Kennedy Memorial Landscape, Park and monument in Runnymede, England
Kennedy Memorial Landscape is a park and monument in Runnymede, England, created to honor President John F. Kennedy. Fifty stone steps climb through woodland to a large Portland stone block carved with words from Kennedy's inaugural address, placed on land that was formally given to the United States.
The memorial was opened in 1965, two years after President Kennedy's death, in a ceremony attended by Queen Elizabeth the Second and Jacqueline Kennedy. At that event, the Queen formally handed the land over to the United States, making this corner of Runnymede symbolically American soil.
The path leading up to the memorial is lined with individual stones, each one meant to represent a person on their own life journey. This idea comes from The Pilgrim's Progress, the book that inspired the designer Geoffrey Jellicoe when he shaped the site.
The walk up to the memorial involves a steep climb through woodland on uneven stone steps, so sturdy footwear is a good idea. The site is open year-round and free to enter, with a car park nearby for those arriving by road.
The stone block at the top weighs around 7 tonnes and was carved by sculptor Alan Collins, who shaped the letters in a flowing style to give the impression that the words are still moving. The 50 steps leading up to it were deliberately chosen to match the number of American states at the time the memorial was built.
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