Image of a scale model of the John F. Kennedy Memorial in Dallas, Texas
Renowned American architect Philip Johnson's design is a cenotaph, or "open tomb," that symbolizes the freedom of John F. Kennedy's spirit. The memorial, a square, roofless room, 30 feet high and 50 by 50 feet wide, sits in the middle of the block with narrow openings facing north and south.
Eight columns extend to the ground, acting as legs that seem to hold up the monument. Each column ends in a light fixture. At night, the lights create the illusion that the light itself supports the structure. These vertical elements, rigorously separated from each other and individually poured, seem held together by an unseen, invisible force. The architect once called it a "magnetic force" and suggested a connection to the charisma of the living John F. Kennedy.
Visitors enter the room to face a low-hewn granite square in which the name "John F. Kennedy" is carved. The letters are painted gold to capture the light from the white floating column walls and the pale concrete floor. These words are the only written message in the empty room, as the space was intended for reflection and remembrance. - Stephen Fagin, Curator
