Kennedy Compound

Kennedy Compound
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark District
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
The Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts in 2021
Kennedy Compound Show map of Cape Cod Kennedy Compound Show map of Massachusetts
Location	50 Marchant Avenue Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, U.S.
Coordinates	41°37′47.928″N 70°18′8.4954″W / 41.62998000°N 70.302359833°W / 41.62998000; -70.302359833
Area	6 acres (24,000 m²)
Built	1904
Architectural style	Clapboard
Part of	Hyannis Port Historic District (ID87000259)
NRHP reference No.	72001302[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	November 28, 1972
Designated NHLD	November 28, 1972
Designated CP	November 10, 1987

The Kennedy Compound consists of three houses on six acres (2.4 hectares) of waterfront property in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts on Cape Cod.^[2][3] It was once the home of Joseph P. Kennedy Sr., an American businessman, 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.^[4]

Purchased in 1928, the compound became the place that the Kennedy family most associated with home.^[5][6]

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.^[7]

In 1926, Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. rented a summer cottage at 50 Marchant Avenue in Hyannis Port. Two years later, he purchased the structure, which had been erected in 1904, and enlarged and remodeled it to suit his growing family's needs.^[8] In and around this house, their nine children spent their summers and early autumns,^[9] acquiring a lifelong interest in sailing and other competitive activities.^[10] The Kennedys previously spent their summers at a cottage on Nantasket Beach in Hull, Massachusetts (where Joseph Jr. was born in 1915).^[11][12] In the mid-1920s, the Kennedys explored purchasing a home in Cohasset, Massachusetts, but when Joe Sr. applied for membership at the exclusive Cohasset Country Club, he was blackballed. Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin wrote that in Cohasset, "Irish Catholics were still looked down upon by the reigning Protestant (WASP) establishment."^[13] Joe Sr., who had connections with the members at the Hyannisport Golf Club, was accepted in spite of it being another "Yankee stronghold."^[14][15] It was a deciding factor for Joe Sr. to purchase a house in the seaside village.^[16] In 1941, the Hyannis Port home became the family's primary (legal) residence.^[17]

In 1956, John bought a smaller home of his own at 111 Irving Avenue,^{(41°37′51″N 70°18′13″W / 41.6308°N 70.3035°W / 41.6308; -70.3035)} not far from his father's home. In 1959, Edward acquired the residence at 28 Marchant Avenue ^{(41°37′48″N 70°18′11″W / 41.63°N 70.303°W / 41.63; -70.303)} adjacent to the other two, but in 1961 sold it to Robert and his wife Ethel. Edward lived in the main house at the compound until his death.^[18]

All three buildings are white, frame, clapboard structures typical of vacation residences on Cape Cod. Except for specific occasions at the Main House, the buildings are not available for public visitation.

Joseph Sr.'s home, the Main House and the largest of the three, is surrounded by well-tended lawns and gardens and it commands sweeping views of Nantucket Sound from its long porches.

On the main floor are a living room, dining room, sun room, television room, kitchen, various pantries, utility rooms and the bedroom that John used before he purchased his own house in the compound.

On the second floor are six bedrooms, a sewing room, packing room, and four servants' bedrooms. The house has a full attic.

The basement contains a motion-picture theater and a hall covered with dolls from all around the world. The dolls^[19] belonged to Joseph Sr. and were gifted to him from a number of different acquaintances during his time as the 44th US Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

The house has changed little, either structurally or in furnishings, since President Kennedy's association with it.

In 2012, the main house was donated by the Kennedy family to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. On the grounds are an enclosed swimming pool, tennis court, a four-car garage, and two guest houses.

There are two circular driveways with flagpoles standing in the middle, a boathouse and several large stretches of lawn area where many of the family touch football games were played.

Other parcels of land that assorted members of the family have purchased remain as well-tended as those of the more prominent homes.

• List of National Historic Landmarks in Massachusetts
• List of residences of presidents of the United States
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Barnstable County, Massachusetts

•  This article incorporates public domain material from "Kennedy Compound". The Presidents. National Park Service.

• Knight, Wendy (August 18, 2006). "A Harbor Full of History and Sea Lore on Cape Cod". The New York Times. Retrieved August 29, 2009.