Newsgroups: alt.conspiracy.jfk

My wife and I were in Dallas earlier this month and took the opportunity to
visit Dealy Plaza and other JFK assassination related sites.  If you haven't
already had the chance, I would recommend to anyone interested in the
assassination to visit Dallas.  Much of Dealy Plaza and the related sites are
pretty much as they were in 1963.  I found the experience quite enlighting.

As might be expected, I found Dealy Plaza to be much smaller than I imaged.
I stood at the approximate spot JFK was at when the fatal shot hit and looked
towards the N.E. sixth floor window of the T.S.B.D.  It didn't seem very far at
all.  Of course, the grassy knoll area seemed even closer.  Speaking of the
grassy knoll, I stood at various positions behind the picket fence and found it
would have been hard to get a clean shot at the president until the limo was
almost perpendicular to the shooter due to the foliage in front of the fence
(thus, I couldn't see how any of the early shots came from here).  But then
there is probably now a lot more foliage than there was 29 years ago.

Also, after seeing the area behind the picket fence, I began to question the
story of the deaf mute (I don't recall his name) who claims to have seen two
men behind the fence, one of which threw a rifle to the other who took it over
by a train track switch electrical box, disassembled the gun and put it in a
tool box.  Noting that this electrical box (or whatever it is) was in a direct
line with and only 20 to 30 feet from where the men on the underpass were,  I
couldn't see how any of these men could have missed seeing this man who
supposely put the gun in the tool box.  But then maybe this box has been moved
since 1963.

Another thing I noticed as I walked over to the other side of the underpass,
was that there is a barrier in the road that prevents cars on Main Street from
entering the north bound entrance of the Stemmens freeway.  I have heard
questions as to why the motorcade took the jog from Main to Elm Street.  From
what I could tell, Elm is the only way cars coming from Dealy Plaze can get
on the freeway.  Maybe someone familiar with the area can confirm this or not.
Also, it is possible that the barrier on Main St. didn't exist in 1963.

Of course, my wife and I took the tour of the Sixth Floor Museum.  A couple of
disappointments here.  First, they confiscate your camera before they let you
in.  It was a shame since one could get some excellent shots from up there (no
pun intended).  Second, only the sixth floor is open to the public.  I was
looking forward to seeing the lunch room on the second floor and climbing the
stairs to the sixth floor (you get to the sixth floor via a modern elevator).
Half the museum deals with Kennedy and the climate of the early 60's.  The
other half deals with the assassination and investigations (WC, HSC,
researchers, etc.).  It uses still photos, videos, props (I guess some where
even real) and a couple of re-creations (of the snipper's nest and where the
rifle was found).  Didn't realize until I notice most of the other visitors
were listening to walkmans that the museum offers an audio tape to listen to
as you take your tour.  Since my wife was new to the JFK assassination story,
it took her twice as long to tour the Museum as I did.

Discovered that there was a JFK Assassination Information Center located about
a half mile N.W. of Dealy Plaza.  It offers a Kenney Assassination Bus tour
that for $19 per person (adult) will take you on a three hour tour (No,
Gilligan and the Skipper are not part of the tour).  It takes you on the
downtown part of the motorcade, a walking tour of Dealey Plaza, across the
bridge to Oswald's rooming house, Tippit's murder scene, the Texas Theater,
Ruby's apartment, 214 Neeley St. (where the famous backyard photos of Oswald
were supposely taken), and by the basement of the Police Department (where
Oswald was shot).  Bob Kintzle, the tour guide, was very knowledgeable and
had a lot of interesting stories concerning the assassination (he also
apparently aided Oliver Stone and his crew during the filming of JFK in Dallas).

The JFK Assassination Information Center itself is in a mini-mall and contains
a shop where one can buy JFK assassination books and things.  There is also
a small exhibit (included in the bus tour price, $5 otherwise).  Though much
smaller than the Sixth Floor Museum, I found it much more entertaining.  A
video is also shown periodically (it looked to be one of the installments of
the A&E documentary "The Men who Killed Kennedy").  Again, my wife took twice
as long to walk though the exhibit as did I.


One last thing that was interesting to me.  I believe it was in the Sixth Floor
Museum where I ran across a very good photograph apparently taken on the south
side of the on-ramp to Stemmons freeway.  In the background is the limo as it
is emerging from the triple underpass with S.S. Agent Hill spread eagle over
the backseat and the lead police car (I believe the one with Curry in it) is
pulled up along side the limo.  In the foreground are three motorcycle police
officers just entering the on-ramp (it appears they are unaware of what has
happened).  What caught my attention was that I sort of remember seeing film
and/or photos of the motorcade as it made the turn off of Main onto Houston
where there were FOUR motorcycle cops leading the motorcade (I'm not talking
about the four which surrounded the limo).  If I am not mistaken, one of those
cops was lost in Dealy Plaza.  Can someone either correct my memory as to the
number of motorcycles leading the motorcade or confirm that there were four.
If so, does someone know what happened to the forth cop (not that it is
necessarily of any importance)?