At 83 Beals Street in Brookline, the John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site is the house where John F. Kennedy was born in 1917 and lived until age three. Rose Kennedy restored it to reflect its 1917 appearance, using family memories and furnishings, some of them original to the family. Inside, a ranger-led or self-guided visit traces the Kennedys’ early years; outside, posted information gives context if the house is closed or tours are full. The visitor center has exhibits, a bookstore and accessible facilities.
The Kennedys’ first home
John F. Kennedy was born at 83 Beals Street on May 29, 1917. The Kennedy family lived in the Brookline house from 1914 to 1920, and JFK spent his first three years there before the family moved to a nearby home on Abbotsford Road.
The house was the family’s first home. Its setting in a residential Brookline neighborhood offers a view of the place where the future president’s early life began, before his family’s better-known years in public life.
Rose Kennedy’s restoration
After JFK became president, Brookline residents sought to preserve his birthplace. Rose Kennedy bought the house back in 1966 and worked to restore it to the way she remembered it in 1917. The family donated the property to the National Park Service in 1967, and it became a national historic site in 1969.
The restoration included sourcing period furnishings. About one fifth of the furnishings belonged to the Kennedy family, connecting the rooms to their time in the house.
Touring the house and visitor center
House visits are self-guided, with park rangers in the rooms to answer questions and add information about the family. A free audio tour provides further context on JFK’s early life. Tours run at intervals, and the house is small, so the number of people who can enter each group is limited.
The visitor center is reached by a path beside the house and includes exhibits, a bookstore and restrooms. It has wheelchair-accessible facilities, including an elevator. A short film may be shown in the seating area. If the house is closed or a tour is full, posted information outside and the grounds still provide some context for a stop.
Preguntas frecuentes
Where is the John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site?
It is at 83 Beals Street in Brookline, Massachusetts.
When can you visit the house?
The house is open seasonally, from late May through October. The grounds can be visited year-round.
Is admission free?
Yes. Entry to the historic site is free.
How long should I allow for a visit?
Plan on about 30 to 60 minutes. The house is small, and a visit can take around half an hour.
Is the visitor center wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The visitor center has wheelchair-accessible facilities, including an elevator.
