5 Surprising Facts About the Kennedy Center You Never Knew
- The Kennedy Center wasn't built just for the arts—it was actually designed as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, with his widow Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis personally overseeing its final design and interior touches to ensure it felt like a welcoming space for all Americans.
- Its massive, 630-foot-long Grand Foyer is one of the largest rooms in the world without any supporting columns, featuring a stunning 18 crystal chandeliers and a red carpet that stretches the length of three football fields.
- The building's unique location on the Potomac River was chosen because it sits on land donated by the federal government, and its rooftop terrace offers one of the best secret views of the Washington Monument and the National Mall.
- Over 2,000 free performances are given at the Kennedy Center every year, including nightly shows on its three Millennium Stages, making it one of the few major arts venues in the world where you can watch world-class talent without spending a dime.
- The center's iconic "Opera House" is home to a massive 3,200-pipe Möller pipe organ, which is one of the largest theater organs in the country and is so powerful it can fill the entire hall with sound even during a full orchestra performance.