Public Programs

On Friday, November 22, 1963, newspaper photographer Bob Jackson was assigned to take pictures of President John F. Kennedy's visit to Dallas for The Dallas Times Herald. Discover how Jackson came to cover one of the largest, most tumultuous news events of the twentieth century, and hear the back story on how he captured one of the most recognizable still images of the twentieth century when he photographed the moment Jack Ruby fatally shot Lee Harvey Oswald. Free with paid admission to the museum.

Photo: Dallas Times Herald staff photograph

Historian and News Hour with Jim Lehrer commentator Ellen Fitzpatrick discusses and signs her new book, Letters to Jackie, the first book ever to examine the extraordinary collection of condolence messages sent to Jacqueline Kennedy after the death of her husband, President John F. Kennedy, in 1963. Fitzpatrick allows Americans to write their own history of that tumultuous time, capturing the eloquence of so-called ordinary Americans across generations, regions, race, political leanings and religion—in messages written on elegant stationery, scraps of paper, in pencil, type, ink smudged by tears and in barely legible handwriting.

Letters to Jackie will be available for purchase before and following the author's presentation. Free and open to the public. For reservations, call 214-747-6660, ext. 6623, or email programs@jfk.org.

Photo: Lisa Nugent

The Museum collection of approximately 35,000 items includes artifacts and photographs related to the November 1963 crime scene investigation at the Texas School Book Depository. The Museum's collections manager reveals exactly what was in the kit that belonged to Lt. Carl Day of the Dallas Police Crime Scene Search Unit. Free with paid admission to the museum.

Photo: William Allen, Dallas Times Herald Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

Offering a fun and engaging afternoon of whodunit, CSI Family Day is ideal for families with children 8 years and older or anyone who is interested in learning about crime investigation. Examine a mock crime scene and find clues at a variety of evidence stations, including fingerprints, hair, eyewitness testimony and document analysis.

Free with paid admission to the museum, CSI Family Day is presented in cooperation with the University of North Texas Forensic Science Club.

Explore the difficult relationship that existed at Dallas police headquarters between law enforcement officials and more than 300 journalists during the weekend of President John F. Kennedy's assassination. This presentation is told through the firsthand recollections of key participants and is presented by our oral historian. Free with paid admission to the museum.

Photo: Bill Winfrey Collection, Dallas Morning News/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

Use your detective skills to uncover the history and meaning behind items in the Museum's collection of 1960s teaching artifacts—a fun assortment of books, magazines, cameras, toys, clothing, newspapers, music and more! The Museum's curator of education leads this hands-on adventure. Free with paid admission to the Museum.

Photographs, oral histories and documents from the 1960s illustrate local aspects of the Civil Rights Movement and how the protests affected the city of Dallas.  Discover how the death of President John F. Kennedy, whose call for equality inspired millions, made an impact on local activists. This event marks the 47th anniversary of President Kennedy's televised national address on civil rights. Free with paid admission to the museum.

Photo: Dallas County Sheriff's Department Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

So, just how does a researcher gain access to the books, DVDs, oral histories and other materials in the Museum's new Reading Room?

Find out during this orientation led by our librarian. Everyone is welcome, but space is limited and advance reservations are required for this special opportunity. Please call 214-747-6660 or email programs@jfk.org. Free with paid admission to the Museum.

What do young people really think about the assassination of President Kennedy in November 1963, and how do they define his legacy? Just in time for the new school year, listen to this enlightening conversation that puts student voices on center stage! Free with paid admission to the museum.

Photo: Carpenter Middle School Students, Richardson ISD

On Friday, November 22, 1963, newspaper photographer Bob Jackson was assigned to take pictures of President Kennedy's visit to Dallas for The Dallas Times Herald. Learn how he covered one of the largest news events of the 20^th century. Free with paid admission to the museum. Repeat of February 12 program.

Photo: ©Bob Jackson

Gary Mack has been researching the Kennedy assassination since 1975, served as a consultant to the Museum during the planning stages in the early 1980s and joined the museum staff in 1994. Bring your questions—and theories—to this informal Q&A session. Free with paid admission to the museum.

President John F. Kennedy and Governor John Connally were rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital five minutes after the shooting. Approximately 48 hours later, accused assassin Lee Harvey Oswald died there after being gunned down in the basement of police headquarters. Find out more through physicians' notes, oral history accounts, hospital records and other unique materials from the Museum collections. Free with paid admission to the museum.

Photo:  Don Pyeatt Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

People all over the world created scrapbooks to commemorate President Kennedy's life and death, and a few of those scrapbooks are now part of the Museum collections. Get a rare glimpse at some of our treasures and learn how you can protect your own keepsakes! Free with paid admission to the museum.

Credit: Nick Ramsey Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza