25 Vintage Photos of Jackie Kennedy Summering in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts

The Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, is a place that has become a legend: to this day, many Americans refer to it as “Camelot”—except instead of King Arthur, it’s the mythical palace of our country’s most idealized family.

Along with her husband, President John F. Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy was often captured by photographers there in the idyllic summer months, offering a rare glimpse into the private, relaxed life of the first lady and her family. (“I always go to Hyannis Port to be revived, to know again the power of the sea,” J.F.K. once said of their carefree Cape Cod enclave.) During one photoshoot, she sailed and played tennis; in another, she read a children’s book to her daughter Caroline on their expansive green lawn with their white clapboard house in the background. She wore flowy tops, linen dresses, and Bermuda shorts; on occasion, she was even captured in a swimsuit. In the process, she helped craft the all-American image that defined the family for generations. (And elect her husband as president: one 1960 picture was taken just as John F. Kennedy received the Democratic nomination.)

Below, see a selection of 1960s photos of Jackie Kennedy in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.