Management

About the Park

Date Authorized: May 26, 1967 (Public Law 90-20)
Superintendent: Jason Newman
Phone: [phone]

Laws & Policies

Laws and policies that govern the site include federal and National Park Service laws and regulations, and other policies in the Superintendent's Compendium.

Special Use Permits are required to do certain activities at John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site.

Mission & Significance of the Park

The National Park Service is committed to preserving John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site, the birthplace and early childhood home of the 35th president of the United States. It was here, in the first home shared by the future president's parents, that Joseph and Rose Kennedy cultivated and instilled in their children the family's principles, skills, aspirations, and ambitions.

 

Park Planning Documents

The site's 2015 Foundation Document (PDF, 1.9 MB) provides basic guidance for planning and management decisions.

As part of our planning process, the National Park Service has done several studies about the Kennedy family and the landscape of Beals Street. These studies are available by request.

 

NPS

Cultural Landscape Report

In 2013, the park completed a Cultural Landscape Report. This report details the history of the greater Brookline area landscapes with a special focus on 83 Beal Street, the president's birthplace. Brookline's function as a streetcar suburb is described in detail, as well as new research on the home's transition from private residence to National Historic Site. Highlights of the report include detailed neighborhood maps showing changes in street design and structures over time as well many never-before-seen photographs of 83 Beals Street from 1914 to the present day. Contact the site for a copy of this report.

 

NPS

Historic Resource Study

In 2007, the park completed a Historic Resource Study. The study places the Kennedy family's experiences and attitudes while living in Brookline in the historical context of the 1900s. This context offers insight into the social identities of the Kennedy family, life at home and the character of Brookline. The study concludes with an overview of how the home at 83 Beals Street transformed from a private residence to a National Historic Site and thoughtfully considers the process of memorialization. Contact the site for a copy of this report.