Sixth Floor Museum




2011-2012 Youth Advsory Committee

This school year Caleb is serving on the Youth Advisory Committee for the Sixth Floor Museum.  The Y.A.C. is comprised of ten youth from 10 different cities around the metroplex, all high school aged.  They give their input on everything from the JFK website, Facebook page, exhibits; and serve as ambassadors special museum functions, programs, and civic events (including Stephen King recent book signing stop in Dallas for 11/22/63).

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Tonight museum curator, Stephen Fagin joined the committee on the 7^th floor, which is off limits to the public, and shared several artifacts that are not currently on display.  One of the great pieces of history Mr. Fagin shared included the hand written notes by all the Trauma 1 staff at Parkland Medical who attended President Kennedy!  He also brought actual reels of news footage filmed when Oswald was shot!   

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Footage of Oswald shooting

Mr. Fagin also brought the controversial camera of alleged eye witness Gordon Arnold.  If you remember Mr. Arnold came forward in 1978 claiming he was at Dealey Plaza just a north of the concrete retaining wall on the grassy knoll, and that a bullet passed extremely close to his left ear, then he dove to the ground.  Arnold said a man armed with a revolver and dressed in a Dallas police uniform kicked him while Arnold was still lying on the ground then demanded his movie film then threw the camera back at Arnold.  There are no corroborating photos verifying Mr. Arnold’s.

Ruby's chains

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The kids were also shown the transcripts for the closing arguments in the Jack Ruby trial where Mr. Ruby was convicted of murder with malice in 1964.  If you remember the verdict was overturned and set for a re-trial in 1967, however Mr. Ruby became very ill with cancer and died at Parkland Hospital.  While at Parkland even though Ruby was deathly ill, he remained chained to the bed because he was still a prisoner.  Mr. Fagin showed the kids the actual ankle chains that Ruby wore. 

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Most of the items we saw are in the vaults of the museum and some are brought out to rotate the exhibits, but other remain archived.

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Probably the coolest item the kids saw was an exact duplicate of the rifle Oswald used.  The gun was not a replica but the exact manufacturer run, make and model used by Oswald, including the Japanese sights and leather strapping.  Of course Oswald’s actual gun is in Area 51 but it was an eerie feeling to look thru the scope of that rifle.

If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways

so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.

 Remember that this nation is your people.

Exodus 33:1