The John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, commonly regarded as the Kennedy Centre, is an iconic performing arts centre situated on the Potomac River in Washington, DC. The location is adjacent to the Watergate complex and serves as a prominent cultural symbol. It is the busiest performing arts location in the country, famous for its world renowned productions of theatre, dance, ballet and orchestra.
The Kennedy Centre boasts exquisite exterior and interior decor highlighted with brilliant pearl marble, a reigning Grand Foyer, crystal chandeliers, elegant fountains and galleries inscribed with Kennedy’s own words. The venue offers vast performing spaces including the Opera House, Concert Hall, Eisenhower Tower, a variety of smaller stages as well as rooftop terraces, dining areas and a gift shop. The prime tourist offering is a comprehensive schedule of shows spanning all budgets and facets of the arts open to the public all year long.
The metro provides public transportation to the Kennedy Centre, routing to the closest Foggy Bottom/George Washington University Station. A public bus directly services the centre from downtown. Taxi services are in abundance, and there are plentiful parking opportunities available for personal vehicles. The Kennedy Centre is well connected to major area highways including I-66 and I-395.
The idea for the construction of the Kennedy Centre began with the modest wishes of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to offer a refuge for unemployed actors during the Great Depression.