Who Died and Made the Sixth Floor Museum the King of Dealey Plaza?

[Peter Lemkin]

By DAVID FLICKUpdated: 15 May 2013 11:45 PMThe assassination of President John F. Kennedy 50 years ago this Novemberloomed over this year's Preservation Dallas annual achievement awards.The nonprofit organization's awards presentation Wednesday night included atribute to the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza and a lifetime achievementaward to Lindalyn Adams, a key player in the museum's creation."Lindalyn is one of the most prominent people in the preservation movementin Dallas. Frankly, I think she deserved it long ago," said Carol Roark,Preservation Dallas board member. "And as anyone can tell you, the museum isnot all she did."Roark said the Sixth Floor Museum was not only being honored for its work inpreserving the site, but in presenting a balanced account of an event thatremains controversial after five decades."We looked at and reflected on what a difference they made by preserving theevent and moderating what took place in an evenhanded way," Roark said."They've helped Dallas cope with it over time."She noted that the museum, although one of the city's most popular touristattractions, serves as a research facility, with an extensive oral historycollection. Museum officials also launched an ambitious series of publicprograms this year related to the assassination."It's incredibly gratifying," said Nicola Longford, the museum's executivedirector. "The Sixth Floor has a collective responsibility to maintain thelandmark district site."Adams, founding president of the Dallas County Historical Foundation, alsoplayed key roles in preserving the Old Red Courthouse, Dallas HistoricalVillage and the Aldridge House on Swiss Avenue.Adams said she was honored by the award, "especially because it was namedafter Dorothy Savage, who I think was one of the early titans ofpreservation in Dallas."Adams is best-known for her efforts involving the former Texas School BookDepository Building, where the sixth floor served as the sniper's perch fromwhich Kennedy was assassinated in Dealey Plaza on Nov. 22, 1963.In the late 1970s, Adams spearheaded efforts to save the building from beingexploited or torn down. After it was purchased by the county, she persuadedoften reluctant local donors to convert the sixth floor into an exhibitcommemorating the city's most famous tragedy."She's done it with grace and dignity. She's an inspiration to all of us,"Longford said. "She had the quiet perseverance to make it happen."