The historic events of November 22, 1963, transformed Dallas forever when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dealey Plaza. While the tragedy shifted global politics, a dedicated group of local media professionals worked on the front lines to document the unfolding crisis.

A new interactive exhibition at The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza offers an intimate look at those individuals. Titled “On Assignment: Dallas Times Herald 1963,” the exhibition shifts the lens away from broad historical summaries to explore the lived experiences of the reporters, editors, and photographers who recorded the first draft of history.

A Personal Narrative of a Historic Tragedy

Curated over a seven-month period by museum curator and oral historian Stephen Fagin alongside Chief Experience Officer Amanda Rutland, the exhibition highlights the now-defunct afternoon daily newspaper, the Dallas Times Herald, which closed its doors in 1991.

The collection brings together 130 artifacts, photographs, and hands-on elements. Rather than taking a detached overview of the era, the layout guides visitors through the specific professional and emotional journeys of key journalists, including:

• Reporters & Editors: Keith Shelton, Darwin Payne, Vivian Castleberry, and Jim Lehrer.
• Photojournalists: Eamon Kennedy and Bob Jackson.

According to Fagin, the history preserved in modern textbooks relied entirely on local and national reporters hitting the streets with notebooks and payphone change. The exhibition aims to honor that foundational legwork while exploring the heavy emotional toll it exacted on the writers and photographers.

Interactive Elements and Key Artifacts on Display

“On Assignment” incorporates a blend of physical historical objects and tactile, interactive learning experiences. Visitors can pick up replica press passes to follow individual journalistic timelines as they navigate the space.

Notable Historical Artifacts

• The Interrupted Notebook: Reporter Keith Shelton’s actual notepad from the motorcade press bus is on display. His regular text tracking a campaign sign abruptly stops, marked by two sharp lines scrawled across the paper exactly when the gunshots rang out.
• The Red Sailor Suit: A child’s outfit worn by a young girl waiting for Air Force One at Dallas Love Field is paired directly with the original archival photograph of her arrival greeting.

Immersive Newsroom Features

The exhibition includes a reconstructed 1960s-style newsroom designed to give visitors a practical sense of mid-century journalism. In this space, museumgoers can step into the role of a media professional by:

• Dressing in period-accurate reporter attire.
• Practicing manual photo cropping techniques.
• Placing breaking-news phone calls from vintage desk setups.
• Solving interactive puzzles, including one depicting women’s news editor Vivian Castleberry preparing to cover the scheduled presidential luncheon at the Dallas Trade Mart.

“I hope I never cover another story of that significance, but I would not have been anywhere else on Earth while it was happening.”

— Vivian Castleberry, Former Women’s News Editor, Dallas Times Herald

Visitor Information and Ticketing

Museum officials note that the project provides timely insights into journalistic ethics, integrity, and empathy—values that continue to resonate even decades after the events occurred.

• Exhibition Dates: Open now through March 28, 2027.
• Location: The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, 411 Elm St., Dallas, TX.
• Admission: Included with standard museum entry.
• Pricing: Timed-entry tickets must be reserved online. Admission rates are $24 for adults, $22 for seniors, and $20 for youth. Complete booking details are available at the official website, jfk.org.