The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts opened on September 8, 1971. It is considered to be America's living legacy to the 35th president.
The Center is the home of The National Symphony Orchestra, as well as hosting numerous other arts such as Opera, Plays, and Educational Programs. The Center is involved with so many different programs, that it would be best to go to their informational site to read all about it.
Maps, info, and interactive pictures: Map page.
The Center, located on 17 acres by the Potomac River, has many venues for concerts, theater, ballet, opera, and various other events. There is a cafe and lounges, etc. as well as the Eisenhower Theater, Opera House, Concert Hall, Family Theater, Millennium Stage, Terrace Theater, and Theater Lab.
The Grand Foyer is the Lobby for the Opera House, Concert Hall and Eisenhower Theater. It is one of the largest rooms in the world, at 630 feet long and 60 feet high. If you laid the Washington Monument inside the Grand Foyer, there would still be 75 feet of room left above it. In this foyer is an 8 foot 3,000 pound bronze bust, created by American sculptor Robert Berks, of President John F. Kennedy.
The River Terrace, on the main floor, provides views of the Potomac River, Theodore Roosevelt Island, The Roosevelt Bridge, The Lincoln Memorial, The National Cathedral and Georgetown University.
The open air Roof Terrace wraps around the entire top floor of the Center. It provides views of Jefferson Memorial, Washington Monument, and The Watergate.
A JFK quote on the wall of the River Terrace:
"THERE IS A CONNECTION, HARD TO EXPLAIN LOGICALLY BUT EASY TO FEEL, BETWEEN ACHIEVEMENT IN PUBLIC LIFE AND PROGRESS IN THE ARTS. THE AGE OF PERICLES WAS ALSO THE AGE OF PHIDIAS. THE AGE OF LORENZO DE MEDICI WAS ALSO THE AGE OF LEONARDO DA VINCI, THE AGE OF ELIZABETH ALSO THE AGE OF SHAKESPEARE, AND THE NEW FRONTIER FOR WHICH I CAMPAIGN IN PUBLIC LIFE, CAN ALSO BE A NEW FRONTIER FOR AMERICAN ART."
Letter to Miss Theodate Johnson, Publisher, Musical America, September 13, 1960