November 22, 1963 is a day that many of the younger generations are not familiar with. But here we are 50 years later, and that date still strikes a chord with our country. It was on this day that President John F Kennedy was assassinated in downtown Dallas.
Admittedly, until recently, this date had no importance to me. I don’t recall learning about it in grade school and being born in the 70s, it never seemed important. Then in 2010, The Lighting Practice joined a team with Jacobs Engineering and Museumscapes to design a new tribute commemorating important events of this date. As the lead designer for the project, I was immersed in the process and learned so much more than I thought was possible from a lighting design project.
The project is the JFK Tribute and it is situated in General Worth Square. This location served as John F. Kennedy’s final speech to the general public. Having arrived in Fort Worth on the 21st, President Kennedy and his wife spent the evening at the Hotel Texas. The following morning, crowds of people gathered outside of the hotel in the square, all waiting to see the president and hoping to hear him speak… and so he did. But then, just 3-1/2 hours later, President Kennedy was gunned down.
The tribute is located across from the former Hotel Texas and serves to forever remind visitors of JFK’s hopeful speech that morning and his lasting impression on the city of Fort Worth. The lighting is integrated carefully into the site to enhance the experience without upstaging the tribute’s historic significance. It was truly an honor to be part of the experience that has become the JFK Tribute.
You can listen to President Kennedy’s speech that morning in Fort Worth by following this link.
You can also vist the Tribute website to learn more by following this link.
Relevant Articles:
- Kennedy remembered at Fort Worth tribute, breakfast by Caty Hirst and Sandra Baker
- JFK’s time in Ft. Worth just before assassination remembered by Richard Ray