John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum

A looming concrete-and-glass monolith designed by I.M. Pei (completed in 1979), this shrine to the life and work of the 35th U.S. President overlooks the harbor from the top of the Columbia Point peninsula. On the ground floor, the stunning atrium commands panoramic views of the sea and the city. Downstairs, the museum contains an extensive display of memorabilia, as well as a series of temporary shows. Presented as a series of multimedia retro room sets and visitor-friendly displays, the permanent exhibition comprises a timeline of Kennedy's rise to power (including excerpts from his famous televised campaign debate with Nixon, and documentary footage on the Cuban Missile Crisis), achievements (promoting the space race), his family life and reproductions of the Oval Office and the office of J.F.K.'s brother, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.