The Sixth Floor Museum occupies the sixth floor of the Dallas County Administration Building, formerly the Texas School Book Depository. The museum chronicles the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, which took place on November 22, 1963, from the very window from which the shots were fired. The museum combines archives, photographs, period films and testimonies to place the event within its political and social context.

Why visit the Sixth Floor Museum

Few American museums document such a well-documented event while standing on the actual site. You observe Dealey Plaza from the presumed vantage point of the shooter, giving a topographical dimension to an account previously known only through images. The museum is also one of the few to present in a balanced manner both the official version and alternative theories, drawing from public archives.

The visit will particularly interest travelers curious about 20th-century American history, the Kennedy years, the Cold War and the civil rights movement. It is one of the most visited stops in Dallas.

History of the building

The building was constructed in 1901 and long served as a warehouse for schoolbooks under the name Texas School Book Depository. On November 22, 1963, as the presidential motorcade passed through Dealey Plaza, multiple shots were fired from the sixth floor. Kennedy was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where his death was announced shortly after.

The official investigation, conducted notably by the Warren Commission, identified Lee Harvey Oswald, an employee of the depository at the time, as the shooter. A second investigation, conducted by the House Select Committee on Assassinations in the late 1970s, reached partially divergent conclusions that continue to fuel debate.

The building continued to serve as a warehouse before being abandoned in 1970. Dallas County purchased it in 1977 to house its administrative offices. After an extended period of community reflection, the museum opened in 1989 on the sixth floor, a space that had remained unoccupied since the tragedy.

What to see at the Sixth Floor Museum

The exhibition is organized chronologically and thematically, with an audio guide available in multiple languages included in the ticket price.

The context of the 1960s

The first section of the exhibition places the Kennedy administration within its era: the Cold War, the Cuban missile crisis, racial tensions, early major civil rights legislation, the space race. Photographs, television newscasts and campaign posters give a concrete reading of America at the time.

The day of November 22, 1963

An hour-by-hour recreation follows the presidential motorcade from Love Field airport to Dealey Plaza. Amateur films, including the famous Zapruder film, radio recordings and testimonies from direct witnesses accompany the visitor.

The sixth-floor window

The observation point from which the shots were fired is preserved behind glass, in its original configuration, with reproduced original boxes. You see Elm Street from the same angle as Oswald, which constitutes the most striking moment of the visit.

Official investigations and theories

An entire section is devoted to the investigations that followed: findings from the Warren Commission, work of the House Select Committee on Assassinations, alternative hypotheses. The museum presents the material without judgment, based on declassified archives.

Temporary exhibitions

The museum regularly programs temporary exhibitions around Kennedy, 1960s media, photojournalism or the memory of the event.

Practical information

• Address: 411 Elm Street, Dallas, TX
• Visit duration: plan for 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on your interest in details
• Audio guide: included in the ticket, available in English
• Admission: moderate rates, with reductions for seniors and youth and free entry for young children; check current conditions on the official website
• Reservation: recommended online, especially during peak season and weekends
• Photography: prohibited inside the permanent exhibition, allowed from the seventh floor and outdoors

When to visit

The museum is open several days a week, typically in the morning and early afternoon. Crowds are lighter at opening on weekday mornings. Avoid November 22, when attendance is very heavy on Dealey Plaza. Spring and fall are the most pleasant times to combine your visit with a walk through the West End neighborhood.

How to get there

The museum is located in downtown Dallas at the corner of Elm Street and Houston Street. Several access options:

• DART Light Rail: West End Station, a 5-minute walk away, is served by the Red, Blue, Green and Orange lines
• On foot: from most Downtown hotels, plan for 10 to 20 minutes
• By car: several paid parking lots are available around Dealey Plaza; traffic and parking can be challenging on weekdays

Nearby attractions

The West End neighborhood concentrates several sites of interest within walking distance:

• Dealey Plaza: the plaza itself, designated a National Historic Landmark, with ground markings indicating impact points
• Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum: a few blocks away, dedicated to the Holocaust and human rights
• Old Red Museum: the former Dallas County courthouse in red sandstone, which traces the city's history
• Dallas Museum of Art: major art institution about a twenty-minute walk into the Arts District
• Reunion Tower: observation tower with a viewing platform, for an overview of Downtown
• Klyde Warren Park: urban park built over a highway, with food trucks and events

Frequently asked questions

Extend the experience

The Sixth Floor Museum naturally fits into a broader Texas itinerary mixing history, cities and wide open spaces. To plan your custom trip, explore our travel ideas for the États-Unis and combine Dallas with other stops such as Fort Alamo in San Antonio, the Bullock Museum in Austin or Cadillac Ranch on Route 66.