On a trip with my father to my best friend’s wedding reception in Boston, Massachusetts, we stepped into the role of senators at the Edward Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate. I previously had enrolled in college as a political science student before changing my major to paralegal studies. For this reason, we had sought something legal-, political-, and historical-related to do in Boston. The museum can often be overlooked because it is near the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, but we found our tour through the institute to be very worthwhile. According to its website, the Edward Kennedy Institute is designed for a younger audience, but my dad and I had fun and acquired a lot of knowledge.
The Edward Kennedy Institute contains a replica of the Senate and former Senator Edward Kennedy’s office. It also has a collection of memorabilia from his time as a senator, and interactive exhibits which display how Congress works.
The replica of the Senate is very beautifully designed. My father and I were able to take some remarkable photos inside of it to serve as memories of our trip to Boston and our time as “senators.” We toured it at a certain time when the institute’s staff played a movie about the Senate and its history. Subsequently, we participated in a “Vote of the Day.” The vote we participated in was based on an actual bill that was being debated in the Senate when our visit to the museum took place.
The replica of Senator Kennedy’s office provides visitors with insight of some of the objects that were in his office, and what it looked like during his time as a senator. Adjacent to the reproduction of Senator Kennedy’s office, we explored a room dedicated to a collection of some of his other items he had while he was in Congress. These included his own personal ones and those from his trips overseas. They are very useful in providing a history and details of his time as a senator.
Along the furthest sides and corners of the museum are interactive exhibits which demonstrate to visitors how the General Assembly works. We were provided with miniature electronic devices upon entering the museum, and used them to interact with the exhibits and record our progress of which we had visited. For instance, a particular display showed us how the House and the Senate negotiate with each other to add their own proposals to a bill. It used the analogy of them deciding on which toppings to add to an ice cream.
A visit to the Edward Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate will not disappoint. There is much to see for children, students, and adults alike who want to learn about Edward Kennedy’s time as a senator. It is also a fascinating place to learn about the Senate on a school field trip or a family outing. Take a vote with your peers or loved ones and see if they would enjoy going—and if you reach a majority who would like to explore the museum—experience what you can learn during a vacation trip or a relaxing day off from work in Massachusetts.
I hope you have enjoyed this article describing the Edward Kennedy Institute. Did you decide to visit it? If so, how was your trip? Please let me know by posting a comment below. Thank you!
Published by Kevin Cassidy
I’m self-employed as a freelance content writer, copywriter, and executive resume writer. My published work has included many articles pertaining to toys, outdoor products, and foodservice. I’ve developed copy for websites, brochures, social media posts, Instagram and TikTok video scripts, and email marketing campaigns. Furthermore, I can help my clients with making a resume.
Kevin Cassidy, Writer 