JFK, 60 years later: A portrait of Dallas’ darkest day

Sixty years later, it’s still the darkest stain on Dallas’ history.

On Friday, Nov. 22, 1963, after a breakfast in Fort Worth and a short flight to Love Field, President John F. Kennedy traveled through downtown on his way to a luncheon at the Dallas Trade Mart.

His motorcade reached Dealey Plaza and was driving past the Texas School Book Depository at 12:30 p.m. when he was shot. He was pronounced dead at Parkland Hospital just over an hour later.

Dallas’ darkest moment

Touch to see witness recollections and key points

When I was a kid I read the Nov 29, 1963 LIFE magazine front to back, studying the stories, the sadness and the poignantly respectful design. One day I decided to chop it up and create a collage from contents of that single issue.

Michael Granberry told a fascinating behind-the-scenes story of what has been called ‘the most important home movie in history.’ This short video describes it:

The Zapruder film: A Chronology

Video from the day

Touch images for video clips

Touch highlighted areas to read more:

Here’s how Kennedy’s 60s-era Lincoln limo compares with a more modern presidential Cadillac limo: