The Hyannis Port Kennedy Compound became internationally famous during John F Kennedy’s presidency, when it became known as the ‘Summer White House’, with Marine One often landing on the lawn. Since then the estate has become an almost mythical temple for what has become a venerated American dynasty. Here’s a closer look at the storied residence:
Located on Massachusetts’ famous Cape Cod peninsula, the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port has grown to become a six acre, three house estate, listed on the register of National Historic Landmarks, but the fabled property started life in much more modest terms way back in the 1920s.
In the early years of their marriage, Joseph P Kennedy and Rose Kennedy (JFK’s parents) holidayed with their children in Hull, where Rose’s father had gifted the couple a 7-bedroom summer house known as the Honey Fitz Mansion. By the mid 1920s, Joseph had made his fortune and was successfully steering his family into well-heeled circles (moving on from a 9-room family home in Brookline, Mass to a mansion in New York) and decided to start renting a holiday home in Hyannis Port known as the Malcom Cottage at 50 Marchant Avenue. Two years later Joseph bought the holiday cottage for $25,000 and proceeded to extend the property to fit their nine children.
Like many Cape Cod homes, the house is a white clapboard build with three gables, contrast-coloured window shutters and a wraparound porch. Within the property there are four reception rooms which were used as a living room, dining room, television room and sun room, an additional room was briefly used by John F Kennedy as his bedroom before buying 111 Irving Avenue a stone’s throw away. The kitchen comes with various satellite rooms such as utility rooms and multiple pantries. Upstairs are six bedrooms and four servants rooms, there are also a host of feature rooms including a sewing room, packing room, cinema room, doll room, and wine cellar.
Outside the home are more features including a swimming pool, tennis court, a four-car garage which was later converted into a summer home for former Rhode Island congressman Patrick J Kennedy and his young family.
Over the years neighbouring houses were bought up by the Kennedys including JFK’s Irving Ave house, situated behind 28 Marchant Avenue, another home which was purchased by Edward Kennedy in 1959 and later owned by Robert and Ethel, completing the six acre compound.
Today the compound features three full-sized house, three guest houses, two circular driveways with one featuring a tall flagpole, there’s also a boathouse and large stretches of lawn, rolling down to the beach and sea. Today, the main house is owned by the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, but remains a private family home, which is very occasionally opened for specific functions.
See more Kennedy properties in previous posts such as the childhood homes of John F Kennedy, the childhood homes of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, or the marital homes of John and Jackie Kennedy.
feature image by interstellarity cc-by-sa 4 via wikicommons