PHOTOS: President John F. Kennedy’s visit to Fort Worth on day of assassination

Fort Worth Star-Telegram photographers captured dozens of photos of the final hours of President John F. Kennedy’s life on Nov. 22, 1963.

Kennedy arrived at Carswell Air Force Base late Nov. 21, slept at downtown’s Hotel Texas and spoke the next morning at a Chamber of Commerce breakfast. The motorcade then passed through the city on the way back to Carswell, where Air Force One took off for Dallas at 11:25 a.m.

Just over an hour later, Kennedy would be assassinated.

Here are behind-the-scenes photos from the Star-Telegram archives of the 12 hours Kennedy spent in Fort Worth, some of which you may have never seen before.

Arrival at Carswell AFB

At 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 21, 1963, people begin to arrive at Carswell Air Force Base in anticipation of the president’s arrival. Police estimate the crowd at 6,000. Air Force One lands at 11:07 p.m.; the president wades into the crowd and begins shaking hands for 20 minutes before heading to Hotel Texas, now the Hilton, where they stay in Suite 850.

Crowds waiting at Carswell Air Force Base for arrival of President John F. Kennedy and his wife and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and his wife, Nov. 21, 1963.

Crowd waits at Carswell AFB in Fort Worth for arrival of President John F. Kennedy and wife Jackie, Nov. 21, 1963

President John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy descending from Air Force One at Carswell Air Force Base. Congressman Jim Wright, Gov. John Connally and Mrs. Connally seen in the doorway. Nov. 21, 1963

President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jackie Kennedy greet well-wishers along the reception line after Air Force One landed at Carswell Air Force Base, Fort Worth, on Nov. 21, 1963. Lady Bird and Vice President Lyndon Johnson are at the head of the line.

President John F. Kennedy and wife Jackie, surrounded by a crowd and followed by bodyguard Clint Hill and Vice President Lyndon Johnson, enter Hotel Texas in downtown Fort Worth on Nov. 21, 1963.

Mirrored wall with corner couch and Chinese wall hanging, Suite 850, Hotel Texas, prepared for President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy, photographed on Nov. 19, 1963

A.D. Rials, assistant manager of Hotel Texas, in Suite 850 living room with maid, being prepared for visit by President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy, Nov. 19, 1963

Friday, Nov. 22, 1963

Crowds outside Hotel Texas

At 4 a.m., crowds begin to gather in the parking lot across from Hotel Texas to wait for the president’s early morning address. Kennedy crosses the street at 8:50 a.m. to speak at an outside rally until 9:05 a.m.

Aerial of crowd waiting to hear John F. Kennedy speak outside Hotel Texas, now the Hilton. A flatbed truck moved in place as a temporary stage. Mounted sheriff’s patrol did crowd control. Fort Worth, 11/22/1963

Crowd gathered outside Hotel Texas, now the Hilton, to hear John F. Kennedy speak, 11/22/1963

Crowds outside Hotel Texas in downtown Fort Worth, waiting to greet President John F. Kennedy, 11/22/1963

President John F. Kennedy walking with group of men including, from left, Jim Wright, Don Kennard, Gov. John Connally, and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Fort Worth, 11/22/1963

President John F. Kennedy shaking hands and speaking with the crowd outside Hotel Texas in downtown Fort Worth, 11/22/1963

President John F. Kennedy greets mounted sheriff’s patrol and crowd control officers who are on horseback in front of Hotel Texas in downtown Fort Worth. The man in the hat is Sheriff Lon Evans. 11/22/1963

John F. Kennedy surrounded by crowd outside Hotel Texas, Fort Worth, 11/22/1963

John F. Kennedy shaking hands with crowds outside Hotel Texas, Fort Worth. 11/22/1963

John F. Kennedy surrounded by crowd outside Hotel Texas, Fort Worth, Nov. 22, 1963

John F. Kennedy speaking to crowd in front of Hotel Texas, Fort Worth. V.P. Lyndon B. Johnson to JFK’s left and Texas Governor John Connally over JFK’s left shoulder, Sen. Ralph Yarborough over right shoulder, and State Sen. Don Kennard to JFK’s right, on morning of November 22, 1963.

John F. Kennedy speaks to crowd outside Hotel Texas, Fort Worth. 11/22/1963

Chamber breakfast

Just after 9 a.m., President Kennedy returns into the hotel and attends a breakfast sponsored by the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. At 9:25 a.m., Jackie Kennedy appears in a pink suit and pillbox hat.

People climb the lobby stairway at the Hotel Texas in downtown Fort Worth to attend the Chamber of Commerce breakfast for President John F. Kennedy and his party. 11/22/1963

The Hotel Texas ballroom at the Chamber of Commerce breakfast, where President John F. Kennedy was speaking. 11/22/1963

People climbing the lobby stairway at Hotel Texas to attend the breakfast for President John F. Kennedy and his party, 11/22/1963

Hotel Texas chefs preparing the breakfast for President John F. Kennedy and party, 11/22/1963

President John F. Kennedy takes the podium at the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce breakfast, Hotel Texas, 11/22/1963

President John F. Kennedy and wife Jacqueline are escorted to seats at a table on the dais, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce breakfast, Hotel Texas, 11/22/1963

President John F. Kennedy applauds his wife Jacqueline during introductions at the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce breakfast, Hotel Texas, 11/22/1963

Motorcade to Carswell AFB

After the breakfast, at 10:10 a.m., the Kennedys return to their Hotel Texas suite and prepare for the trip to Carswell Air Force Base. Their motorcade from the hotel passes through downtown Fort Worth along Main Street to the courthouse, then Belknap Street to Jacksboro Highway to River Oaks Boulevard.

After greeting more crowds at Carswell, Air Force One takes off at 11:25 a.m. for Dallas Love Field.