John F Kennedy National Historic Site

Streetcar Suburbs

LoginSave

Four of the nine Kennedy children were born and raised in this modest house, including Jack, who was born in the master bedroom in 1917. Matriarch Rose Kennedy oversaw the restoration of the house in the late 1960s; today her narrative sheds light on the Kennedy's family life. Guided tours allow visitors to see furnishings, photographs and mementos that have been preserved from the time the family lived here.

A self-guided walking tour of the surrounding neighborhood sets the scene for the Kennedy family’s day-to-day life, including church, school and shopping.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Baseball game in Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts.

    Fenway Park

    1.35 MILES

    Home of the Boston Red Sox since 1912, Fenway Park is the oldest operating baseball park in the country. As such, the park has many quirks that make for a…

  • Elevated view, Lowell House, Harvard Square, Harvard University and Charles River.

    Harvard University

    1.99 MILES

    America's oldest college, Harvard University is one of the country's most prestigious universities. It was originally founded in Harvard Yard in 1636 by…

  • Museum of Science

    Museum of Science

    3.07 MILES

    The educational playground that is the Museum of Science has more than 600 interactive exhibits. Favorites include the world’s largest lightning-bolt…

  • Minute Man National Historic Park

    Minute Man National Historic Park

    10.27 MILES

    The route that British troops followed to Concord has been designated the Minute Man National Historic Park. The visitor center at the eastern end of the…

  • Punto Urban Art Museum

    Punto Urban Art Museum

    16.81 MILES

    If you walk south on Lafayette from Derby St, you'll find yourself on the other side of the tracks (or river, in this case). Welcome to El Punto, or ‘The…

  • Harvard Yard

    Harvard Yard

    1.95 MILES

    Harvard University was originally founded here in 1636, and Harvard Yard remains the historic and geographic heart of the university campus. Flanked by…

  • DeCordova Sculpture Park & Museum

    DeCordova Sculpture Park & Museum

    11.2 MILES

    The magical DeCordova Sculpture Park encompasses 35 acres of green hills, providing a spectacular natural environment for a constantly changing exhibit of…

  • 500px Photo ID: 14084519 -

    Institute of Contemporary Art

    4.18 MILES

    Boston has become a focal point for contemporary art in the 21st century, with the Institute of Contemporary Art leading the way. The building is a work…

View more attractions

Nearby Streetcar Suburbs attractions

1. Mugar Memorial Library

0.89 MILES

The special collections of BU’s Mugar Memorial Library are housed in the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, an outstanding 20th-century archive that…

2. Fenway Park

1.35 MILES

Home of the Boston Red Sox since 1912, Fenway Park is the oldest operating baseball park in the country. As such, the park has many quirks that make for a…

3. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

1.38 MILES

Once home to Isabella Stewart Gardner, this splendid palazzo now houses her exquisite collection of art. The museum includes thousands of artistic objects…

4. MassArt Bakalar & Paine Galleries

1.4 MILES

MassArt is the country’s first and only four-year independent public art college. There's always some thought-provoking or sense-stimulating exhibits to…

5. Citgo Sign

1.45 MILES

London has Big Ben, Paris has the Eiffel Tower and Boston has the Citgo sign. It’s an unlikely landmark in this high-minded city, but Bostonians love the…

7. Back Bay Fens

1.59 MILES

The Back Bay Fens, or the Fenway, follows the Muddy River, an aptly named creek that is choked with tall reeds. The Fens features well-cared-for community…

8. Museum of Fine Arts

1.6 MILES

Founded in 1876, the Museum of Fine Arts is Boston's foremost art museum. The museum covers all parts of the globe and all eras, from the ancient world to…