Boston and the John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

After leaving Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia, Canada--see my prior post--click here-- our cruise sailed south on the Atlantic Ocean with a day at sea.  The following day we sailed into Boston Harbor for our next stop in Boston, Massachusetts.

 My husband and I were fortunate to have visited Boston often over the year we lived in New York City. It is a wonderful city full of diverse neighborhoods, with a rich history, and a legacy of arts, culture, and education. One could spend many days visiting all it has to offer! Since we were only going to visit for one day we chose an excursion that would take us on a bus tour with city highlights of Boston and Cambridge, which is the location of Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Our licensed tour guide was fantastic and provided an engaging narrative about all the locations we passed, offering their historical backgrounds and anecdotes.

One step off the bus we made was by the John Hancock Tower (also known as 200 Clarendon) as it has an interesting background. The building, which is the tallest building in New England, was designed by the renowned architect I.M. Pei, who also designed Boston’s Government Center and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum.

Sadly, our guide told us as soon as this 60-story, 790-foot (240 m) skyscraper in the Back Bay neighborhood of downtown Boston was built it began to fall apart! When groundbreaking began in 1968 the excavation was bungled and nearby Trinity Church was damaged. The church sued John Hancock and won $11.6 million.

Then, while still under construction, the windows, which weighed 500 pounds each, started popping out of the building during high winds. The opening of the building was delayed from 1971 to 1976, and the cost went from $75 million to $175 million. It was discovered that the cause was in the design of the window, so all 10,334 panes of glass had to be replaced.

Then it was discovered that the tower swayed to a dangerous degree. The tower required “interior reinforcing to prevent walls and partitions from cracking in high winds and preventing the workers inside from vertigo from the sway." 

Finally, on September 29, 1976, the new addition to the city skyline was dedicated. It was later awarded the American Institute of Architects National Honor Award in 1977.

One of the aspects of the building that is unique is its very reflective windows, as you can see by the reflections of Trinity Church and other buildings in my photos.

Another part of the city that made an impression on me was crossing the famous  Boston Marathon Finish Line. Nearby we could see the glass memorials for the people who were killed during the 2013 terrorist bombing  that took place among the spectators near the finish line on Boylston Street. The memorials’ centerpieces are bronze spires that stand 17 to 21 feet tall with glass tubing in the center that project light at night. These are framed by two cherry trees, which will bloom around the time of the anniversary each year.

Next, we visited the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

This was the first presidential museum we had visited and we looked forward to the experience as President Kennedy was also the first President we remembered as children. 

As we entered the building we read this dedication on a placard: "The John F Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is dedicated to the 35th President. Part of the National Archives and Records Administration, the Library houses a museum, research archives, and education center. It also hosts a rich array of public programs to promote understanding and discussion of the critical issues of our kind."

It contains ..." the essential evidence documenting the life and career of President Kennedy. Approximately 24 million pages of documents. 515,000 photographs, 14,000 sound recordings, 6,300 videotapes, 4,6000 motion picture reels, 1,600 oral history interviews, and 30,000 museum artifacts."

There were many photos and displays about Kennedy's early life...

...his heroic military service...

...campaign memorabilia...

...a video of the first televised Presidential debate between Kennedy and Nixon...

....the way our country voted in this election held in November 1960.

Click on the photo to enlarge

There were many wonderful and interesting photos, videos, and displays about the Kennedy Presidency...

...as well as display for First Lady Jaqueline Bouvier Kennedy.

There were many memorable quotations made by President Kennedy on display.

Please click on the photo to enlarge to read about President Kennedy's legacy

 As we all know, President Kennedy was tragically assassinated on November 22, 1963.

 

When Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis sought the perfect location for the Kennedy Library, she looked to the sea that President Kennedy loved so well. The site she chose on Dorchester Bay encompasses a 9.5-acre park, landscaped with pine trees, shrubs, and wild roses, reminiscent of the Caper Cod landscape familiar to President Kennedy. His sailboat is on display on the grounds and many scenic views from within the large atrium windows.

We really enjoyed our three-hour visit to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum and would encourage anyone who enjoys history to add it to a Boston itinerary.

Life these days...

It is the fawn season in our part of Colorado and almost daily I am gifted to see mule deer doe and her fawns traveling through my backyard. The little ones are so entertaining! It has been unusually hot and dry this summer. However, this week we finally had much-needed rain and cooler temperatures, which I much prefer!

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