Adams National Historical Park

Adams National Historic Site
Location: 135 Adams St., Quincy, Massachusetts
Area: 8.5 acres (3.4 ha) (NRHP listing) 13.82 acres (5.59 ha) (9.17 acres (3.71 ha) federal)
Built: 1788
Architectural style: Georgian, Federal
Visitation: 253,656[2] (2009)
Governing body: National Park Service
NRHP Reference#: 66000051[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP: October 15, 1966
Designated NHS: December 9, 1946
Designated NHP: 1998

Adams National Historical Park, formerly Adams National Historic Site, in Quincy, Massachusetts, preserves the home of Presidents of the United States John Adams and John Quincy Adams, of U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain, Charles Francis Adams, and of the writers and historians Henry Adams and Brooks Adams.

The national historical park's eleven buildings tell the story of five generations of the Adams family (from 1720 to 1927) including Presidents, First Ladies, U.S. Ministers, historians, writers, and family members who supported and contributed to their success. In addition to Peacefield, home to four generations of the Adams family, the park's main historic features include the John Adams Birthplace (October 30, 1735), the nearby John Quincy Adams Birthplace (July 11, 1767), and the Stone Library (built in 1870 to house the books of John Quincy Adams and believed to be the first presidential library), containing more than 14,000 historic volumes in 12 languages.

There is an off-site visitor center less than a mile (1.6 km) away. Regularly scheduled tours of the houses are offered in season (April 19 to November 10), by guided tour only, using a tourist trolley provided by the Park Service between sites. Access to United First Parish Church is provided by the congregation for which they ask a small donation. The church is across the street from the visitor center

Contents

John Adams Birthplace

Main article: John Adams birthplace (Quincy, Massachusetts)

This house is a National Historic Landmark, the birthplace of John Adams. In 1720 it was purchased by Deacon John Adams, Sr., the father of the future second president. He lived here until 1764, when he married Abigail Smith. It is a few feet from the John Quincy Adams Birthplace.

John Quincy Adams Birthplace

Main article: John Quincy Adams Birthplace

This house was the birthplace of John Quincy Adams, the sixth president, son of John and Abigail, who was born in 1767.

The Old House at Peacefield

Main article: Peacefield

The Old House was originally constructed in 1731 for Leonard Vassall, a sugar planter, and was used as his summer house. The house stood empty for some time before it, along with 75 acres (30 ha), was purchased by Adams on September 23, 1787 for 600 pounds. The Adams's family moved in the next year and occupied it until 1927, when it was sold to the Adams Memorial Society. The National Park Service acquired it in 1947, and has been a National Historic Site ever since.

Stone Library

This library, on the grounds of Peacefield, is home to over 14,000 volumes which belonged to the Adams family. In his will, John Quincy Adams requested that the library be built out of stone so that it would be fireproof. The building was completed in 1870.

United First Parish Church

Main article: United First Parish Church, Quincy, Massachusetts

The church where both Presidents and their First Ladies are entombed in the Adams Crypt has never been administered by the National Park service. It is owned by the active congregation of Unitarian Universalists. In the past ten years, the congregation has used almost $2 million of its own resources to preserve the building.

Administrative history

References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
  2. ^ "Five Year Annual Recreation Visits Report". Public Use Statistic Office, National Park Service. http://www.nature.nps.gov/stats/viewReport.cfm?selectedReport=SystemComparisonReport.cfm. 
  3. ^ "ADAMS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE". National Park Service. 2009-10-17. http://www.nps.gov/legal/laws/PV/NatlHistSitesFinal.pdf. 

External links

National Historical Parks of the United States
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace • Adams • Appomattox Court House • Boston • Cane River Creole • Cedar Creek and Belle Grove • Chaco Culture • Chesapeake and Ohio Canal • Colonial • Cumberland Gap • Dayton Aviation Heritage • George Rogers Clark • Harpers Ferry • Hopewell Culture • Independence • Jean Lafitte • Kalaupapa • Kaloko-Honokōhau • Keweenaw • Klondike Gold Rush • Lewis and Clark • Lowell • Lyndon B. Johnson • Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller • Minute Man • Morristown • Natchez • New Bedford Whaling • New Orleans Jazz • Nez Perce • Palo Alto Battlefield • Paterson Great Falls • Pecos • Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau • Roosevelt Campobello International Park • Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front • Salt River Bay • San Antonio Missions • San Francisco Maritime • San Juan Island • Saratoga • Sitka • Thomas Edison • Tumacácori • Valley Forge • War in the Pacific • Women's Rights