John F. Kennedy was shot in Dallas, Texas, while riding in an open-top presidential motorcade on November 22, 1963. The shooting occurred around 12:30 p.m. Central Time as the motorcade traveled from Love Field to the Dallas Trade Mart. Dealey Plaza’s Stemmons Freeway overpass and the Texas School Book Depository building were involved in the sequence. The following breakdown uses verified timelines, official reports, and geographic context to explain where and how the shots were fired and why locations matter to the historical record.
Motorcade Route and Context
On the morning of November 22, 1963, President Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy arrived at Love Field. After a campaign event, they embarked on a 10-mile motorcade route through Dallas intended to connect the airport with the Dallas Trade Mart, where Kennedy was scheduled to speak at a luncheon. The motorcade route was published in advance and followed main streets through downtown Dallas. Dealey Plaza, a historic public space near the intersection of Elm and Main Streets, lay along the planned path and included the Stemmons Freeway overpass and the Texas School Book Depository at the corner of Elm and North Houston Streets.
Planned Route Segments
- From Love Field southwest along Stemmons Freeway to Central Expressway.
- Proceeding through downtown Dallas via Main Street, passing Dealey Plaza.
- Turning onto Houston Street and then toward Commerce Street en route to the Trade Mart.
Dealey Plaza and the Texas School Book Depository
Dealey Plaza is a public square in downtown Dallas listed on the National Register of Historic Places. At the time of the motorcade, overhead structures and street-level views intersected near the Stemmons Freeway overpass and the long, low Texas School Book Depository building. The depository’s sixth and seventh floors were later identified by the Warren Commission as the origin point of the shots fired at the motorcade. The plaza layout, including street angles and distances, has been extensively mapped by investigators and researchers using photographs, films, and forensic analysis.
Key Geographic Features
- Stemmons Freeway overpass: elevated roadway west of the main plaza.
- Texas School Book Depository: southeast corner of Elm and Houston, providing elevated vantage points along the motorcade route.
- Grassy knoll: a small rise on the northeast side of Dealey Plaza, subject of various witness accounts but not identified as a source of gunfire by official investigations.
Chronology and Shot Locations
According to the official record, the motorcade was moving slowly through Dealey Plaza when shots were fired. The first report of gunfire came within minutes of the presidential arrival at the Trade Mart. Subsequent investigations and the physical evidence—including the Zapruder film, acoustic analysis, and bullet trajectories—converge on the Texas School Book Depository as the source of at least two and possibly three shots. The sequence and locations are summarized below for clarity.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | November 22, 1963, approximately 12:30 p.m. CST | Official reports, Commission records |
| Primary Location | Texas School Book Depository, sixth and seventh floors | Warren Commission, forensic analysis |
| Alternate Locations Discussed | Grassy knoll, motorcycle units | Witness testimony, later reinvestigations |
| Number of Shots | Three generally accepted, with disputed details on origin and sequence | Acoustic and ballistic evidence |
| Immediate Aftermath | Motorcade rapid transit to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where Kennedy was pronounced dead | Hospital records, motorcade logs |
Investigative Conclusions and Debates
The Warren Commission concluded that three shots were fired by Lee Harvey Oswald from the Texas School Book Depository. Later committees and reviews, including the House Select Committee on Assassinations, generally agreed with the location of origin while noting complexities in timing and possible additional shots. Much public speculation has centered on the Grassy Knoll, but photographic, acoustic, and trajectory evidence has not consistently supported it as a firing location. Professional analyses continue to refine details, yet the core facts—time, location of the primary source, and the sequence of events—remain anchored in the documented record.
Geographic and Visual Documentation
Photography and film from the day, including the famous Abraham Zapruder footage, capture the sequence from locations near and along the motorcade route. These materials have been correlated with fixed points such as the Book Depository, overpasses, and streetlights to reconstruct perspectives and sightlines. Maps of Dealey Plaza show consistent measurements between known vantage points and the path taken by the motorcade, reinforcing the Texas School Book Depository’s role as the principal source of fire. Diagrams and archival images remain widely available for comparison and study.
Legacy and Public Memory
The site of the shooting in Dallas has been preserved in public memory through memorials, museum presentations, and ongoing historical research. Visitors can view reconstructed areas and contextual exhibits that explain the events of that day and their aftermath. Academic research, declassified documents, and continued scrutiny of evidence have sustained interest in the details of the motorcade route, the locations involved, and the broader implications for policy and security. The fundamental clarity that the shooting occurred in Dealey Plaza, with primary source points identified, remains central to understanding this enduring chapter of U.S. history.
Key Takeaways
To summarize where John F. Kennedy was shot: it was in Dallas, Texas, during a public motorcade near the Texas School Book Depository in Dealey Plaza. Verified investigations point to shots fired from the depository’s upper floors, with thorough documentation of time, route, and locations. The following list highlights concise, evidence-based points for lasting clarity:
- Date and time: November 22, 1963, approximately 12:30 p.m. CST.
- Location: Motorcade traveling through Dealey Plaza, Dallas.
- Firing point consensus: Texas School Book Depository, sixth and seventh floors.
- Alternate sites discussed: Grassy knoll and other positions, but not supported by conclusive forensic evidence.
- Immediate outcome: President Kennedy was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital and subsequently pronounced dead.
The enduring importance of these details lies in their grounding in documented evidence and geographic fact rather than speculation. Reliable maps, photographs, and investigative reports allow continuous reexamination while maintaining fidelity to what is known. For ongoing study, official archives and declassified materials provide deeper access to primary sources and expert analysis. Understanding precisely where the shooting occurred, and how we know it, supports informed reflection on this pivotal event.