If you’ve ever stood on the gently sloping hills of Arlington National Cemetery, you know there’s a specific kind of hush that settles over the crowd as they approach the most visited grave in America. People usually come with one question: where was John F. Kennedy interred? Most know the answer is Arlington, but the "why" and "how" are actually much more complicated than a simple plot of land in Virginia. It wasn't always a foregone conclusion that JFK would end up there. In fact, if his family had followed traditional protocol or his own previous musings, he might be resting in a very different place today.
History is messy.
When the shots rang out in Dealey Plaza on November 22, 1963, the world stopped. But behind the scenes, a frantic and deeply personal debate began about the President’s final resting place. Most presidents, up to that point, were buried in their home states. Everyone expected JFK to return to Massachusetts. There was a family plot in Holyhood Cemetery in Brookline. It was local. It was private. It was where his father, Joseph P. Kennedy, likely assumed they would all eventually gather.
But Jackie Kennedy had a different vision.
The Decision That Changed Arlington Forever
Jackie was famously private, yet she understood the theater of the presidency better than almost anyone else in the White House. She knew that JFK belonged to the country, not just the family. She reportedly said that he "belonged to the people." This is the core reason why, when people ask where was John F. Kennedy interred, the answer is a public hillside overlooking the Lincoln Memorial rather than a quiet corner of New England.
She was the one who pushed for Arlington.
It’s actually a bit of a myth that the site was chosen instantly. On Saturday, November 23, while the President’s body lay in the East Room of the White House, several sites were scouted. Robert Kennedy and McNamara (the Defense Secretary) went to Arlington in the pouring rain. They looked at a few spots. They eventually settled on the slope below Arlington House, the former home of Robert E. Lee.
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It was a dramatic choice.
The view is unparalleled. If you stand at the grave today and look straight across the Potomac River, the axis aligns almost perfectly with the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. It anchors JFK into the literal architecture of American democracy.
Why not Massachusetts?
The tension was real. The Kennedy family is legendary for its internal loyalty, and the idea of "bringing him home" to Boston was a powerful pull. However, the Superintendent of Arlington at the time, John C. Metzler, noted that the President had visited the site just months earlier. In March 1963, JFK had stood on that very hillside and remarked on the beauty of the view. He reportedly said he could stay there forever.
Jackie remembered that.
She insisted on the site, and she also insisted on the Eternal Flame. People thought she was crazy. They told her it would be a maintenance nightmare or that it looked too "European." She didn't care. She wanted something that would signify his spirit wouldn't go out.
The First Burial vs. The Current Site
Here is a detail that trips up a lot of history buffs: JFK has actually been buried twice in the same cemetery.
When you ask where was John F. Kennedy interred on the day of his funeral, November 25, 1963, the answer is about 20 feet away from where he lies now. The original site was a temporary plot. The funeral was a massive logistical undertaking—think about the heads of state, the horses, the millions of people watching. They needed a place quickly.
The first grave was surrounded by a simple white picket fence.
For three years, that was it. Between 1963 and 1967, more than 16 million people visited the site. It was clear that the "temporary" setup couldn't handle the traffic. The grass was trampled into mud. The fence was practically leaning over from the weight of the crowds.
Moving the Body in Secret
In March 1967, a permanent memorial was finished. This is the site you see today with the irregular Cape Cod granite stones. But here’s the kicker: they moved him in the middle of the night.
They didn't want a spectacle.
At 9:59 PM on March 14, 1967, the bodies of JFK and two of his children (a daughter, Arabella, and a son, Patrick, who had both died in infancy and were moved to be with their father) were re-interred in the new permanent location. Only a few family members and President Lyndon B. Johnson were there. It was done by the light of a few floodlights and the flickering Eternal Flame.
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By the time the sun came up the next morning, the "old" grave was gone, the new one was ready, and the public never saw the transition.
The Symbolism of the Stones
When you visit, don't expect a massive, gold-leafed monument. It’s remarkably understated for a man of his stature. The "stones" that pave the area are actually from a quarry in Massachusetts. Jackie wanted him to have a piece of his home state with him in Virginia.
It’s a mix of different types of granite.
The stones are rough-hewn. They look like something you’d find on a New England beach or a farm wall. This was intentional. It was meant to reflect his "New Frontier" spirit—rugged, natural, and unpretentious.
- The Eternal Flame: It’s actually a pretty simple burner. It’s a specialized gas lamp designed by the Army Corps of Engineers. Even during the massive floods of the Potomac or the heaviest snowstorms, it stays lit.
- The Inscriptions: You’ll see quotes from his inaugural address carved into the low semi-circular wall nearby. "Ask not what your country can do for you..."
- The Neighbors: Eventually, Robert Kennedy was buried nearby in 1968, and Edward Kennedy followed in 2009. It’s now a family plot within the nation’s cemetery.
Common Misconceptions About the JFK Gravesite
I've heard people swear that JFK is buried under the Lincoln Memorial. Obviously, that's not true. I’ve also heard people say the Eternal Flame is electric. Wrong again. It’s a constant gas-fed flame.
Some people think he was interred in a secret vault.
While the burial vault is reinforced (standard for high-profile figures to prevent grave robbing or vandalism), there’s nothing "National Treasure" about it. It’s a grave. It’s a place of mourning.
The most persistent rumor is that his brain is missing from the casket. This gets into the dark weeds of the assassination theories and the autopsy at Bethesda. While the medical records regarding the autopsy have been a source of controversy for decades, the physical body of the 35th President is, by all official and historical accounts, located exactly where the Eternal Flame burns today.
Planning Your Visit to Arlington
If you're going to see for yourself where John F. Kennedy was interred, you need to be prepared for the atmosphere. It’s a hike. Arlington is massive—over 600 acres.
The walk from the Welcome Center to the JFK site is uphill. If you aren't in great shape, take the tram. It’s worth the few bucks.
Once you get to the site, the "no talking" rule is strictly enforced by the Sentinels and the general vibe of the place. You’ll see the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier nearby, but the Kennedy site is different. It’s more intimate.
Practical Advice for History Seekers:
- Timing: Go early. As soon as the gates open at 8:00 AM. By noon, the tour buses arrive, and the "hush" I mentioned earlier starts to vanish.
- The View: Don't just look at the flame. Turn around. Look at the city. You’ll see exactly what JFK saw in 1963 when he said he could stay there forever.
- Respect the Perimeter: People often try to lean over the chains to get a better photo of the flame. Don’t be that person. The guards are very polite but very firm.
- Explore the Surroundings: Just a short walk away is the grave of Robert Kennedy, marked by a simple white cross. It’s a stark contrast to the President’s more elaborate (though still modest) site.
The site isn't just a grave; it’s a piece of political architecture. It was designed by John Carl Warnecke, a friend of the President. Warnecke had to balance the massive influx of tourists with the dignity of a cemetery. He succeeded by creating a space that feels open but protected.
The fact that Kennedy is at Arlington changed the cemetery itself. Before 1963, Arlington was prestigious, sure, but it wasn't the "national shrine" it is now. JFK’s burial there transformed it into a site of pilgrimage. It’s the reason why so many people feel a personal connection to those 600 acres of white headstones.
Standing there, looking at the flame, you realize that where John F. Kennedy was interred matters less than the fact that he stays in the public eye. Most presidents fade into the history books. Kennedy stays on the hillside, overlooking the capital he briefly led, with a light that literally never goes out.
To see the site accurately, start your journey at the Arlington National Cemetery Welcome Center and follow the signs toward the "Kennedy Gravesites." It is the most direct path to one of the most significant locations in American history. Ensure you wear comfortable shoes, as the terrain is uneven, and check the cemetery's official schedule for any special ceremonies that might limit access to the hillside.