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Lifestyle Section • Spring 2014 • Kentucky
25
The formal garden at
“Peace field”
Photo Credit:
Elizabeth Brown
Visiting the Adams of
Quincy Massachusetts
By Dr. Tom Miller, Staff Writer
Many professional meetings bring us to
Boston Massachusetts, treat yourself to
visiting a unique treasure in the heart of the
Boston area. John Adams (1735-1826),
son of Deacon John Adams and Susanna
Boylston, was a fifth generation descendant
from Henry Adams, who reached the shores
of America from England in 1633. Henry
with his wife and eight children was given
a grant of forty acres of land not far from
where John and Susanna Boylston Adams
brought up their three sons, including their
eldest, John. He attended Harvard College
where he received an A.B. in 1755. After
graduation, the future U.S. president briefly
taught school in Worcester, Massachusetts.
There he was influenced by attorney James
Putnam to pursue a career in law. John studied law under Putnam and then returned to
Braintree to be presented to the bar.
Today, the Adams National Historical Park
serves as a setting to investigate the role that
John Adams played in establishing and perpetuating the American democratic tradition. John Adams’ life is vividly interpreted
by National Park Service rangers using the
three historic residences that comprise the
site as unique backdrops to tell the story.
Visitors can witness firsthand the environment that shaped the character and ideas of
the Adams family and in so doing, arrive at
a better understanding of these important
men and women. The National Park Service
conscientiously preserves these houses and
the property around them to provide present and future generations with a window to
view an American family who contributed
to their country through public service.
The Adams National Historical Park
includes three historic houses, the John
Adams Birthplace, the John Quincy Adams
Birthplace, the Old House at Peace field;
the 1870 Stone Library, the 1873 Adams
Carriage House, and 12 acres of historic
grounds including the formal garden and
orchard. Park your car in the parking garage
behind the Visitor Center and leave the
rest to us! Tours of the park leave from the
Visitor Center daily during our open season
(April 19 - November 10) and are offered
on a first-come, first serve basis. Tours
depart the Visitor Center on a trolley which
will bring you to the Presidential Birthplaces
where you will be dropped off for a guided
tour with a Park Ranger. After this half hour
tour the trolley will then bring you to the
Old House where you will have an hour
long guided tour with a Park Ranger. The
trolley will then pick you up and return you
to the Visitor Center. The houses are old
and were built as family homes, not tourist
attractions, and some rooms have limited
space.
Adams National Historical Park was the
home of two American presidents and subsequent generations of their descendants
from 1720 to 1927. The family’s experience
represented, shaped, and mirrored significant events in the social, cultural, political,
and intellectual history of the nation. The
park is to preserve and protect the grounds,
homes, and personal property of four generations of the Adams family and to use
these resources to interpret the history they
represent and to educate and inspire current
and future generations.
About the Author
Thomas W. Miller, Ph.D. ABPP is a Professor
Emeritus and Se