Destination Dallas: Dealey Plaza

Traveling to Dallas?

  

       Traveling and having a new experience in an unfamiliar place doesn't have to be on the beach or does it require a passport.  There are so many adventures waiting to happen in sometimes unexpected places.  Whether it is family vacation to visit family, a busy professional's weekday destination or a "staycation" for the family who can't afford to travel farther, Dallas is home to many world class restaurants, museums, and sports.  There is something here for everyone.

The History

One location that is often forgotten about is Dealey Plaza.  Dealey Plaza is located in downtown Dallas less than a mile east of I-35 E.  Dealey Plaza is a monument that commemorates the President and has an amazing history that Americans are taught about in school.  Sadly it was the place where one of the most beloved presidents was murdered.  President John F. Kennedy was traveling through the city in a convertible limousine and was hit by gunshots allegedly fired by Lee Harvey Oswald.  The assassin was in the Texas School Book Depository adjacent to Dealey Plaza.  The President was hit in front of the Grassy Knoll, a sloping hill that is most recognizable by the Bryan pergola.  After the shooting, Oswald fled to The Texas Theater in Oak Cliff, where he was arrested.

 Dealey Plaza Today

When visiting Dealey Plaza, there is only a small plaque that exists in the Plaza, reminding visitors of the horrible event that occurred there.  Visitors come to the Plaza on a daily basis to see the places our history books described on that day.  The Sixth Floor Museum was built in the same building that Oswald fired his rifle and has exhibits that celebrate the life of JFK, as well as educate patrons of the events that unfolded.  

The Legacy

When talking to residents about their opinions of the area, older residents remember everything that happened.  They remember what the anchors said, they remember their parents crying, they remember being scared, and they remember being glued to the television, craving more information.  The only thing they can compare the experience to is 9/11.  They said the country was at a standstill as they worried about the condition of JFK, then later, mourned the loss.  

I went to the newly renovated Bishop Arts District after visiting Dealey Plaza and sat at bar that was an old house renovated house on Beckley Ave.  I told one of the regulars what I was doing and he said, "Do you know, that house right there, that was the house that Lee Harvey Oswald lived in, he lived right there!"

Little has changed since the assassination, but that is on purpose.  The city voted on expenditures to restore Dealey Plaza to its condition in 1963. What makes this a place that must be visited in Dallas is the fact that so many people have stories to tell about that day and actually love sharing that history.

Follow this event on Twitter at #DealeyPlaza917