National Historic Landmark

Kennedy Compound

Hyannis Port, Barnstable County, Massachusetts
Listed
November 28, 1972
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
72001302

About this property

The Kennedy Compound consists of three houses on six acres (2.4 hectares) of waterfront property in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. It was once the home of Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., an American businessman, philanthropist, investor, and diplomat; his wife, Rose; and their nine children, including U.S. President and Senator John F. Kennedy and U.S. Senators Robert F. Kennedy and Edward M. Kennedy. As an adult, the youngest son, Edward, lived in his parents' house, and it was his primary residence from 1982 until he died of brain cancer at the compound, in August 2009. Purchased in 1928, the compound became the place that the Kennedy family associated most with home. John F. Kennedy used the compound as a base for his successful 1960 U.S. presidential campaign and later as a "Summer White House" and presidential retreat. In 2012, the main house was donated to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate.

Location

Hyannis Port, Barnstable County, Massachusetts
41.63008, -70.30210

Categories

POLITICS/GOVERNMENT
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Hyannis Port Historic District
Listed
0.1 mi
Chase, Lemuel B., House
Industrial
0.6 mi
Crocker, Lot, House
Industrial
0.9 mi
Crocker, Capt. Alexander, House
Industrial
0.9 mi
Hinckley, S. Alexander, House
Industrial
1.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Kennedy Compound listed on the National Register?

Kennedy Compound was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 28, 1972.

What type of historic resource is Kennedy Compound?

Kennedy Compound is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Kennedy Compound a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Kennedy Compound has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Kennedy Compound?

The period of significance for Kennedy Compound is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Kennedy Compound?

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