Contemplate this space. The John F Kennedy Memorial stands as a powerful reminder of a pivotal moment in history. It is a place for quiet reflection. This memorial, erected in 1970, honors President John F Kennedy.
Designed by Philip Johnson, the John F Kennedy Memorial is located in Dallas. It sits in the West End Historic District. Johnson envisioned it as a refuge. He wanted it to be a place for thought. It needed to be separated from the city. Yet, it needed to be near the sky and earth.
The John F Kennedy Memorial is a cenotaph. This means it is an empty tomb. It symbolizes the freedom of Kennedy’s spirit. The structure is a square. It is a roofless room. It measures 30 feet tall and 50 by 50 feet wide. There are narrow openings on the north and south sides.
Seventy-two white precast concrete columns form the walls. Most columns end 29 inches above the ground. This creates a floating illusion. Eight columns, two at each corner, extend to the ground. They act as supporting legs. Each column has a light fixture at its end. At night, the lights enhance the illusion. It seems as if light supports the structure.
Inside the John F Kennedy Memorial, a low block of dark granite rests. It is eight feet square. It sits in a shallow depression. The words John Fitzgerald Kennedy are carved in gold letters on the north and south faces. These are the only words within the memorial.
The John F Kennedy Memorial Plaza includes two dark granite squares. Each lies about 50 feet from the cenotaph’s entrances. These squares bear an epitaph. It speaks of the joy and excitement of John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s life. It acknowledges the pain and sorrow of his death. It recognizes the special sorrow felt in Dallas. The epitaph concludes that the memorial is a tribute to the joy of Kennedy’s life.
Dallas County Judge Lew Sterrett first proposed the John F Kennedy Memorial. This was just two days after the assassination. The John F. Kennedy Citizens Memorial Committee formed soon after. They gathered designs for the memorial. Ultimately, Philip Johnson was selected. He designed it without a fee.
The John F Kennedy Memorial faced vandalism in 1999. The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza took over management. They restored the John F Kennedy Memorial to its original beauty. Today, the John F Kennedy Memorial attracts around 500,000 visitors each year.
Some critics have found the John F Kennedy Memorial aesthetically spare. Others find its emptiness moving. The John F Kennedy Memorial stands as a testament. It marks a city’s effort to remember. It serves as a space for reflection. It honors a president’s legacy. It encourages contemplation.