The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, a cornerstone of Dallas history chronicling the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, is grappling with a crumbling infrastructure that could cost $60 million to repair.
The museum is housed in the 125-year-old former Texas School Book Depository building, which Dallas County owns. According to museum CEO Nicola Longford, the building has deteriorated to the point where museum staff struggle to control insects and leaking windows.
“This renovation expansion is not just about updating a building, it’s about fulfilling our responsibility as stewards of one of the most significant historical sites in the nation,” Longford told a Commissioners Court committee.
The museum, which draws thousands annually to its exhibits on the sixth and seventh floors, is constrained by space and displays only a fraction of its 90,000 artifacts. Longford proposed a long-term development agreement to replace the museum’s lease, set to expire in 2030, and expand into all seven floors, including vacant fourth and fifth floors and office space leased on the second and third floors since 2022.
Assistant County Administrator Jonathon Bazan estimated the $60 million price tag, including $25 million for critical roof, electrical, and window replacements, which have been long deferred pending the county’s decision on the building’s future. Longford declined to specify how much funding the museum seeks from the county, noting ongoing cost assessments.
“At the end of the day, that’s where we’ve got to make a decision based on what we think is the value of that particular property, the value of what they bring to Dallas,” Commissioner John Wiley Price said, emphasizing the building’s inseparable link to the museum. “It’s not like they can pick it up and move it … this building is integral to the museum.”
Commissioner Andrew Sommerman expressed cautious support but demanded detailed plans for new exhibits before committing. Bazan said county staff will continue talks with museum officials, with a recommendation possible within three months.
Self-funded through tickets and donations, the museum remains a top Dallas attraction, ranked third among 22 local activities by U.S. News & World Report. Its main exhibit, “John F. Kennedy and the Memory of a Nation,” draws history buffs worldwide, but without repairs, its legacy could be at risk.
