John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site (Additional Documentation)
Why it's listed
Located at 83 Beals Street in Brookline, Massachusetts, this 2-1/2 story, nine-room frame house was built between 1908 and 1909 by Robert M. Goode. It has a stone foundation, an asphalt-shingled gabled roof, double-hung windows and a center hall with staircase. Joseph P. Kennedy bought it in 1914 in anticipation of his marriage to Rose Fitzgerald, and the couple lived there until 1921, adding a bay window to the dining room. John F. Kennedy, the future 35th President, was born in a second-floor bedroom in May 1917. After various private owners, the family repurchased the house in 1966, and Mrs. Joseph P. Kennedy supervised its restoration and refurnishing in 1966 and 1967. It is furnished as it appeared in 1917, though most furnishings are not original. Brookline placed a plaque on it in 1961, and it became a National Historic Landmark in 1965 and a National Historic Site in 1967. Its significance rests on the President's birth there.
Significance in brief: The house is significant as the birthplace of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, born there in May 1917. The form states that little else of importance happened while the family lived there, and that the birth is its only significance. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965 and a National Historic Site in 1967.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 67000001, listed May 26, 1967. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 83 Beals St., Brookline |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | May 26, 1967 |
| Reference number | 67000001 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 20th Century |
| Architect / builder | Robert M. Goode (builder) |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated July 19, 1964 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent, unaltered condition, on its original site; furnished as in May 1917 and used as a museum and park, after restoration in 1966-1967. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.34695, -71.12324 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 67000001.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q3181502
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.