John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as a presidential memorial

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., was established by an act of Congress as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy; legislation authorizing the center passed in 1964. The center opened to the public in 1971 and serves as the national cultural center, hosting performances across genres and preserving Kennedy's association with the arts. Its name and congressional charter explicitly commemorate President Kennedy.