The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is a history museum located at 411 Elm Street in downtown Dallas, Texas, housed in the former Texas School Book Depository building where evidence linked to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy was found. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking options, accessibility, and practical tips for planning your visit.
Last updated: February 2026. Ticket prices increased on 1 January 2026, and many guides still show the old rates of $18 (adult), $16 (senior), and $14 (youth). Current onsite prices are now $27, $25, and $23 respectively.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 411 Elm Street, Dallas, TX 75202 |
| Opening hours | Wednesday–Sunday, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM |
| Closed | Monday, Tuesday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day |
| Ticket price (onsite) | Adult $27 · Senior (65+) $25 · Youth (6–18) $23 · Children (0–5) free |
| Ticket price (online) | Adult $24 · Senior $22 · Youth $20 (+ $1 per ticket convenience fee) |
| Nearest public transport | West End Station (DART light rail) – 3 blocks · Union Station (TRE/Amtrak) – 5 blocks |
| Parking | Paid lot adjacent to the museum |
| Typical visit duration | 1.5–2.5 hours |
Sixth Floor Museum opening hours
The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, as well as on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Last entry is before 5:00 PM; check the official website for any seasonal or holiday variations before your visit.
Opening hours were checked on the official website and last updated in February 2025.
Sixth Floor Museum ticket prices
Online tickets cost $24 for adults, $22 for seniors (65+), and $20 for youth aged 6–18, with a $1 per ticket convenience fee added at checkout. Tickets purchased onsite cost $27 (adult), $25 (senior), and $23 (youth). Children aged five and under enter free. Buying online in advance is recommended, as entry is by timed ticket and popular time slots can sell out, particularly at weekends and during school holidays.
Ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in February 2025.
5 great Dallas experiences worth booking
- 🤠 Combine the JFK sites and Southfork Ranch on a half day tour.
- 🏛️ Take comprehensive JFK assassination tour – including the Sixth Floor Museum and Lee Harvey Oswald Rooming House.
- 🚴 Cover Downtown Dallas’ attractions and history on an e-bike tour.
- 🌆 See Dallas from above at the Reunion Tower GeO Deck.
- 🌮 Take a food tour with five tastings in the Deep Ellum area.
How to get to the Sixth Floor Museum
The museum is located at the corner of Elm and Houston Streets in the West End Historic District of downtown Dallas. The nearest DART light rail station is West End Station, served by the Green and Orange Lines, approximately three blocks east of the museum. Union Station, which connects to the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) and Amtrak services, is approximately five blocks to the south. Several DART bus routes also stop on Elm Street and Houston Street within a short walk of the entrance.
Parking at the Sixth Floor Museum
A paid parking lot is located directly adjacent to the museum on Elm Street. Parking fees vary and the lot does not accept oversized vehicles or buses. Additional paid lots are available within a short walk in the surrounding West End district. Visitors arriving by RV or coach should use designated parking on Houston Street, two blocks north of the museum.
How long to spend at the Sixth Floor Museum
Most visitors spend between 1.5 and 2.5 hours inside the museum. Allowing additional time to explore Dealey Plaza itself before or after your visit is advisable, particularly if you intend to use the free interactive Dealey Plaza walking tour available at dealeyplaza.jfk.org.
Accessibility at the Sixth Floor Museum
The museum is accessible by lift (elevator) from the ground floor to the sixth and seventh floors. Wheelchair hire is available on a first-come, first-served basis at no extra charge. Service animals are permitted. Visitors with specific access requirements are advised to contact the museum in advance via the official website.
Inside the Sixth Floor Museum: what to see
The main permanent exhibition, John F. Kennedy and the Memory of a Nation, occupies the sixth floor and covers the social and political context of the early 1960s, the events of 22 November 1963, and Kennedy’s lasting legacy. The exhibition includes approximately 400 photographs, documentary film footage, eyewitness accounts, and physical artefacts.
One of the most visited sections is the sniper’s perch, the south-east corner window from which shots were fired. The area is preserved behind glass and viewable as part of the main exhibition route.
The Warren Commission model, originally used by the FBI during the official investigation, is on permanent display and provides a three-dimensional reference point for understanding the layout of Dealey Plaza.
The seventh floor is used for temporary and special exhibitions, as well as public programmes and events. Content on this floor changes periodically; check the museum website before your visit for current offerings.
A free audio guide (included with admission) is available in multiple languages and accompanies visitors through the sixth-floor exhibition.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Book tickets in advance | Entry is by timed ticket. Weekend and holiday slots can sell out. Booking online also saves $3 per ticket compared with onsite prices. |
| Arrive on time | Timed entry slots are allocated in 30-minute increments. Arriving late may result in waiting for the next available slot. |
| Allow time for Dealey Plaza | The plaza itself is publicly accessible at no cost and many visitors walk the area before or after their museum visit. |
| Photography | Photography without flash is permitted throughout the museum. Tripods are not allowed. |
| Bag policy | Bags are permitted but may be subject to security screening at entry. Large bags and backpacks may need to be stored. |
| Busiest periods | Weekends, US public holidays, and the week of 22 November each year are the busiest times. Visiting midweek and arriving at opening time reduces waiting times. |
| On-site facilities | A museum shop is located on the ground floor. There is no on-site café; several restaurants are within a short walk in the West End district. |
Frequently asked questions about the Sixth Floor Museum
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Sixth Floor Museum? | Advance booking is strongly recommended. Entry is by timed ticket and popular slots, especially at weekends, can sell out. |
| Is the Sixth Floor Museum open on Sundays? | Yes. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM. |
| Is the Sixth Floor Museum suitable for children? | The museum contains detailed content about a political assassination and may not be suitable for very young children. Children aged five and under enter free. |
| Are bags allowed at the Sixth Floor Museum? | Yes, but bags may be screened at entry. |
| Is parking free at the Sixth Floor Museum? | No. The adjacent parking lot is paid. Rates vary; additional lots are nearby. |
| How long does it take to visit the Sixth Floor Museum? | Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2.5 hours. |
| Is the Sixth Floor Museum accessible by wheelchair? | Yes. Lifts provide access to all floors. Wheelchairs are available to borrow free of charge. |
| Can you visit Dealey Plaza without buying a museum ticket? | Yes. Dealey Plaza is a public space and free to access. The museum inside the former Texas School Book Depository building requires a paid ticket. |
Things to do near the Sixth Floor Museum
The following attractions are within walking distance or a short DART journey from the museum and can be combined in the same trip.
Dealey Plaza – The public plaza directly outside the museum. A free interactive walking tour with 17 points of interest is available at dealeyplaza.jfk.org.
John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza – A dedicated memorial to President Kennedy, approximately 0.4 miles east of the museum in downtown Dallas.
Dallas World Aquarium – Located in the West End district, roughly a five-minute walk from the museum.
Reunion Tower Geo-Deck – An observation deck approximately 0.6 miles south-west of the museum, offering views across Dallas.
Perot Museum of Nature and Science – Located in Victory Park, accessible via DART light rail from West End Station, approximately 1.5 miles north of the museum.
George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum – On the SMU campus, accessible via DART Red or Orange Line to Mockingbird Station, approximately four miles north of downtown.
More Dallas travel
Other Dallas travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Five reasons to route your flights via Dallas.
- How to combine a visit to Southfork Ranch with the JFK sites in Dallas.
- Tick off the stars of the Dallas Arts District, including the Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center and the Crow Museum of Asian Art.
- Visit the Meadows Museum and the George W Bush Presidential Museum on the Southern Methodist University campus in Dallas.
- See Dallas from above at the Reunion Tower Ge-O Deck.
