Museum The Kennedys

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John F. Kennedy has been a legend in the German capital since he spoke the words "Ich bin ein Berliner" in a speech in 1963. The Kennedys takes a very personal look at America's 35th President. The main display is of photographs, but you will also find documents and personal items such as his suit and briefcase. This exhibition also covers other members of the family: his wife and First Lady Jackie and his brother, Robert, who was also assassinated. Museum The Kennedys explores political success and the President's private life, following the American Dream through to the presidential election and his assassination.

Discover the Kennedys in the former Jewish Girls' School building

The organisation behind The Kennedys is CAMERA WORK, a group which in 2004 puts on their first exhibition about the Kennedys to positive acclaim. CAMERA WORK goes on to open a permanent display about the family in Pariser Platz, and in 2012 the museum moves into part of the former Jewish Girls' School. Explore the long, white and light-flooded corridors of the school, and experience the displays in the former classrooms where the walls are decorated with photographs. The main theme is John F. Kennedy's visit to Germany, but the museum also covers the myth of the American Dream and his presidential election campaign. Alongside the photographs sit some political and more mundane objects: historic books and original documents are displayed in glass cabinets. Some more personal objects include JFK's trademark handmade designer suits and bags. Film footage is projected onto the wall on an endless loop. The museum's collection also covers other members of the Kennedy family; JFK's wife Jackie, his younger brother, Robert, and the rest of the First Family. Find out about their life in the spotlight.

Museum highlights

• John F. Kennedy's black Hermès briefcase
• JFK's documents, including his Harvard thesis titled "Why England Slept"
• 1960s film footage which is projected onto the walls
• Private and professional photographs of the Kennedy family
• Campaigning posters from the Presidential election

Berlin's Mitte art gallery

Alongside the museum The Kennedys, CAMERA WORK runs another gallery in the school building. The CWC Gallery has a regularly changing programme of exhibitions of contemporary art featuring sculpture, photography and paintings in a minimalist and elegant space. Temporary exhibitions showcase the best of contemporary art, for example, the close-up star portraits by Martin Schoeller or Marc Sijan's sculptures. The Collectors Room also looks at the very cutting edge of the contemporary art world. It has a glass facade and contains several exhibition rooms, a café and shop. Take a look at quality work from various different artistic collections. In the "Chamber of Wonders" look at a collection of art, scientific instruments and bizarre or exciting items from the Renaissance and Baroque periods such as a coconut cup belonging to Alexander von Humboldt and a taxidermy Nile crocodile.

Our tips for your visit to museum The Kennedys

Take the S-Bahn line S1, S2 or S25 or Oranienburger Strasse, and from there it's just seconds to the Kennedys exhibition. Alternatively, take the U6 underground line to Oranienburger Tor. If you have a Berlin WelcomeCard, you will get 30% off the admission price. For groups, guided tours can be arranged and a reduced price applies for groups over 10 people. Workshops are also run for school groups, details of which can be found on the museum website.

Opening hours