Hands-on History

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is bringing the popular annual Presidents' Day Festival into your homes and online classrooms through hands-on crafts and activities for all ages, including adults! From campaign buttons and Mercury spacecraft to White House china and zines, there's something for everyone. Instructions have been modified to accommodate supplies you might have at home. Activities are organized into several themes that you can choose from. 

Hands-on History: Space

President Kennedy set a goal of landing a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s. On July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 astronauts—Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin Jr.—realized President Kennedy's dream. Follow American astronauts from the first sub-orbital flight to the first steps on the Moon with hands-on space activities.

Hands-on History: President Kennedy and the Sea

John F. Kennedy had a lifelong love of the sea. He enjoyed sailing from a young age and even taught his siblings and wife, Jacqueline to sail on his own sailboat, the Victura. Explore President Kennedy's passion for the sea with hands-on nautical crafts.

Hands-on History: Civic Engagement

Throughout American history, democracy has required the active participation of everyday citizens. The Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech and the freedom of assembly. During the early 1960s, people took part in protests, gave speeches, and marched in support of civil rights. Explore these activities inspired by historic examples, and prepare for your own civic engagement for a cause or candidate you support today!

Hands-on History: Celebrating Suffrage

The movement to gain women access to the ballot box was a long-fought battle that resulted in the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution in 1920. Discover some of the symbols of power that suffragists and their supporters used in their historic fight as you make your own history-based crafts.