The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

The Brother and I checked out The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza when we were in Dallas. It was walking distance from our hotel and it's something everyone should check out at least once. If you go, be sure to do the audio tour. It's really well done and they don't charge any extra for it (entry is $18).

You are literally on the sixth floor of the former Texas School Book Depository Building (now the Dallas County Administration Building). The corner where Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots that killed President John F. Kennedy is sectioned off by plexiglass walls, but the rest of the floor is home to the museum.

Despite the horrific history of the place, the museum is really well done and I'm glad I went. In addition to providing a history of the Kennedy presidency leading up to the assassination, as well as the aftermath, the museum has some amazing artifacts. Check it out:

It was supposed to be a charmed period for America. You know, Camelot:

Hmmm, sounds kinda familiar:

An invitation to the luncheon at the Dallas Trade Mart. The presidential caravan was on its way when Oswald changed history:

The President and First Lady making their way through Dallas:

And then:

That's the window:

The view from the sixth floor:

Some of the artifacts:

This is the actual place setting that was awaiting the President at the Trade Mart:

That iconic photo:

The aftermath:

A model showing the trajectory of the shots fired:

On the street below (Elm Street), there are X's on the pavement where Oswald's bullets hit:

On the far right is our hotel (The Hyatt Regency Dallas) and Reunion Tower from out in front of the museum:

Because I was traveling, I skipped the bookstore part of the gift shop because I knew I would run wild. I already had four books from Bouchercon and was concerned about getting everything in the suitcase. Unfortunately, the Sixth Floor Museum gift shop is not online, but I was told it will be in the near future. I'm looking forward to that.