John F. Kennedy
We spoke with Wendy K. Northcross, executive director of the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum, about her longstanding leadership at the museum, its mission of sharing Cape Cod stories of President Kennedy and his family, and why JFK still inspires visitors. Wendy, tell us about your background and career, and how you came to lead…
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood draws visitors from right down the street and also from across the globe. For some visitors, it is a school class trip to learn about Boston’s most famous native son and 35th president of the United States. For others, the visit is a…
BRIDGET’S – AN IRISH TRADITION88 West Main Street, Norton Since 1987, the mother-daughter duo, Bridget Daly and Lorraine Ryan, have specialized in authentic hand-made Irish clothing such as sweaters, caps and shawls, the shop also sells Celtic jewelry and imported sweets and teas from Ireland + home-made brown bread, perfect gifts for seasonal holidays, special…
Since it opened in 1979, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum at Columbia Point in Dorchester has welcomed millions of visitors from around the world. They come here to be inspired by and to learn more about one of America’s most beloved presidents, Boston native John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th president of the…
The John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum on Cape Cod has an exciting new exhibit entitled Paul Ryan’s 1960s, a collection from the acclaimed Boston photographer whose worked captured the zeitgeist of a generation. From Robert Kennedy skiing with family in Sun Valley to jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonius Monk at Monterey Jazz Festival, and…
Visitors to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum come from all over the world to be inspired and to remember one of America’s most beloved presidents, Boston native John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the JFK Library sits on a 10-acre site overlooking Boston Harbor…
The next time you visit Cape Cod, make a special stop at the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum. The wonderful museum on bustling Main Street pays homage to President Kennedy and his deep connection to Cape Cod, where he spent magical summers with his parents, siblings and cousins in his youth and later with his…
The reimagined Omni Parker House, one of America’s most beloved icons, is being unveiled this summer leading up to the historic hotel’s 170th anniversary. Located in the heart of downtown Boston, the Omni Parker House is an unwavering testament to the city’s storied past. With meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to preserving its legacy, the Boston landmark is…
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum is one of Boston’s most popular destinations, and welcomes local residents, school classes, convention groups and visitors from around the world to come and be inspired. Open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the JFK Library sits on a 10-acre site overlooking Boston…
The Omni Parker House has been a timeless icon in the city of Boston since 1855, quickly becoming part of the city’s very fabric. In the 19th century it was a gathering place for literary geniuses such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Charles Dickens. In the 20th century, Irish-American politicians such as James M. Curley…
The John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum is the ideal place to learn about the legacy of President Kennedy and his deep connection to Cape Cod, where he spent magical summers with the Kennedy family and with his wife and children. Located on Main Street in downtown Hyannis, the museum has ongoing exhibits such as “Presidential…
Acclaimed actress, author, and model Bridget Moynahan is the 2025 recipient of the John F. Kennedy National Award, issued annually by the St. Patrick’s Committee of Holyoke, MA. The prestigious award is bestowed each year to Americans of Irish descent who have distinguished themselves in their chosen career and who demonstrates the values of family, faith and community…
Tip O’Neill Bust in Buncrana, photo courtesy of Visit Donegal Legendary politician Thomas P. ‘Tip’ O’Neill, one of the most impactful politicians of American politics in the 20th century, died on January 5, 1994 at his home in Harwichport, Cape Cod. He was 81. Born in North Cambridge on December 9, 1912, he was the son…
American naval hero of the Revolutionary War, Commodore John Barry died on September 13, 1803. He is buried at Old Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Philadelphia, PA. Considered one of the true military heroes of the American Revolution, Barry was born in Tacumshane, County Wexford on March 25, 1745. At age 15, he emigrated to Philadelphia in 1760, and…
President John F. Kennedy’s visit to Ireland on June 26-29, 1963 was later described by his siblings as one of the most memorable and cherished parts of his presidency. Kennedy visited his ancestral family in Wexford and Limerick, and also stopped in Dublin, Cork and Galway. The trip was widely covered by the international media…
The family of President John F. Kennedy has deep roots in Massachusetts, dating to 1848, when all eight of JFK’s eight great-grandparents arrived in Boston, escaping the Irish Famine that was devastating Ireland. From Boston, Cambridge and Brookline to beautiful Cape Cod and the cities of Springfield and Holyoke in western Massachusetts, the Kennedy legacy…
The Massachusetts State House has a number of beautiful and rare works of art and artifacts relating to the Irish-American experience, and is a featured stop along Boston’s Irish Heritage Trail. The incredible collection of art and artifacts is maintained and curated by the State House Art Commission. Here is just a selection of items worth…
It is a one-day event that takes a year to plan, a gift of love to the city from the community, a joyous celebration of heritage and pride, an offer to venture outside and brave the elements while welcoming spring. The Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade is all of that and more. Launched in 1952, Holyoke consistently…
United States President Jimmy Carter joined numerous elected officials, political dignitaries and members of the Kennedy family to formally dedicate the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum at Columbia Point in Boston on October 20, 1979, before seven thousand people. In addition to President Carter, participants at the ceremony included Caroline Bouvier Kennedy, John…
On August 7, 1961, President John F. Kennedy used 22 pens to sign into law the Cape Cod National Seashore. The new park, covering forty miles of beaches, ponds, marshes and uplands, created a permanent place for people to enjoy one of the nation’s great natural resources, while preventing the commercial development of the land that would have…
She may be gone but she is certainly not forgotten. Rose Kennedy Fitzgerald (1890-1995), who held the Kennedy family together through tragedy and triumph for much of the 20th century, is permanently enshrined along Boston’s waterfront. Born in Boston’s North End, Rose was the daughter of Boston’s gregarious Mayor John “Honey Fitz” Fitzgerald and Mary Josephine Hannon. The mother of President John F. Kennedy,…
The public fascination with the Kennedy children during the John F. Kennedy administration was a world-wide phenomenon that tapped into pop culture and the advent of television during the 1960s. This special exhibit at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum in Boston examines this phenomenon in detail. First Children: Caroline and John Jr. in…
In one of his final acts as Mayor of Boston, James Michael Curley dedicated a bronze memorial on Boston Common to Revolutionary War hero Commodore John Barry, on October 16, 1949. A few weeks later, Curley lost his final bid for re-election to a fifth term as mayor, losing to John B. Hynes. Barry, a naval…
THE IRISH came bearing gifts on March 17, 1961, John F. Kennedy’s first St. Patrick’s Day in the White House. It’s a practice that has spanned 50+ years to this day. Online digital archives at John F. Kennedy Presidential Library which have been recently made available to the public, contain a wealth of information on President Kennedy’s…
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