quiet these days and you’ll be able to reflect on the events more peacefully. There's the anniversary of J.F. Kennedy’s assassination on 22nd November and it's very crowded that day. All in all, arriving early will help you to avoid crowds, and you’ll be able to visit some other attractions nearby, such as the George W. Bush Presidential Library. 

 

Features and Highlights 

- The museum is located inside the Texas School Book Depository building. It’s the building where Lee Harvey Oswald fired the fatal shots.

- The museum offers various photographs, documents, and artifacts related to J. F. Kennedy's life. 

- Various interpretive displays are used for exhibits.

- The museum also features reports by government investigators that followed.

- The museum showcases contemporary culture within the context of presidential history. 

- It will take you around 90 minutes to 2 hours to explore the museum properly. 

- There are many benches for you to sit on if you get tired.

- The museum is non-profit, so it relies on funding and ticket sales. The organization is operated by the Dallas County Historical Foundation.

- The use of interactive technology brings the events of 1963 to life in a really unique way. 

- The museum occupies the sixth floor where Harvey allegedly fired fatal shots.

- The museum also offers an audio tour that takes you through the key events of that day.

- The window is preserved by the museum from where Harvey is believed to have fired. It gives the visitors a view of Dealey Plaza and how it looked on that day.

- In addition to permanent exhibits, the 7th floor features many temporary and special exhibits delving into the life of Kennedy.

- The museum also serves as an educational center where visitors can learn about American History.

- The museum also has a gift shop from where you can purchase books, memorabilia, and many other items.

- There’s a raised area near the road, known as the Grassy Knoll—associated with conspiracy theories that there might be a second shooter here.

- Two X-shaped markers on Elm Street tell us the exact spots where the President was shot.

- The Dealey Plaza is a historic landmark itself and its layout hasn’t changed since the assassination. It also includes the surrounding buildings, streets, and grassy areas.

- There is a Dealey Plaza Monument inside the plaza which is a tribute to the event near the Book Depository.

- The Sixth Floor Museum is specifically dedicated to the life and legacy of J.F. Kennedy. Here you can find exhibits and artifacts related to the President's life and his assassination. 

- You can visit Dealey Plaza to learn about the life of the President and his political career. Also, how his death impacted the United States. 

- You will find J.F. Kennedy Memorial, located a few blocks from Dealey Plaza. It was built in 1970 as a tribute to the late President.