Sixth Floor Museum Review (JFK Site)

Dallas has been forced to grapple with its association to the JFK assassination for decades. And nowhere in the city is this association stronger than the location of the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza.

Today, the building, despite its dark history, is one of the most notable tourist attractions in Dallas.

In this article, I’ll break down everything you’d want to know before visiting the Sixth Floor Museum, including giving you a taste of some of the major highlights in the museum.

What is the Sixth Floor Museum?

The Sixth Floor Museum is a museum located in the former Texas School Book Depository building where Lee Oswald was employed and allegedly shot former President John F Kennedy. The museum provides an overview of JFK’s legacy and thoroughly chronicles all of the events related to the assassination.

It is one of the top attractions in Dallas and takes about 1.5 hours to properly visit.

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Sixth Floor Museum
The Sixth Floor Museum, located in the former Texas School Book Depository building.

Where is the Sixth Floor Museum?

The museum is located at: 411 Elm St, Dallas, TX 75202.

When you visit the museum you’ll surely want to check out other sites like the grassy knoll, the “X,” and the JFK Memorial, which are all located right next to the museum or within a block or two.

Personally, I would recommend arriving about 45 minutes to an hour before the museum opens and checking out all of those sites so that you can see them before it gets too crowded.

If you’re interested in a full JFK itinerary that follows the footsteps of JFK during his visit to Fort Worth and Dallas as well as the places where Lee Oswald lived in Dallas, be sure to check out the ultimate guide to JFK assassination sites.

Did you know? The gun used in the Ronald Reagan assassination attempt was purchased on Elm Street only a mile down the road from the Sixth Floor Museum.

This “X” marks the spot where the fatal shot took place.

How do you access the Sixth Floor Museum?

Normal hours for the Sixth Floor Museum are 10am to 5pm.

The Sixth Floor Museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Here are what the prices were as of January 2022:

  • Adults $18
  • 65 and older: $16
  • Youth (6-18): $14
  • Under five: Free

I highly recommend that you purchase your tickets online well ahead of your visit because there is limited space and they do fill up.

In terms of how much time you need, give yourself about an hour and a half.

If you need to pay for parking there is a pretty good sized parking lot adjacent to the museum. Parking prices may vary but it cost us $12.

Currently, whenever you enter you will have your tickets scanned and then you’ll have to wait to go up an elevator. The line for the elevator can be a little slow because of social distancing.

Therefore, I would recommend that you start lining up at 9:45am if you can get there before it opens.

That way, you could be one of the first people in and explore the museum with little to no crowds.

Related: Hilton Fort Worth Review (Where JFK Spent His Last Night)

The entrance to the Sixth Floor Museum.

Sixth Floor Museum sites to see

There’s a lot to see in this unique museum but it’s not so big that it’s impossible to see everything in one visit. In many ways, I’d say it’s the perfect size for a museum of its kind.

But to help narrow things down and to avoid spoiling any surprises, I’ll just focus on eight key sites you want to check out in the museum.

Overview of JFK’s time and legacy

The beginning of the museum will outline the major social events and political climate of the 1960s and will give you an overview of the issues faced by JFK during his presidency.

Through interpretive panels, many photographs, and even original artifacts, you’ll get an overview of his campaign, what the Kennedy White House was like, and what some of his accomplishments were while in office.

Hopefully, you already have of a grasp on JFK as a president (since it helps to understand a lot of the conspiracy theories) but just in case you don’t the first section of the museum should help get you somewhat up to speed.

The sniper’s corner

The museum preserved the eerie window corner where Lee Oswald allegedly shot at the president three times from a half-open window.

They’ve arranged a barricade of cardboard boxes in such a way that the corner looks like it did on November 22, 1963, when law officers first searched the floor and discovered three shells and a rifle.

Although the corner is preserved on the other side of a glass partition, it’s a pretty powerful sight to behold, knowing that someone was perched here decades ago just waiting to take the life of the leader of the free world.

The window corner where Lee Oswald allegedly shot at the president.

Oswald’s wedding ring

The night before JFK was shot, Lee Oswald was staying the night at Ruth Paine’s house — a house museum you can still visit today.

Before leaving that day he left his wife his wedding ring along with some cash and then headed out with his rifle on the way to the Texas School Book Depository, where he had been employed since October 15, 1963.

Nobody knows exactly why he left the wedding ring as there are a few different explanations. But you can actually see the wedding ring on display at the museum.

The wedding ring is displayed in the clear column in the middle of the photo.

The place set

When JFK was shot he was on his way to the Dallas Trade Mart where he was supposed to attend a luncheon.

The place set that was waiting for him at the luncheon is on display, along with some other artifacts like an original luncheon invitation.

It’s one of those rare instances where boring, every day objects like salt and pepper shakers and saucer plates can evoke strong emotions as they transport you back in time and connect you to a tragic event.

It reminded me of seeing a piece of an airline seatbelt in the 9/11 exhibit at the New York State Museum. It was unexpectedly moving.

Assassination related exhibits

As you would probably expect coming to this museum, the entire assassination is well documented in various exhibits.

You’ll see complete timeline breakdowns of the events and really get a full understanding of how everything took place.

They present evidence and analysis of eyewitness testimony, forensic and ballistics, photographic and acoustical evidence, and even touch on some of the conspiracies.

It’s a very comprehensive experience worth taking your time to get through.

As someone who had read a lot of articles and watched plenty of documentaries on this, I was surprised at how many new things I learned.

I think it definitely helps to do a lot of research before you visit, though.

With all of the theories that circulate around this assassination, I’d suggest watching some documentaries and even videos from the Sixth Floor Museum YouTube channel.

It seems like every time I get a grasp on the events I learn something new that turns everything upside down but the museum does provide a solid framework for understanding the events of that day.

FBI model

One of the interesting exhibits is the FBI model of the shooting.

Initially, I thought this was just a model that the museum put together but then I looked into it and it actually has some really interesting history.

According to the museum:

The model was built by the FBI in 1964 to help investigate the Kennedy assassination and was also later used by the Warren Commission and the House Select Committee on Assassinations when they conducted their investigations.

Apparently, there are some very strict conditions for displaying this model with respect to the lighting and presentation and the museum has to work diligently to honor those.

The model is encased in special UV-filtered glass to help preserve it and I think they were doing an excellent job because the model looks pretty well preserved considering it is almost 60 years old.

FBI model JFK shooting
The model of the shooting built by the FBI in the 1960s.

7th floor

You’ll also want to take a moment to visit the seventh floor.

One of the interesting things to do is to check out the corner on the seventh floor that is directly above where Lee made his shots.

This will give you a nearly identical view of what he would’ve seen from the sniper’s perch.

In this wide open space, there’s also some artifacts from the building as it existed in the 60s and some interesting visuals that give you a sense of the growth that the Dealey Plaza area has experienced.

You’ll also want to check out the giant photomosaics of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy.

Initially, they look like large photographs but they are actually made up of tiny portraits of the opposite person.

So when you look at John F Kennedy, you’re actually looking at 50,000 tiny photos of Jacqueline Kennedy and vice versa. It’s a beautiful tribute.

The sniper’s vantage point as seen from the seventh floor.

Gift shop

You’ll eventually exit through the gift shop where you can find a lot of JFK memorabilia.

It seems like one of the popular souvenirs is the collection of replica old newspapers from the day after the assassination but you can find all sorts of JFK related items, including many different books.

Sixth Floor Museum FAQ

How long does the Sixth Floor Museum take to visit?

To avoid rushing, it’s recommended to give yourself 1.5 hours at the museum. However, you can experience most of what the museum has to offer in 45 minutes to an hour without having to rush too bad.

How far is the Sixth Floor Museum from DFW?

The Sixth Floor Museum is about a 25 minute car ride from DFW.

When did the Sixth Floor Museum open?

The Sixth Floor Museum opened on President’s Day 1989.

Final word

The Sixth Floor Museum is truly a well done venue.

It’s an extremely difficult task to tastefully preserve a building tied to such a tragic event.

But the museum has clearly gone to great lengths to make that happen and tell the story of these events in a way that is comprehensive and still respectful.

I would consider this a must visit attraction when in Dallas especially if you have any interest in the history of the assassination and JFK’s legacy.

Hilton Fort Worth Review (Historical JFK Hotel)

We recently set out to document and create in-depth guides for all of the key sites in the Dallas/Fort Worth area associated with the tragic death of John F Kennedy.

It seemed logical that we would start things off at the Hilton Fort Worth, which has a close connection to JFK’s last moments.

In this article, I’ll give you a breakdown of what to expect if you stay at the Hilton Fort Worth, including some insight into the connection the property shares with JFK.

Booking

We booked the Hilton Fort Worth not because it was easy *but because it was hahd*.

Okay, sorry, couldn’t resist.

We booked this hotel because it seemed like a necessary stay for our itinerary, which was set up for us to explore all of the sites in the DFW area associated with the Kennedy assassination.

We paid $156 for one night which I felt was a pretty good deal for this historic hotel.

It was also nice to earn nearly 10,000 Hilton Honors points from this stay thanks to Hilton Diamond elite status and a special promotion. At a valuation of .54 cents per point, that’s like getting back $53 on the stay or close to 20% back on the entire stay. Not bad.

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Location overview: Sundance Square 

The Hilton Fort Worth is located in Sundance Square, which is a pedestrian-friendly district right in the heart of downtown Fort Worth.

Surrounding the hotel, you’ll find a lot of dining options including many quality steakhouses such as: Ruth’s Chris Steak House, The Capital Grille, and Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse.

There are also a lot of shops and different forms of entertainment like theaters and concert venues. You’re also just a block away from the Fort Worth Convention Center.

In short, the hotel has a great central location for exploring Fort Worth.

History

Constructed from 1920 to 1921, the hotel is known for being the last place where JFK delivered a public speech and for being the location where he spent his last night before his assassination.

Although at the time of the assassination the hotel was under a different brand and name (the “Hotel Texas”), you’ll get a sense of that history throughout the entire property and even the surrounding block.

On every floor, you’ll find blown up photographs chronicling JFK’s last day, many if not all of them taken at the time of JFK’s visit to Fort Worth.

On the second floor of the hotel, you can find the historic Crystal Ballroom where JFK gave his last speech to the Chamber of Commerce and over 2,000 guests during breakfast.

Just before that event, JFK actually gave a speech outside the hotel to a crowd that gathered during a cold and rainy November morning.

It was apparently an impromptu speech that didn’t last long but that stole the hearts of many Texans there to catch a glimpse of the president.

To be honest, it was a bit chilling to take in the ballroom and impossible to not think about the last moments of JFK.

After he gave a speech in this ballroom, he would then make his way to the airport and then fly into Dallas Love where he would embark on his final motorcade through the city of Dallas.

Hilton Fort Worth Crystal ballroom

You can watch a video of the speech here:

In the corridors outside the ballroom, framed photographs and news clippings from the time of JFK’s fateful visit to Texas are on display.

Just outside the property, there is a well done tribute/memorial with a statue, engravings, and photographs that depict JFK’s legacy as well as his visit to DFW.

Hilton Fort Worth JFK Memorial

As for the actual room JFK stayed in (suite 850), the hotel has undergone renovations since 1963 and that room no longer exists.

However, if you head to the eighth floor and go to the rooms near 808 and 810 that is reportedly where the old suite JFK stayed in was located.

Hilton Fort Worth JFK room

Interestingly, when JFK stayed at the hotel, it supplied 14 works of art from famed artists like Picasso and Vincent van Gogh for the president to admire.

The Vincent van Gogh painting on display was an oil painting “Road with Peasant Shouldering a Spade” pictured below.

If you are willing to splurge, you can shell out a couple of grand to rent the JFK suite on the 15th floor.

We flirted with the possibility of splurging on this suite but when we called to inquire about booking it, it was already booked up for the weekend.

Check-in

We arrived around 5pm and decided to valet which would end up costing $32 for the night.

As we approached the front desk for check-in, we were greeted by some friendly hotel staff members who promptly got us situated for our room on the 10th floor.

We had been automatically upgraded and received notification about it a few days prior thanks to the new upgrade system Hilton is doing.

After getting checked in, we scoped out the lobby which was a nice and open area, complete with chandelier lighting and a café.

The large star found on the floor in the middle of the lobby reminded me a lot of the big star at the Hyatt Regency in Dallas.

There is a mini-market area near the check-in desk which has a cool self check out system allowing you to easily put items on your room tab.

The room 

As we entered the room, I was impressed by how spacious it was. From a square foot perspective, this room is basically a junior suite without any partition.

The king bed was pretty comfortable and all of the bedding appeared to be very clean.

On either side of the bed we had lamps with power outlets but no USB ports.

There was a sofa with a (misaligned) coffee table in front of it and behind that, were some pretty good views looking out at downtown Fort Worth.

The room had a pretty basic workstation area with a couple of outlets accessible on the lamp.

The room did have one of the air purification systems called Pure Wellness. It caused the room to have a very strong scent which to be honest was a bit overwhelming and took a while to get adjusted to.

I guess it was nice to think about how clean the air was in the room but I could have done without it due to the strong scent.

While I loved that the room was big, it did mean that the TV was extra far away from the bed.

Underneath the TV is where you’ll find the mini-fridge and also the hotel coffee maker.

As for the bathroom area, the sink is detached from the toilet and shower room. It offers a good amount of counter space and a square vanity mirror, which I have rarely seen.

It’s a interesting little set up because there is a little nook behind the sink which had some decent views out the window.

The shower was pretty spacious and modern and we did not have any issues with water pressure or soap dispensaries.

The only complaint about the bathroom is that the toilet and shower were very close together, making it a pretty tight fit.

Breakfast

The dining area for breakfast was very spacious and offered a lot of seating options. During other hours of the day you can also grab drinks and other snacks or meals in this area.

Due to our elite status we were given two $12 credits for a total of $24 in food and beverage credits. Breakfast was about $21 per person so this meant we were spending about $9 per person out of pocket for breakfast.

I don’t think this breakfast was worth close to $21 per person but because we were only coming out of pocket $9, I was able to live with the price a lot easier.

With that said, the breakfast did have a pretty good range of options including fresh fruit.

For hot options they had eggs, home fries, bacon, and even biscuits and gravy.

The scrambled eggs were about what you would expect for a hotel breakfast but the bacon was actually surprisingly good.

I was pretty excited to see biscuits and gravy at a hotel breakfast but unfortunately those did not impress.

They also had some other standard options like oatmeal, toast, bagels, muffins, and cereal. I personally enjoyed the muffins.

The hotel also has a fitness center which looked pretty high-quality to me.

Final word

The Hilton Fort Worth is a hotel rich in history and worth staying at especially if you have any affinity for JFK or presidential history.

For the price point, I thought the hotel was actually a pretty great deal especially with all of the Hilton promotions we took advantage of.

Overall, I was not crazy about the breakfast but I really liked the general location of the hotel and did thoroughly enjoy immersing myself in history even if the history was on the tragic side.