In 1928, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy & Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. purchased their Hyannis Port summer home. Later, sons Robert (RFK) & John (JFK) purchased homes next door and it then became known as the Kennedy Compound. Today more a dozen homes located nearby are homes to the large Kennedy family in the small village.
On the shore, less than three miles from Main Street Hyannis, the "compound" served as a getaway for the Kennedy family, including U.S. President John F. Kennedy, U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and U.S. Senator Edward M. “Ted” Kennedy.
Because of the Kennedy Compound’s proximity to Main Street, many significant Kennedy events occurred in downtown Hyannis. The 1.6-mile Kennedy Legacy Trail explores the family’s rich history on Cape Cod, with stops at ten important Kennedy sites in Hyannis.