Adams National Historical Park

Last updated: March 18, 2024

I love that I was able to take nine days and explore New England. While that’s definitely not enough time to thoroughly visit Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, it was enough time to get just a taste to know I want to go back!

My main goal while in Massachusetts was to visit Salem and see all 15 National Park Service sites, but only had time for 13 (and I barely got those in!). Not to mention Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard hhand Nantucket. Oh well… I guess I’ll have to go back, darn it. 😉

This park is part of the National Park System and preserves the home of the second and sixth presidents of the United States. John Adams and his son, John Quincy Adams, were born and raised here. This place 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.

There is a trolly that takes you throughout the 13 acre park to the different locations including the birthplaces of John Adams and John Quincy Adams; the Old House at Peace field, home to the four generations of the Adams family; and the Stone Library which houses personal papers and over 14,000 books which belonged to John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Charles Francis Adams, Henry Adams, and Brooks Adams. In his will, John Quincy Adams requested that the library be built out of stone so that it would be fireproof.

There’s a lovely garden on the grounds that I thoroughly enjoyed exploring.