Visiting Boston this summer? As an immensely significant city in the history of politics, here’s a few notable places to see that offer insight into the life of one of our country’s most beloved political figures, American president and Boston native, John F. Kennedy:
JFK’s Brookline Birthplace
The birthplace of President John F. Kennedy in Brookline was personally restored by his mother Rose in the late 1960s. Many of the former president’s personal belongings from his younger years are viewable in the nursery, including his original christening gown! Now a National Historic Site, there are ranger-led tours of the home during the summer but the property is open to the public year round.
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| The JFK Library and Museum |
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| Union Oyster House near Fanueil Hall |
Union Oyster House
Established in 1826, the Union Oyster House is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in America. Ask to sit upstairs in the Pine Room, where booth #18 was aptly renamed the Kennedy Booth – the very spot where the future president would sit on Sundays to read the newspapers over lobster chowder.
In 1946, Kennedy, who was already known as a World War II hero, announced his candidacy for Congress, his first public office, at the hotel’s popular Press Room. In 1954, he held his bachelor party in this same Press Room before his marriage to Jacqueline Bouvier.
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| The Wharf District Park in the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway |
Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway
Gardens, fountains, farmer’s markets and outdoor cafes have healed the ugly scar left behind after the burial of the elevated highway that for decades separated downtown Boston from the waterfront. The lively and beautiful parks, plazas, and tree-lined promenades were named in honor of JFK’s mother and were dedicated in the fall of 2008.
From his childhood home, to a restaurant booth, to his campaign headquarters, Boston is home to a variety of sites that offer a chance to find out more about JFK during your relaxing vacation. Let the staff at Clarendon Square Inn help you plan your tour during your stay in a Boston bed and breakfast luxury suite fit for the President himself!