Exploring Dallas: A Journey Through History at JFK Assassination Sites
Story & Photos by Matt Bayman
DALLAS, TX — Now 62 years later, visitors to Dallas can step back in time and explore one of the most pivotal moments in American history—the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The city offers a range of sites that allow travelers to follow the events of Nov. 22, 1963, from Dealey Plaza to the places that shaped the nation’s memory of that tragic day.
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At the heart of the experience is Dealey Plaza, now a National Historic Landmark, where Kennedy’s motorcade passed when shots were fired. The plaza (amazingly) remains much as it was in 1963, offering visitors a chance to stand on the famed grassy knoll and see (and tour a museum within) the Texas School Book Depository (pictured above left), from which Lee Harvey Oswald fired the fatal shots. An "X" in the middle of street marks the location of the third and final fatal shot. (It's not maintained by the City of Dallas and is sometimes removed for safety reasons).
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Nearby, The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza provides an in-depth look at the life, death, and legacy of President Kennedy, featuring photographs, artifacts, and historic footage, plus a visit to the "sniper's nest" where Oswald fired from. Additional sites throughout the Dallas area help tell the full story — from where Oswald was captured (the Texas Theatre) to where the President’s final moments unfolded.
If you get a chance to visit, key JFK-related sites in Dallas include:
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Dealey Plaza – Site of the assassination and now a National Historic Landmark.
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The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza – Located inside the former Texas School Book Depository.
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Grassy Knoll – Public viewing area associated with eyewitness accounts, including possible additional shooters/assassins. Signage explains various aspects of the event.
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John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza – A stark, modern monument honoring the late president, located not far from the plaza.
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Parkland Memorial Hospital – Where President Kennedy was pronounced dead on November 22, 1963.
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Texas Theatre – The location of Lee Harvey Oswald’s arrest.
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J.D. Tippit Memorial – Honoring the Dallas police officer killed by Oswald shortly after the assassination.
From the solemn grounds of Dealey Plaza to the historical exhibits at the Sixth Floor Museum, Dallas offers visitors a powerful opportunity to reflect on a defining moment in America’s past and to better understand its lasting impact.
It's also a very fun city to visit any time of year!
Dealey Plaza, starting with the Texas School Book Depository, panning to the left to the Grass Knoll and finally to the "X" in the street, where the final shot hit Kennedy.
The view from the Grassy Knoll, panning up to the Texas School Book Depository behind the trees.
AT LEFT: A visitor (not a statue) stands where Abraham Zapruder captured his famous 26-second, silent home movie of the assassination. AT RIGHT: A video of the plaza, ending at the concrete pedestal where Zapruder stood. Historic signage discusses his film.
Along with sightseeing on your own, there are professional tours offered, including the JFK Trolley Tours and walking tours. Learn more at www.jfkassassinationtour.com.
Architect Philip Johnson, a close friend of the Kennedy family, designed the John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza (located a short walk from Dealey Plaza) to represent an open tomb — or “cenotaph” — a space of remembrance and reflection rather than a traditional monument filled with statues or imagery. The blank interior emphasizes absence, inviting visitors to contemplate the loss of Kennedy and what his death meant for the nation.