Calvin Solinger, age 13, of Austin, Texas, for his question:

WHEN WAS THE KENNEDY CENTER BUILT?

Officially known as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the famous national cultural center in Washington, D.C. was opened in 1971 as an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.

The Kennedy Center was designed by the American architect Edward Dureli Stone. It stands on the banks of the Potomac River and serves as a showcase for attractions in the performing arts. The American Film Institute and the National Symphony orchestra are resident companies of the center.

Three main theaters are in the Kennedy Center: the Eisenhower Theater, the Opera House and the Concert Hail. The Eisenhower Theater, which seats 1,100 persons, offers dramatic productions. The Opera House seats 2,200 and presents opera, musical comedies and ballet. The Concert Hall, which has 2,750 seats, features concert music.

A board of 45 trustees administers the center. The president appoints 30 of the trustees and three come from each house of Congress. Each of the other nine trustees represent a government or nongovernment agency.