Photo Source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1UwzbeWPK1I/UjOUglQnZrI/AAAAAAAAAvk/Jh5ftHM7Yrs/s1600/jfk_dealey-plaza.jpg
One of the most renowned spots in Dallas is unfortunately known for fateful reasons. On November 22nd, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was touring Texas as part of a re-election campaign when he was critically wounded from gunfire in Dealey Plaza, part of downtown Dallas. No matter if you are of the popular opinion that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone gunman or believe that there was an underlying conspiracy, the JFK assassination is something that is still widely discussed among people and an incredibly popular subject. Because of this, Dealey Plaza and the 6th floor museum are incredibly popular tourist attractions.
I myself am a huge history buff and it’s crazy to think that such an impactful event in our countries history happened right here in the metroplex. When you arrive in the plaza, you will most likely notice just how many people are there. There will probably be quite a few street vendors looking to sell JFK assassination dvds or other souvenirs that you’ll have to try and dodge so that you can get to the site. Directly to the right of Elm Street is the Texas School Book Depository Building where Oswald supposedly fired his shots at Kennedy. A chilling detail you will notice is the white X on Elm Street which marks the exact location that the President was first shot. Further up and to the right of this is the grassy knoll which is believed to have been the location of a second shooter during the assassination. What Dealey Plaza might lack in flash and excitement, it more than makes up for with its historical importance. I was able to truly imagine myself being there on that tragic day and it was a wonderful experience that I’m glad I was able to do.
After you are through exploring Dealey Plaza, I would recommend checking out the nearby School Book Depository building which houses the 6th Floor Museum. On the self-guided tour, you’ll be given a headset and walked through the life of President John F. Kennedy as well as describing the atmosphere of the nation in 1963 and the events which were taking place. A bonus is that you’ll be able to see the actual location where Oswald fired his shots from the building. It is an informative tour that will take you around 1.5 to 2 hours to complete if you take your time to view all the exhibits.
It is truly a chilling experience whether you are a fan of history like myself but even if you are not, I would highly suggest doing a little bit of reading to get some background on the events leading up to the assassination as well as the aftermath. Have a President shot in your city is not what any place wants to have associated with them, but the city of Dallas has done a masterful job to preserve the memory of JFK with the plaza still being the same as it was in 1963 and allowing the public to still flock there to see the site. Come to Dealey Plaza and see it for yourself, it is well worth your time to see this part of history.
Source: https://www.jfk.org Photo Source: https://dallasnews.imgix.net/x21-1024x768.jpg
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