Virtual Cache: The Grassy Knoll

The Infamous Grassy Knoll

While in Dallas, I had the pleasure of capturing the virtual geocache located in Dealy Plaza, directly across the way from where 3 shots were fired and the world was robbed of one of its most promising leaders, President John F Kennedy.

 In honor of this cache, I thought that I would post a few random facts about the area where the horror and chaos went down.

Capturing the Virtual.  It was sooo freaking cold that day!

Even 50 years after the Kennedy Assassination, it is still unclear where the term "Grassy Knoll" began, but a popular theory is that it began circulation when news reporter Bill Newman who had been riding in a news crew car five vehicle behind the president.  Newman supposedly appeared on WFAA-TV in Dallas about 15-20 minutes after the shooting stating that the shots came from behind him, "up on the mall," or "up on the knoll." Due to the quality of the broadcast, it is completely possible the "m" in mall sounded more like a "n" and thus a term that has become synonymous with subterfuge and hidden plots was coined.

 




Dealey Plaza is a significant part of Dallas history. The site marks the birthplace of Dallas, originally founded by John Neely Bryan in the 1840s.





Did you know that the Grassy Knoll is located just off of Elm Street, the very street upon which the movie "Nightmare On Elm Street" was named? (according to my tour guide for the day.  May not be true, but a fun fact none the less)

The window from which Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly fired the shot that killed the president.

In the Stephen King novel based on the assassination, 11/22/63, the main character of George/Jake states while sitting on bench across the street from the Book Depository that the building itself seems to resonate with evil, as if you feel the need to do horrible and unspeakable things simply by being in a close proximity of the structure. I am not sure if I felt that because I had just finished the book or whether there is an unusually creepy vibe emanating from within. 



The Book Depository with the sniper's nest located at the last window of the 6th floor (second from the top)

Several people who saw the Kennedys in Dallas and Fort Worth in 1963 have toured the Museum and found pictures of themselves among the crowds, including Fort Worth native, actor Bill Paxton.

 

and finally, did you know:

 

The lowest grossing film of all time had its premiere in Dallas in 2006. Zyzzyx Road, starring Katherine Heigl and Tom Sizemore, had only six paying customers and earned only $30 at the box office.

 

And now you know, and knowing is half the battle.