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John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA. Photography credit Joel Benjamin
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA. Photography credit Joel Benjamin
Piece of Giant's Causeway
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA. Photography credit Joel Benjamin
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Piece of Giant's Causeway

Artifact IDMO 63.1188a-b
Object Type Stone
Date Presented6/27/1963
Gifter
Place of GiftGalway, Ireland, Europe
Place MadeIreland, Europe
Medium Basalt
DimensionsOverall H 6 1/2 in x W 6 1/2 in (16.5 cm x 16.5 cm)
Physical DescriptionA large stone block of basalt rock taken from Giant's Causeway. The rock is mounted on a wooden base. There is a plaque on the base inscribed "From the People of North Antrim."
Historical NoteThis piece was given to President John F. Kennedy by the Mayor of Galway, Patrick Ryan during Kennedy's State Visit to Ireland in June 1963.

Giant's Causeway is an area of 40,000 tightly packed basalt columns resulting from a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago, located about 3km north of the town of Bushmills in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal in shape, the tallest being 12m high. Legend has it that the giant Finn MacCumhaill (Finn McCool) built the causeway to walk to Scotland to fight his Scottish equivalent Benandonner.

Giant's Causeway was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteItem was a gift from a foreign official to the President and First Lady received through the Executive office during the Kennedy Administration and transferred to the General Service Administration where it was held until donated to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum by the Estate of President John F. Kennedy in 1965.
Credit LineJohn F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA; Gift of the Estate of President John F. Kennedy
National Archives Catalog CollectionJohn F. Kennedy Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 1676934)
National Archives Catalog SeriesGifts from Heads of State (National Archives Identifier 1677008)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedUse Restriction NoteReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view