Located on the waterfront of Hyannis, Massachusetts, the John F. Kennedy Memorial uniquely honors the 35th president of the United States of America. Enabling audiences to experience his legacy as well as the beautiful surroundings of the Cape Cod region, the landmark highlights what it means to enable engagement with a local community and for an entire nation.
A Bronze Bust and Simple Stone Wall
Long before he became President, John F. Kennedy spent many summers in his family’s summer retreat on Cape Cod in Hyannis Port. In his youth, JFK competed in sailing events up and down the East Coast, including in the Cape Cod area. The area remained important to him after he was elected president in 1960, as he continued to visit the area. It was hit particularly hard by his 1963 assassination, which quickly turned into an effort to memorialize his legacy.
Commissioned by the citizens of nearby Barnstable and dedicated in 1966, the John F. Kennedy Memorial consists of a bronze bust profile of the president, mounted on a simple stone wall. The bust looks toward the water while, on the other side of the stone wall, a bronze medallion of the Great Seal of the United States looks toward Hyannis. In front of the wall is a fountain that has been inscribed with quotes from a Presidential address Kenndy delivered in 1962.
The nearby memorial museum features a collection of exhibits, documents, and retrospectives detailing JFK’s life and legacy. It has also directly cultivated the creation of other nearby memorials like the Cape and Islands Korean War Memorial, highlighting what it can mean for a landmark to spur further developments that positively impact the community. Audiences can engage with the space and legacy in ways that will resonate into the far future.
Reflecting the Impact of JFK
While the John F. Kennedy Memorial is just one of several Kennedy-related attractions located in Hyannis, it uniquely connects his legacy to the Cape Cod community. Few people have the notoriety of JFK, but the engagement and interest the monument has generated showcases what it can mean to uniquely celebrate a local legacy.
