Adams National Parks

Adams National Historical Park was designated as part of the National Park Service in 1946 to commemorate the distinguished men and women of the Adams family who dedicated their lives to the development and service of the United States. The fourteen-acre park is comprised of the Birthplaces of John Adams and John Quincy Adams; the Old House, home to four generations of the Adams family; and the United First Parish Church, final resting place of both presidents and first ladies Abigail and Louisa Catherine Adams.

John Adams   1735-1826

The son of a farmer, John Adams’s last public statement, “Independence Forever,” summarizes his immense contributions to the founding of the United States of America. Called the Atlas of Independence, Adams was a force that led us toward the Declaration of Independence in 1776. As a diplomat, Adams made peace with Great Britain and established the foundations of our foreign relations; as first vice-president, Adams helped forge the fledgling government; as second President, Adams kept us out of war and ensured the tradition of a peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the next; as a respected lawyer, he crafted the Massachusetts Constitution, the longest-lived constitution in continuous use in the world today, and a model for the federal Constitution. As a person, Adams displayed a passion for learning and the outdoors, a love of family, and an enduring sense of humor.

Abigail Adams   1744-1818

Abigail Adams brought more intellect and ability to the position of United States First Lady than any other woman. President Harry Truman once noted that Abigail Adams "would have been a better President than her husband." Yet, she lived in an era when women were not supposed to have, or express, their opinions about government or the exciting events of the times. Abigail Adams struggled her whole life with the limitations that society placed upon her dreams. Despite these hardships, Abigail found a way to use her talents to serve her nation by assisting and advising her husband, President John Adams, and teaching and guiding her son, President John Quincy Adams. Throughout her 74 year life, this American heroine was an invaluable contributor to the founding and strengthening of the United States.

John Quincy Adams   1767-1848

No American who ever entered the presidency was better prepared to fill that office than John Quincy Adams. Born on July 11, 1767 in Braintree, Massachusetts, he was the son of two fervent revolutionary patriots, John and Abigail Adams, whose ancestors had lived in New England for five generations. He would become a diplomat handicapped by a cold austere manner, a politician who hated politicking, a nationalist who maintained a love of his native New England. While many mysteries remain about this man it is safe to conclude that he was brilliant, courageous and painfully honest, not least with himself. Adams died thinking his career a failure, but it was only so by the impossibly high standards that he set for himself. Though he never fully grasped the underlying forces that were shaping America during his life, John Quincy Adams' patriotism and vision for freedom during the course of almost 70 years of public service made him one of the most important and influential contributors to the strengthening of the nation, whose birth he witnessed as a young boy from Penn's Hill.

Louisa Catherine Adams   1775-1852

Louisa Catherine Adams is often times omitted or forgotten in books of first ladies or notable American Women. Nevertheless, she made immense contributions to her nation and played a vital role in supporting her husband's, John Quincy Adams', career. Louisa's relative obscurity may be due to the fact that although she disliked the restrictions that society placed upon her as a woman, she conformed to them and concentrated on being a loyal wife and devoted mother. While some today may disagree with such priorities, it would be wrong to interpret Louisa's choices as evidence of her weakness, because Post-Revolutionary War America expected wives to subordinate their wishes to their husbands desires. Although Louisa did not openly challenge these standards, she frequently showed her abilities. When John Quincy Adams was weakened by the conflicts and hardships in his life it was often his wife who brought strength, courage and compassion to the family. Only through a thorough examination of this woman's life can we uncover the important place in history that Louisa Catherine Adams truly deserves.

The John Adams and John Quincy Adams Birthplaces are the oldest presidential birthplaces in the United States. In 1735, John Adams was born in the salt box house located only 75 feet away from the birthplace of his son, John Quincy Adams. In the John Quincy Adams Birthplace, young John and Abigail started their family and the future President launched his career in politics and law. John Adams maintained his law office in the house and it was here that he, Samuel Adams and James Bowdoin wrote the Massachusetts Constitution. This document, still in use today, greatly influenced development of the United States Constitution.

The Old House, built in 1731, became the residence of the Adams family for four generations from 1788 to 1927. It was home to Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams; First Ladies Abigail and Louisa Catherine Adams; Civil War Minister to Great Britain Charles Francis Adams; and literary historians Henry and Brooks Adams. The Adams family’s legacy of service to their nation is reflected as much by the 78,000 artifacts inside the Old House as by its historic landscape. Following a tour, you may wish to stroll the Old House grounds which include a historic orchard and an 18^th-century style formal garden, containing thousands of annual and perennial flowers. The 1873 Carriage House is also available for self-guided tours.

The United First Parish Church, constructed in 1828, was designed by Alexander Parris and partially financed through a generous land donation from John Adams. The crypt beneath the sanctuary is the final resting place of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams, and First Ladies Abigail and Louisa Catherine Adams. Today the church remains an active parish.