Adams National Historical Park Reviews

My husband and I visit Presidential Homes. This tour was fantastic! The tours guides were passionate about their subject and full of knowledge. They have obvious great respect for the two Presidents and their families.We learned so much and have since bought the book, John Adams by David McCullough. We had already seen the well done TV series.This was extra special because both father and son Presidents lived here. Plus, there are actually three building to tour. The Stone Library was fascinating also. Remember to go the the National Historic Park first to catch the trolly ride. Also make a right immediately after the park and proceed to the praking deck also on the right! Parking is at a premium there. The parking price is included in the ticket. They staff was helpful and the gift shop had a great selection!

the trip to the Adams properties was great. I've lived in Boston for 71 years and had never done this tour. I think it was $5 (maybe more now) and a shuttle takes you to 2 of the three sites for guided tours. wonderful tour guides with senses of humor make this 2 hour trip fun. don't miss the catacombs in the 1st Parish Church of Quincy.

The Park Service provided an excellent tour of the three homes. Just get an early tour before they get crowded. A good amount of time was spent in each house with guides who are very knowledgeable about the Adams family, their time in the homes and the homes themselves. A lot of information was provided during the tour in a very well-paced manner. Getting to the Park Service Visitor Center before opening on a Saturday enabled us to park in front of the office. There is a parking garage behind the building, and the service validates parking. A tour definitely worth taking.

It's kind of confusing where to go and where to park but this is a must see. I say that about most historical parks but hey, 2 presidents of the United States of America and see their humble beginnings.

walk around Quincy and get to know this gem of a historic site with gardens, off the beaten path with a quiet environment and park.

We are so blessed that's the Adams family preserved and donated the the houses to the national Park services.
With my national Park pass, this 2 hour to was free! Great intro movie, trolley ride to the three houses. The guides were enthusiastic and knowledgeable about their subject. The houses are filled with period furniture and the Peaceful farm is all original. A stunning tour of the library is included.
A wonderful reminder of the sacrifices of American Patriots.
Even in the blistering heat, they have managed to provide ac and fans..

My wife and I really enjoyed the tour of Adams families three houses. Now we have a better picture of John Adams life and how he lived. The tour guides did an outstanding job of explaining the life of John Adams and his family.

We opted for the combination ticket when we visited on 5/15/24 which gives visitors a guided tour of John Adams' and John Quincy Adams' birthplaces (south of the visitor center) as well as John and Abigail's home Peace Field (north of the visitor center). To visit the houses requires on street parking which can be a little tricky, but the visitor center will validate your parking if you park in the garage directly behind it in downtown Quincy. The visitor center has an excellent introductory film about the Adams family and their many achievements. Be sure to use the restrooms at the visitor center as there are none available at the historical homes. Also, if you purchase a combination pass, save your receipt as you will need to show it at the birthplace location as well as Peace Field.

Our tour guide at the birthplace homes seemed fairly new and mixed up the historical dates/names a bit, so I am not sure that we got the most accurate tour there. However, our tour guide at Peace Field was exceptional and had lot of interesting tidbits to share about the home and the four generations of the Adams family that lived there and expanded the structure from six rooms to how you see it today. The grounds at Peace Field are open until dusk so visitors can explore the gardens and walk around the house and 1873 carriage house. Highly recommend to anyone looking to learn more about one of America's first families.

Went thru the Adams house and library. Home to two presidents. Extremely well preserved and lead by excellent Park Rangers. They even have the original proof copy of the Declaration of independence .

Make sure you plan for the time it takes to travel by trolley to the locations. You won't be disappointed. Presidential history is always interesting.

First -received clear cut helpful advice from Ranger answering phone
Yes we could attend only the mansion
And there was parking and low crowds due to nearness of Labor Day
My 95 year old history buff Mother wanted visit Quincy Adams site
They gave us a private tour bc of Mom and asked to help and they opted for a private tour guide named Rick was patient and very informative
Excellent speaker in the incredible library
Well taken care of by all staff
Bravo !! National Park Service!!
We did not ask for this assistance they offered with a gracious manner

This is a very well done guided tour that takes about 2 hours, so you should do some planning ahead. My family of three, including 11 year old, learned so much on this tour. We downloaded the Junior Ranger workbook, so my son was able to earn a Jr. Ranger badge there. You purchase your tickets in the visitor center, and a trolly takes you to the three houses of John Adams and John Quincy Adams. The ranger guides do a great job of explaining things, but if you are not “up” on all the history of the time, be sure to watch the 26 minute video in the visitor center. If you park in the garage behind the center, be sure to the ticket validated. This visit was one of the highlights of our trip to Boston!

We had a local tell us about this tour of the John Adams and John Quincy Adams' birth homes and residences and library. You can reach this attraction by using the T line towards Quincy/Braintree. From there the NPS is a short walk, like a block and a half. The homes are set for the periods and the information is historical and very interesting. The gardens are very nice and the Adams library is excellent. A shuttle provided by the NPS takes you from site to site, just stay with your group. This is a must see.

Remarkably well preserved house and library with attractive gardens that you can stroll around. The tour guide, Alison, was deeply knowledgeable about the Adams family and clearly loves the house and the many stories it holds. This tour was the best part of our trip to the area.

Managed to take the tours of the houses on the last day they were opened, Oct 30. I can't believe the place is closed from November to May. They only allow 8-10 people to tour the houses so be sure to sign up once you know you are going. In addition, at least in 2022 the trolley was not running so you had to drive yourself or walk between the two houses, they gave us around 40 minutes and I was able to walk it, probably a little under 2 miles, since I took the train from NYC to Boston and didn't drive.

The tour starts at John Adams birthplace with a Ranger tour and then goes next door to the house John moved into when he married Abigail and John Quincy was born here. There is not a whole lot of original stuff in these houses, but you can get an idea how they lived.

Next is Peacefield which is the house the Adams's moved into after returning from France and Great Britain and remained in the family until turned over to the Park Service. This house has a lot of original furnishings, painting and gifts given to the Adams family. There is a library as well which contains many of the families' volumes of books.

To get the complete Adams story, you need to do some itinerary planning. There are basically three areas of touring interest. First, tours of the Adams' homes, including the two birthplace homes of John and Quincy and their later home of Peace field - which covered four generations, require on-line reservations. Reservations are limited, and times should be booked well in advance of your touring day. It also requires you to drive between the two site locations. Throughout our ranger led tour, several tourists were turned away not knowing that reservations were required. Second, the visitor's center, located in Quincy, is separate from the "tour"- a ranger here will help with your Adams questions and will show a great movie on the Adams history, with narrators including Tom Hanks. The gift shop is also packed with Adams clothing and souvenirs. A parking garage is located in back of the center; the ranger will validate your ticket for free parking. Third - across from the visitor's center is The United Parrish First Church where both Adams and wifes are entombed - docents will describe the rich church's history before taking you to the basement and actually enter the crypt. Our complete Adams itinerary was great - well done!

I loved visiting this National Park. If you have a National Park pass, it will cost you $1 to get in. We ordered tickets on-line the night before which was convenient. The train ride from the city to the Park was easy. I loved seeing the home where John Adams was born and raised. The final home of John Adams was spectacular with the library, furnishings, artwork, dishes, etc, original to the home's owner. I was awestruck seeing the chair where John Adams spoke his final words. The tour guides were fantastic. I am so happy we spent the time on the two hour guided tour.

The places you can visit from here will take about three hours. Adams National Historical Park is operated by the National Parks Service. Easy to get to despite being surrounded by the current City of Quincy, MA. This can also be reached by MTA from Boston. We drove as we had other stops on our vacation. Note: attached parking garage is free when you get the receipt validated at the site where you purchase tickets for the trolley tour. Open every day 9am-5pm April 19-November 10. Trolley tours are scheduled every two hours and last 90 minutes, last tour is at 3:15pm. Fee is $15.00 pp, under 16 free. We seniors have the US Park Service Interagency lifetime pass so no fees. As we had an hour before the next tour we were directed to visit the United First Parish Church where the President Adams and their wives are now interred. See separate review for church tour. National Park Service guides meet you at each stop on the trolley tour. Can't say enough about the guides, very informative as been our experiences other USNP sites.We visited the original Adams homesteads on one site and then to the large house, Peacefield, built after John Adams returned from Europe. This house has been preserved by the grandson as a memorial to his family's legacy. Today Adams descendants contribute to the preservation and annually gather here. The walking is easy but note there are stairs in the big house. The Gothic Revival Stone Library is a later attention to the site (1870) and houses 14,000 volumes owned by John Quincy Adams. Also surrounded by beautiful gardens.
Worthwhile trip for anyone interested in US history during the Colonial & Revolutionary War era.Doesn't get better than this. Enjoy.

It sucks dealing with the idiots where you buy your tickets , but once you get in the main house , it's well worth it. Really cool place filled with history

I went in March, before the homes were open for a tour. It was still worth visiting just to walk along the grounds. There are a few locations to see in this area: The Old House is the main location, but the homes they were born and their graves are both located in this area and worth stopping to explore as well.

We really enjoyed our tours. The trolley was not running the day of our tour, so we started at the birthplace houses, then drove over to Peacefield. The houses are very different and show different periods in the Adams' lives and cover 4 generations. Peacefield is a real jewel, especially that library. The tour guides were excellent, rattling off facts and quotations. Afterwards we went back to the visitors center to watch the film, but didn't feel like we learned much more than we already had, so would not go out of my way for that; also, it is totally not obvious how to get from the parking garage to the visitors center, which was very weird. There are NO bathrooms at the houses, so plan accordingly . We probably spent 3 hours in total, wrapping up just in time to tour the United First Parish Church (where some of the family is buried) across the street from the visitors center.

I have been here 6 times and I learn/see something new every time! Four generations of the Adams family lived here. The items in the house belonged to them. The library is phenomenal! It contains several thousand books belonging mostly to John Quincy. Do not miss this National Park!

As another reviewer stated it is difficult to quietly absorb the significance of the early years of John & Abigail in the house they lived in during the first 20 years of their marriage. I had to rely on the history I read prior to the visit.
However the tour guides were full of information and did a great job of answering questions asked during the tour. And having a trolley take you on the tour was certainly better than trying to drive yourself in Quincy traffic.
If a quiet moment to reflect is important to you I suggest taking the short walk from the Park Service store to the church where the Adams family rest in their tombs. The church guide allowed plenty of time to reflect, to touch the tombs and pay homage to this family that has done so much for our country. I felt the visit to the church was the perfect end to the house tour although sitting on the same porch where John and Abigail sat at PeaceField was amazing!

Very well run and organized. The park rangers were very knowledgeable.

The library is the most impressive part from my stand point. Also the portraits in the later home are all original and amazing.

I learned a lot and it was well worth the time.

Literally the only reason I didn't score it a 5 is due to having to be on a tight schedule - their choice not mine - and not being able to ask enough questions nor spend enough time on the topics.

Having said that, make the visit!

The Adams National Historical Park contains the birth places and residences of John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and several other members of the Adams family. Persons interested in American history would thoroughly enjoy visiting this resource. The movie in the Visitors Center lasts about 30 minutes and is well done. You must purchase tickets at the Visitors Center for the tour. The only negative aspect of the tour is that photographs may not be taken inside the residences and library. Aside from that, this was time well spent.

John and John Quincy Adams family homes. Really wonderful journey back in time. It was wonderful to see where history of the country was made.

It is a quick history lesson stop, some good data, clean enough, fills in with other Adams family attractions in Quincy and Weymouth

Once again, the National Park Service delivers. Timely trolley service to birthplace of John Adams, John Quincy, then to the family home they later occupied with the famed Stone Library. Great visit.

The Adams family homes located in Quincy are spread out a bit in the city so you'll have to either walk to the sites or board the trolley that runs every 15 minutes picking up and dropping off tourists to the visitor center, Peace Field, or the birthplace of both John and John Quincy Adams. The tours within the historic homes are extremely informative and led by visibly enthusiastic and knowledgeable National Park Service employees. Entrance fees to tour the sites are $10 per person, with children or students free. This experience can last all day or you can do it all in a couple hours.

My husband, adult daughter, and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Adams National Historical Park. A parking garage Is attached to the building that houses the Visitor Center, which was a very short walk, and cost only $5.00! A security guard was present in the outer hall, where bathrooms and a convenience store are located. Once at the Visitor Center, there were pleasant and knowledgeable staff, an interesting thirty-minute film, and clean restrooms, as well as gift items.
The two-hour tour, which was a reasonable $15 per person, leaves from the Visitor Center by trolley, arriving first at the birth homes of John Adams and John Quincy Adams. Our guide, Michael D., was enthusiastic, engaging, and knowledgeable. The second stop took us to Peace Field, the later home and library
of John and Abigail Adams. Bob W was enthusiastic, detail-oriented, and willing to answer questions. Both guides made our visit enjoyable!
The grounds and gardens were beautiful! The library was breathtaking! The overall experience was absolutely peaceful, as named!
For anyone interested in History, we definitely recommend this Park!

The staff was very helpful in understanding Adams roll and bringing stability to our new nation. The first Adams had connections in Europe because he was an ambassador. I wish I had had more time to visit.

My mother and I had been meaning to visit Adams NHP for months, and we are so glad we found the time to. The $15/person was well worth it for the two-hour tour to three historic homes which included trolley transportation to and from the visitor center. The birthplaces of the two presidents were okay -- not a whole lot to see physically, but interesting stories.

Old House, or "Peace field," however, was absolutely incredible. The guides are SO knowledgeable; ours was Moriah, who provided excellent insight to the four generations of the Adams family who lived there. As a historic tour guide myself I have seen a lot of houses from this time period, and this was among the most impressive for preservation, display, and maintenance. I cannot recommend this tour enough for anyone with a slight interest in U.S. history. Really, really well done!

this is a real gem and the best place we visited in boston. no long lines or clueless tourists. the guides were so well informed and could answer any questions and gave very good, thorough explanations for each house, leader, portrait and room. the group we toured with asked great, intelligent questions.

After reading a biography of John Adams I wanted to see the homestead, even though my time iin Quincy was limited. full tour is three hours and begins at Quincy College (take advantage of the only wash rooms available on the tour) where a trolley bus shuttles you to the stops on the tour. As I was tight on time I elected to go straight to The Old House at Peace Field and to the Stone Library just steps away from the house.

You will find the National Park Service staff are friendly and very knowledgeable. A walk through the 18th century formal style garden leads to the Library that houses an astounding 12,000 volumes as well as a bit of art and sculpture, all above a stone floor that is magnificent. The Carriage House and the Big House are steps away. If your time is limited consider this as an alternative to the 3 hour tour.

This is an amazing find. We drove up from the Cape and saw both the original birth places, and the family home. The collections in the "big house" are phenomenal, and we wonder why they are not in a museum quality setting. It was another surprise find for us, and a gem waiting for history buffs to visit and marvel at this piece of our national heritage.

The Adams homes in Quincy are an absolute must particularly if you enjoy learning about the history of our nation. Took my grandchildren on this tour and had a blast! While the older homes are interesting, the larger one where Adams lived after his presidency is truly a gem. The furnishings are all original and the library is mind blowing.

I had read the reviews that this tour is fast paced and indeed it was. I thoroughly enjoy the visit and it was amazing to be standing in the 17th century homes that would eventually be occupied by two presidents. There is free parking available at the site where you pick up the trolley. Just hold on to your ticket and have it stamped. With a half hour video included the tour takes 2.5 hours. You will visit the birth homes of John and John Quincy Adams and then go to Peacefield, the presidential homes. Included in the tour is the massive library belonging to the Adams family. Be sure to use the restroom at the visitors center because there are no facilities throughout the tour. Walk across the street from the visitor center to First Parish Church, the final resting place for the presidents and their First Ladies. Be aggressive with exterior photos upon arrival, there is no time to linger about the grounds after entering the homes. As is usual, there is no photography permitted in the residences.

We greatly enjoyed the 30 minute video prior to the tour - very well narrated (Tom Hanks Laura Linney, Paul Giamatti)

The trolley takes you between the center and both locations. Our tour guides were knowledgeable and kind. Learning both about the Adams and life in colonial times. You get to see a lot of artifacts up close and hear their histories and importance.

I would have liked more time visiting the grounds and gardens at the second stop. In hind sight, you could do this if you walked back to the visitor center which would have been less than a half a mile.

Fun outing for kids--and big kids--alike. First, buy your tickets, watch the fine movie, and browse the gift shop at the Visitor Center (across the street from the Red Line stop at Quincy Center). Then hop aboard the trolley for a 2.5-hour tour of four Adams family sites. National Park Service rangers guide you through all sites, and give interesting talks along the way.

The first stop is the birth homes of John Adams (2nd President) and John Quincy Adams (6th President); the homes are next door to each other. Then the trolley takes you to Peace Field, the stately home John and Abigail Adams bought in 1787, which the family expanded over four generations. Adjacent to the home is the library of John Quincy Adams, the nation's first presidential library. Don't miss a walk through the lovely gardens at Peace Field, where you can stretch your legs (and let the kids enjoy the fresh air.)

Tours run April 19 through Nov. 10. The first tour leaves the Visitor Center at 9:15 am, with the final tour leaving at 3:15 pm. Since the tours are so well done, it's a painless way to spark interest in American history, and one of our country's most fascinating families.

This was our third stop on a bus tour around Boston. Not being from the USA, I knew almost nothing about the Adams family ( hangs head in shame). This family home is overseen by the Parks Department and the Rangers act as guides. Our tour started well in the library beside the main house, where we were treated to some quite enthralling historical stories about the origins of the family and the major intellectual role they played in drawing up the constitution after independence. They even had an original Mormon bible given by Joseph Smith himself.!

After that the tour went downhill as we were passed to two of his colleagues in turn and rushed around the (not very large) homestead, ducking behind doors and empty rooms to avoid competing groups.

The young ranger delivered the information at breakneck speed and obviously thought some of his comments were humorous. He was oblivious to his group, an older set of guest from the UK and Ireland who struggled to hear what he was saying and decode his accent.

Not too disappointed with our visit as it had been a long day and delighted to learn a little US history. So do visit, but I don't know how you would avoid crowds of people as the site is clearly of such significance historically.

This is a fascinating place to visit right outside of Boston. Great historical spot and the guides gave a solid understanding of the importance of John and John Quincy Adams and their family. Loved it! One bit of advice: Definitely consider taking the "T" rather than driving. Easy ride from Downtown Boston BUT make sure you get off at Quincy Center NOT at Quincy Adams. The visitor center is across the street from the Quincy Center station.

A 2 hour trip full of American colonial history and the inside stories to the Adams family and legacy. The Rangers offer detailed information. A delight for the history buff.

We recently made a wonderful visit to the Adams National Historic Park. Tours depart from the Visitors Center and go by trolley to the three Adams’ homes and library; tickets are required. Arriving just before 2:00 on a Sunday afternoon, we were able to get tickets for the 3:15 tour, the last one of the day. The ranger advised us to visit the United First Parish Church (not part of the Park) while waiting, but that really didn’t allow us any time to explore the Visitors Center or see the short film there as the Center was closed when we returned from the tour (which we understood beforehand). I’m sure we made the better choice as we liked hearing all the history during our tour of the church (plus we had a little time to spend in the Hancock Cemetery), but arriving earlier in the day would have given us the opportunity to see more and be more flexible.

Logistics aside, the tour was great, with the trolley stopping first at two side-by-side homes, the John Adams Birthplace and the John Quincy Adams Birthplace, and then going on to Peacefield, the subsequent home of John and later John Quincy and then several more generations of the family, and the Stone Library. At each place, a guide took the group around. The limited number in the group gave everyone an opportunity to see the various rooms and the artifacts within them as well as ask questions. Each guide was very informative and engaging. The Library was amazing with over 12,000 books! I thought it was a well-paced tour, although I wish we had had more time at Peacefield as we could only see the beautiful grounds in passing. I don’t know whether tours earlier in the day allow a little time for strolling the grounds, but I assume we could have returned on our own had we had more time (we need to make another visit!).

Parking was easy in the garage adjacent to the Visitors Center, and the parking ticket was validated when we signed up for our tour. Access via the MBTA’s Red Line would be easy enough from Boston.

I highly recommend a visit to learn more about this important family in American history!

it was fun to see an Adam's homestead after growing up in a town where there is an Adam's compound still used by his heirs.

Highly recommend this as a place to visit, our city has so much history. It is well kept and full of educational lessons

The rangers on this tour were fantastic. The homes are full of interesting tidbits about life in New England spanning over 100 years, and the stories of the Adams’ family members, men and women, were fascinating. The library and garden are beautiful. But the rangers were so knowledgeable and made the tour and the families come to life. Highly recommended, better than expected, and a real gem if visiting or living in this area and have never been.

Went on the tour offered by the park service. Very well organized and all of the Park Service people and volunteers were great- very accommodating and knowledgeable. Nice gift shop and informative movie. The tram operated by the Park Service was excellent.

Visited the home of John and Abigail the two farmhouses were amazing, well kept and well informed by the tour guide. Peacefield was a wonderful home the tour was excellent and the library was a wonderful place to see would highly recommend a visit.

We spent about 4 hours on what should have been a 2 hour tour. We were told when we got there that the next tour was full but we noticed a few empty spots on the trolley. Then before our tour time, they announced that there would be a 30 minute delay because of a problem with one of their trolleys. In the end, it was an hour delay. The first two houses we saw were the house where John Adams was born and the house where John Quincy Adams was born. Then it was on to the larger "farm" where four generations of the family lived. It was furnished with family pieces and the library was amazing. That part of the tour was good. One positive is that they stamp your parking ticket if you park at the garage around the corner (in the same building). Be sure to bring your parking ticket with you so they can validate it.

I don’t know why I never visited this place before even though I lived in the Boston area for almost 2 years. I guess I shouldn’t feel bad. I went with my 89 year old grandmother who has lived nearby for her entire life! Boy, were we missing out. This is a real experience. This attraction is really three separate locations. The visitor’s center is nicely laid out and critically has the only bathroom at the sites. There, you buy your tickets for one of the shuttle/trolleys that leave every 30 minutes. Your first stop is the birthplaces of John Adams and John Quincy Adams. The two homes are literally neighbors and yet are in their original locations. Neither is particularly furnished and you cannot go upstairs. But, the stories are interesting and it’s nice to see the Spartan lifestyle of the time. The second stop is the much larger and ornate mansion that the Adams family (ha, not that one!) lived in for generations with the last person departing in 1927. There, you’ll find two structures to visit. One is the house itself which is furnished with items owned by the Adams family over the generations. You can see the improvements made over the years (gas, electricity, plumbing, style-changes). It was really fascinating and the staff were excellent interpreters of the location. The other building is the library. It too is all original and very interesting.
The National Park Service does a really good job maintaining these properties and especially the gardens outside of the mansion.

This is a great experience and most definitely worth the time. It takes about two hours and a half hours and you visit three historical spots. A trolley takes you to the two stops (3 Homes are visited). These are actual homes of John Adams and his family, not replicas. Very interesting, full of information about one of our founding fathers.
Best spot is the family library at Peace Field. Amazing.

Unfortunately the home itself was closed due to the shutdown. But you could still walk around the outside and enjoy the beautiful flowers and buildings for free. When people say there is limited parking nearby .They mean 4 parking spaces. So don't count on parking close by.

John Adams Historic National Park is an easy drive from Boston. John Adams was America's second President, a leader of the revolution, and signer of the Declaration of Independence. There are great tour guides; the park rangers are a wealth of knowledge. You can walk the grounds and they have a trolly to shuttle you between homes. Takes around 2 hours. I loved visiting Peacefield, which was the home for both John Adams and his Presidential son John Quincy Adams (6th President).

We took the early morning tour (9:15AM) on a Sunday. There are two main stops of the tour: half an hour at the birthplaces of the two presidents, then a one hour tour of the larger estate lived in by four generations of the Adams family. The shuttle ride between these spots and the National Park Center were very short.

We could easily have doubled the amount of time in each location. The tour guides were engaging and informative; the history was palpable and fascinating in each spot. We were really glad we were in the early tour, since we were able to ask more questions and all could fit within the roped-off-areas in the second house. There was definitely both joy and sorrow within these walls.

After the tours, we watched the 30-minute video at the National Park Service giving highlights in the life of the multi-generational family. This was definitely a highlight of our weekend!

Visiting the house of John Adams was great. House is kept well. We also walked the grounds. Very peaceful and reflective of over 200 years ago.

Whether your interest lies mainly in the history and the remarkable people who lived here or in the period houses themselves, you will be richly rewarded by this visit. Begin your visit by parking on the third level of the parking garage down the street from the visitor's center. Take the elevator to the lobby of the building that houses the visitor's center and purchase your ticket for the next tour. A trolley takes you to the birthplaces of John Adams and John Quincy Adams (two houses next to each other), then to Peacefield, then back to the visitor's center. Guides are friendly and knowledgeable. It's really well done.

We toured the Kennedy Museum in the morning and had a tour time. Have toured several homes of older presidents by purchasing tickets on site or no ticket was required. When we arrived, there was only one ticket left. The Ranger refused to bend the rules and let two of us go. She needs customer service training. The visitors center was not crowded. She did restart the film for us. There were three employees in the center so maybe one should be driving the trolley? Leading another tour? Tour guides could drive their group in the trolley?
We walked to the house and while there saw two guides + one in training? They were much more customer oriented!
This site is full of our history. Don’t turn people away!

We loved this place! Super informative, but also interesting. Our tour guide was excellent! Definitely stop!

Great place to visit. Very informative guides. Easy to get to and great diner down the road for lunch.

A US National Parks Annual Pass is a great value. What a great way to appreciate our history and have a good time. This trip took us to the Adams National Historic Park which consists of 3 buildings. You learn (or relearn) about the lives of the 2nd and 6th Presidents of the USA. Mostly you appreciate the sacrifices, foresight, and seemingly ordinary lives of these great men and women who shaped our country.

As other locals have said, it's easy to put off going to a place when you live nearby. I finally decided to go a couple of years ago and have been 4 times since. I first went when I learned that the Mendi Bible, the one presented to John Quincy Adams by the freed captives from the ship Amistad, was there in the library next to the "old" house at Peacefield. I've been back since because there is so much to see and learn in each of the houses, not only about the presidents, their families, and their histories, but also about the lives of people in general during that time. The docents are very knowledgable, the gardens are lovely, and it definitely makes sense to take the trolley to each stop, though we have also driven ourselves a few times since we know the area. Well worth going!

Spent Sunday on the 1:45 tour. Trolley was prompt and took us to two of the Adams family houses in Braintree, very informative park ranger, The trolley then arrived back to take us to the third home and the first presidential library. It is amazing that most of the artwork, furniture and china are original to the house, Again, the ranger at this property was quite informative, It is great for families with small children because the kids and do a scavenger hunt at the properties, So glad I took this tour.

We had a great trip visiting the Adams National Historical park. You will see three homes of our second and sixth Presidents. We were on the first tour of the day (highly recommended) and the homes were hot and they could be hotter as the day wore on. The shuttle takes you from the visitors center and the Rangers at the site provide an incredible experience and they answer every single question. The three homes give you an incredible glimpse of the past generations of our country. Everything in the third home is original and incredibly preserved. The tours run very efficiently. You can park in the garage at the visitors center and they validate your ticket for free parking. There is no downside to this tour. Take it, you live history. The National Park Service is great and they work hard to give you a great experience. It is not exactly friendly to strollers and wheel chairs. You are climbing a lot of steps in an 18th Century home. Remember it is free if you have a National parks pass. If you don't buy one they never expire.

Try to go in a beautiful day, and leave time to enjoy the grounds. You will feel the soul of the Adamses there! Also don't miss the library. Savor it.

This is a very special place and a must go for any American history enthusiast. There are three houses and a fabulous library.

We used our Golden age pass which saved us $10 each for the tour. There is a lot of construction in downtown Quincy so expect a little delay for the trolley. We enjoyed the introductory movie at the visitors center. The tour guides at each of the two stops were fascinating and they really knew their stuff The first stop arrived at the birthplaces of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams. We proceeded to Peace Farm where 4 generations of the Adams famiy lived. The home is filled with original art and furnishings. We especially enjoyed the library ***Make sure to have your parking ticket validated for free parking!

I understand why they do guided tours and the trolley, but we had to wait quite a while for our trolley in the heat and really the birthplace houses only needed about 5 minutes each. The final stop with the grounds and library were worth it and I wish you could just visit that one- I would go back, but not for the whole tour.

If you are visiting the Boston area, be sure to make the short trip to Quincy and tour the Adams National Historical Park. While the mansion (main home) is really quaint and interesting, be sure to view the inside of the brick library building as well as the grounds of "Peace Field" as the Adams family referered to it as.

Being in the houses where John Adams and John Quincy Adams were born was something, but what was really special was Peacefield the home John Adams later bought, which remained in the family until it was opened to the public. So many original items are in the house and library! (The Stone Library was my favorite.) The tour guides were fantastic - very knowledgeable and had many fun stories.

This tour is fantastic! The guides are very knowledgeable. The library was impressive. Must see if you are in Quincy Massachusetts!

The Park is extremely well organized, with excellent rangers who guide the tour. It provides a great perspective on the era from the pre-revolutionary war through the mid 1880s. Three homes are featured, two early homes where John and John Quincy Adams were born and raised and a later, grand home where they lived from the late 1780s and on through their dependent’s lives Their lives are explained in the context of the times. An efficient trolly supports the movements around the city to the different sites. To visit search for the Adams visitors center where they have an excellent video to set the stage for the visit

While other men may have cast a longer shadow over early American history, John Adams and his descendants may well have cared the most about their fellow citizens. The three homes that make up Adams NHP span almost two centuries and at least 5 generations of a family that dedicated itself in various ways to the betterment of others. The birthplaces of John and John Quincy are located a couple of miles from the Old House at Peacefield so, as others have mentioned, visiting requires a little advance planning, however, it is well worth it. You must reserve your tour time as the house dimensions limit group size. There is no parking at either site, but we found street parking a couple of blocks away in both locations. While you could visit one without the other, it is much more informative to experience both. Our experience at Peacefield was exceptional due to the dedication of our ranger guide. We would visit again without hesitation!

The houses connected to this site are wonderfully preserved, the tour guides articulate and well-informed, and the overall experience is excellent given the complexity. After parking, take your ticket inside to get it validated to avoid paying a fee. It's easy to get lost finding the visitor's center--the park service shares space in a building with other businesses. Also, this is a very URBAN experience. I heard visitor after visitor express surprise about this. You will not see the community of John & Abigail or John Q & Louisa Adams. Only their houses and a bit of their gardens. You can't get inside the houses unless you take the trolley tour, and this runs on a very tight schedule in order to visit multiple houses on multiple sites and be back for the next tour. Tours sell out so arrive early or allow yourself the flexibility to catch the next tour. While waiting for the tour there are things like the museum shop and the Adams' church, United First Parish Church, down the street to explore. (The church opens later than the visitor center.)
John Adams was the only non-slaveholding founder to become president, and he and his son John Quincy were the only northern presidents until Martin Van Buren in 1837. Until John Adams gets his long overdue monument in D.C. this is the place to visit to learn the most about him and his remarkable family.

The Park Service does a great job. The guides at the various stops are well-informed and interesting. Our group was well-treated and many used their senior passes for admission. Highly recommended for all ages.

This true gem of history is a must visit if you are in the area. Allow at least 3 hours for the visit, time to park (in a garage behind and down the street), time to visit the visitors center and watch video, and two hours for the trolley trip to the houses.
While there is no narrative on the trolley once you get to the first stop, the old houses, we had probably the best guide I have ever had in a museum. He was a special man, sharing much information about the two old houses. The newer house was full of artifacts from several generations of Adams and how they influenced our country.
We left very much impressed and pleased we had gone. A must for all!

We walked about the grounds and then Kiernan, a thoughtful and well-informed park ranger, led us into the Stone Library and told us all about it and the grounds. It was wonderful to see, among so many memorable items, the desk where John Adams worked while defending the British soldiers of Boston Massacre fame as well as the desk and Bible from John Quincy's time defending the slaves of the Amistad. We came away amazed at the grounds and the work of this historical family.

A must visit if you love American history.

We happened to visit early in the season on a free weekend. By the time we got to the visitors' center at 9:40 am the earliest tour we could get was 1:15 and all the tours for the day were sold out before noon. The rangers told us there were 35 people already waiting when the doors opened at 9:00. So if it's a weekend and you have your heart set on going inside the 3 homes and the stone library get to the visitors center early. Otherwise you can always view the exterior of the houses...they are all on view from public streets.

The ranger guides were very knowledgeable and they allow you some time to take pictures outside (no photos inside).

There were only 6 of us on our tour so it felt very private. The last tour of the day had about 20 people. They said it just depended on how many rangers were available.

Park in the Presidents Place parking garage behind the visitors center and get your ticket stamped at the visitors center for free parking.

I am a huge history buff, so this was right up my alley! Be warned that finding this place and parking is a bit odd. The National Park Visitors Center is in an office building in downtown Quincy, and you need to take a tour on a bus to get to the different locations. Unfortunately I didn't have time for the tour, but had a lovely chat with the National Park employee at Peace Field (John and Abigail's house later in life). She was very informative, and while we were just outside, she was happy to share some great info. She gave me directions to find the houses where John Adam and John Quincy Adams respectively were born. They are right in the middle of town, and there is no good place to park, but it was wonderful just to see them. The film that is shown at the Visitors Center was well done, and worth watching. When I get back to town, I will schedule the tour!

After reading the book John Adams, how could we not take the tour - we were literally one town away in Weymouth, where Abigal grew up. Loved the tour, the book made it all the more special - Such a romance with John and Abigal. Way ahead of their time. They were about education and love of country. A must read and visit. Truly special

What a treat to go inside the birthplaces of 2 presidents and then visit Peacefield where John Adams lived after his presidency. The film in the visitor center is quite informative if you aren’t able to take the 2 hour tour.

We only had time to go to the Visitor Center area in central Quincy. The center itself is still closed due to Covid (and indeed on this Sunday in New England everything else in that Galleria complex was closed as well). But you can wander around Hancock Adams Common, looking at the fountains and the statues and the historical plaques and stepping into the history of Hancock Cemetery. And the 'Church of the Presidents' was open immediately after their Sunday morning services. We parked at the Coddington School building, which itself is interesting to see.

If you're a history buff and/or you've read John Adam's biography or seen the HBO movie, don't miss this place. The NPS provides very knowledgeable guides and the tour is informative. But, we are history nerds who get excited by things like seeing the desk John Adams used, walking through the same doorways as 2 Presidents (father & son) etc. so that's the context. Finding this place and parking are somewhat challenging so maybe allow a little extra time for your visit.

Found rangers at visitors center very helpful. Definitely watch movie. Learned about a few other than John and John Quincy. Agree with others that not at own pace but thought the rangers giving tour day I visited Carole and Robert very willing to answer questions. Stone library my favorite part of tour. Reason not rating 5 is parking instructions not clear. Park in adjacent garage level 3. Ranger will give validation sticker so parking is free. Be aware no photos allowed in the houses. Restrooms only at visitors center.

I’m a huge history nerd, so this was high on my list of places to visit. We did a tour of the two birthplace houses and I really enjoyed it. Our guide was Chris and he was very knowledgeable and clearly passionate about his job. Be sure to make reservations in advance if you want to go inside. We did not go to Peacefield house, as the trolleys are not yet up and running due to COVID and it’s a 30min walk from the other houses. You also aren’t able to go inside there yet, but the grounds are open.

I found the tours at the Adams National Historical Park to be fascinating and very informative. There is a tour of the birthplace of John Adams and his son, John Quincy Adams. The tour ends at the 'retirement' home of John Adams - Peace Field. The park rangers were all very knowledgeable of the Adams family and entertaining to listen to. I would have liked to spend more time on my own in the homes, but the tours are scheduled and the groups are transported via trolley. I also wanted to explore the grounds at Peace Field, but it was not apparent if they were open to the public or not.

This was a highlight of our trip to Boston.

We recently enjoyed watching the HBO series on John Adams. We happened to be on the South Shore of Boston (visiting from NH) for another reason, so decided to visit the Adams historical sites as part of that time. Since it is Wintertime we were only able to walk around the Adams farm at Peacefield. (the house was not open).

Fortunately the Park Service visitors center was open, and Ranger Jason provided insight into the times as well as the Adams men and other historical figures of the period. There is a gift shop which has a good selection of books should further study be desired. We'll be back in the Summer when the tours resume.

The saga of the four generations of service to the United States rendered by this family, and the legacy which it has left us are actually well beyond any others.

For such noble citizens to be so dedicated, while humble, loving and tender in their personal lives, might serve most of us well as a reminder of how fortunate we are indeed, to be living here in America.

A visit to the Adams National Historic Park ideally begins with a two hour trolley tour to two man sites. In downtown Quince (then Braintree) are the house in which John Ad ams was born and raised, next door to a subsequent larger home. The trolley then goes to “Peace Field”, the elegant home which became the seat of the family through its public life.

Costumed docents and National Park Service guides do a very good job of bringing the past into focus for us modern sightseers, and the visitor center where the trolley is based is interesting as well.

We only had time and energy to take the tour of the Adams' birth homes. It was a very hot and humid day and we just got worn out. But the two homesteads are well preserved and the ranger gave an excellent tour of the birthplaces of two of our presidents. One warning, the visitor center even with GPS, Google, and Waze is hard to find while you are getting through traffic.

Enjoyed visiting with my teenage sons. Have visited several other presidential homes and this lived up to my expectations. Make sure to catch the movie the visitors' center.

To start off, finding this place is a little tricky. You have to park in a mammoth urban parking garage and then find your way to the National Park Service room in the building lobby. Once there you buy a ticket and wait for the trolley to take you to the Adams birthplace and Adams homestead. Those two homes were actually disappointing. The ranger rushed us through both houses in under 20 minutes so we didn't get to see everything. You can't go upstairs in the houses and in the last house we missed seeing a room because we were rushed out to catch the trolley to Peacefields. That was the second stop was the highlight of the tour. You can spend more time in the house and the Presidential Library and stunning garden. There is so much great stuff to see in the main house - real pieces of history, beautiful paintings and more. It feels like the family just left one day and never came back - it feels lived in and full of stories. The ranger at this house was much better and answered all of our questions. Then it was back on the trolley for the five minute ride back to the garage. It really stinks that they don't allow photos to be taken because photos without flash don't bother anything.

Having visited both Mount Vernon and Monticello, I had certain expectations of the founding father's homes - visiting the Adams houses offer a rude awakening and clearly demonstrates the differences between the Adams (father & son) versus the Virginia ones. The houses are small, virtually without furnishings and simple - salt box is a very accurate description. However, it is worth the time to stop and tour as you will come to understand John Adams.

Richard Stabile, our tour guide and Park ranger, gave an excellent tour of the Peacefield estate (we missed the earlier tour of the older homes due to a scheduling conflict). He was amusing and knowledgeable, and amenable to answering all sorts of our questions. We thoroughly enjoyed learning about the Adams family, as well as the property's trees. Thanks, Richard.

We stopped by the visitor center and saw the film, which gives a good overview of the family's history. Most of the rest of the visitor center is a book store and gift shop. The tours were booked for the day (arrive early), so we drove down to the house to walk around outside. They did allow us to join a group in the library but we were unable to see the interior of the house.

This tour was a hit! We went on a trolley to two of the homes (Birth place and older years) that Adams lived in. The rangers knew the history. It was a 2 hour tour as the two homes are miles apart and you take the trolley. To get the tickets, you have to go to the visitor center in Quincy. This is where you board the trolley. Also, if you park in the ramp, they will validate parking.

This was one of the favorite things that my family did while on vacation in Boston. We had watched the John Adams series together so seeing Peacefield in person was very interesting. My children are nine and 12 so they were a good age to go there. The guides were very interesting and the group was fairly small so there was a lot of opportunity to ask questions.

Situated in the City of Presidents on a beautiful multi acre lot ,this property l is a history lesson in itself. In addition to the amazing home and a separate library and museum it is a must for all and in particular children A shuttle bus is available from Quincy square to the property less than a mile an also there is parking available at the park.
Highly recommended as is the Kennedy museum at UMass Boston only a few mile away .

We are a traveling kids group with parents and children from 8 to 18. Our group of 54 was broken up into smaller groups and each of our groups of kids and adults was given an amazing tour of Adams National Historical Park appropriate for the ages of the children and interesting to the adults as well.

This is the place John & Abigail chose to spend the rest of their lives after serving as the second President of the USA. You should see his library!!!

Very interesting tour about the Adams family history. As usual, the Park Rangers do a fabulous job giving you insight to the presidents. Seeing the family homes and library with original pieces was fascinating. Well worth your time for a visit.

As a huge history buff, and fan of the David McCullough biography about John Adams, I have wanted to visit the houses for years. I finally went last weekend and was bitterly disappointed; not with the houses themselves but with the tour. In order to see the houses one is required to take the tour, which is by trolley. After going through the house where Adams was born, we were led to the house in which he lived with Abigail. This is the house I really wanted to spend time in, to contemplate the sacrifices she made, to look at John's desk and imagine him writing. Instead, we were rushed through and didn't even get to see the last two rooms because another tour was right behind us. The tour guide was knowledgeable, and I don't fault her; I fault the Park Service. They seem to have no concept of how important John and Abigail Adams are in our nation's history, and that some of us might want more than a Disney version of history. We had more time at the third house, but could barely see anything because the rooms are roped off. We were squished like sardines in a corner of a room containing important portraits as the guide quickly ran down who they were and who painted them, but it was impossible to see them. And, we never had the opportunity to simply stand and take in the atmosphere. I've visited countless historic sites, and this is hands down the worst experience at any of them. I've also visited many grand homes which need protecting, where visitors were allowed to walk through rooms. I grudgingly say go, because there is no other option, but don't expect to be able to contemplate or connect with history.

Our fall trip had a goal of covering New England in 2 1/2 months. We didn't plan time I much around Boston. However, being a big fan of JOHN Adams I had to take the tour and visit this historical park. Sadly, I'm not one much for the congestion of town. Mainly because there is never any RV parking and my husband and I both have issues with walk I g long distances. So, for the young and physically fit this place is awesome. For me it was just to much to cover.

There are 3 places to see in the Adams site: the birthplace ( one can self-tour) the Church of the Presidents where John and Abigail Adams and John Quincy and Louisa Adams are buried, and Peacefield ( The Adams Mansion and gardens) Pracefield requires a guided tour by a Park Ranger and each tour must be booked ahead of time and is limited to 10 people. This is because almost everything there is original to the house. One should start at the Visitors Center in downtown Quincy. There is a parking garage directly behind the center and your parking will be validated at the Center. There is a very well done introductory film worth seeing and then one can walk across the street to the Church. We had a very entertaining guide that showed us the crypts. There is a shuttle bus that runs between the birthplace and Peacefield or you can drive and park on the street.
We had a tremendous tour by National Park Ranger Matt who knows his history and was quite engaging and entertaining.
Just be sure to book it online ( up until the day before) or call the visitor center the day of to see if they have any openings for Peacefield. Many visitors just stop in there thinking they can buy tickets there but they are only sold at the Visitor’s Center. The City of Quincy has done a beautiful job creating a lovely park across from the Visitor’s Center and there are many places to eat all types of food.

Quite a lot to see yet you feel rushed. The guide just babble off their prepared speech and have little time for visitors queries.

I'm a history buff and having lived in Quincy 48 years,I'm ashamed to say I never visited either of the houses situated in Quincy.It was just so interesting when I finally did so.The gardens and trees are exquisite and well worth visiting.I spent several hours there.The grounds keeper stated that Dorothy herself planted some of them.

If you are interested in Quincy/Braintree's two United States presidents, John Adams and John Quincy Adams, this is a necessary visit. By going to the Visitors' Center in Presidents' Place Mall, park rangers take you in a trolley to two locations. The first one is the location of the two early homes. John Adams grew up in one home. The other one his adult home in which he raised his children, including John Quincy Adams. It is very interesting to see how humble these homes were. Then, the rangers take you to the mansion, which finally has the majesty that one would believe such a man and his family deserved. Along with the mansion, there is a small presidential library. This is also the home of John Quincy Adams and other well-known members of the family. The tour gives lots of information about the Adams family and about what life was like when they lived.

The guide was fantastic in his presentation of this historic site. He took care that everyone understood.

Stopped by the Adams National Historical Park and was able to experience the birthplace of two presidents, as well as stopping by the church next door to the visitors center to have a tour - crypt with two presidents and their wives.

Visited this historic site to learn more about the Adams family, which I did. The tour is limited to a very small number each hour so I recommend being there right when they open at 9 to get a ticket. We were there at 9:05 on a very cold and rainy Saturday in early May and had to wait around until 11 to take the tour, which lasted about 2 hours. Lots of shuttling on a little trolly between sites in Quincy.

The tour was wonderful but we had a hard time finding it as the National Park is in a modern building. A trolley takes you 3 mikes away to the actual homes.

The Adams home was beautiful and the tour guide was very knowledgeable. The gardens leading to the library were gorgeous. I could imagine John and Abigail living here.

We enjoyed our trip to visit the three homes of John Adams and his family. There was a lot of history and the park rangers were very informative. It will be hot in the houses but they have done what they can with fans and portable air conditioning. We took the red line from Boston with no problems.

Great look at how our 2nd and 6th presidents lived and helped create our country.
National Park Rangers are quite knowledgeable. also, visit the church accross from the visitors center where both presidents and their spouses are buried.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Adams Historical Park. The three homes of the Adams family, stone library and grounds are fascinating. USNPS Rangers Caroline and Robert were excellent tour guides and made the tour come alive. Parking is free. Recommend seeing nearby Hancock Cemetery and Congregational Church too.

"Peacefield" should be at the top of any Quincy resident or visitor's must-see list! I've happily just made my tenth (or eleventh?) visit with out-of-town guests and we all thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Our NPS guide was very knowledgeable, interesting and engaging. The home is lovely and awe-inspiring and the gardens are beautiful this time of year. I highly recommend a visit to this very special, historical home.

Saw this two or three times, but decades ago. Great sense of Massachusetts versus, say Virginia's Mt Vernon and Monticello.
Both Jefferson and Adams were great readers, though Jefferson's bookstand is a great visual. Adams' bookshelves, more sedate. By the way, Machiavelli did not approve democracies, which "usually end in family rule." Ours BAEGAN in family rule--the Adams family.

The park allows you to visit the birthplaces of our second and sixth Presidents . You will also see the home they lived in. Parking is limited, in the tours start at the visitor center, which is a little ways away from the home. Plan at least two hours for the visit.

Enjoyed our tour of everything Adams in Quincy. This is a great tour if you love American History.
First, you must go to the Visitor Center, located in downtown Quincy. Park in the parking lot directly behind the building. The center will validate your parking.
We bought tour tickets on line, which made the whole process very easy.
You board a trolley and are transported to both Adams homes. Our Park Rangers, James and Robert, were wonderful, Both had tremendous knowledge of their subjects and were able to answer many questions.
Both homes are interesting. But certainly Peacefield is magnificent. The Stone Library is not to be missed.
Tour takes approximately 2 hours. Make sure you save time to walk across the street from the Visitor Center to visit the Curch of the Presidents, where both Adams Presidents and their wives are buried In crypts underneath the church. The church asks for a small donation and it is well with the tour. Thanks to John, our guide, who was very knowledgeable on all things Adams.
Finally, a visit to the Quincy graveyard across from the church.
We truly enjoyed our tour and highly recommend it!

This may be one of the areas best kept secret.
Because it's a national park, the bus ride is minimal.
Wonderful tour, don'r miss it. Have been there twice

If you love history, this tour is definitely for you! After watching a short video about the Adams family, you board a trolley to see the house John Adams was born in, the house where his son John Quincy Adams was born in, and the "Crown Jewel" of the three Peacefield. The tour lasts about two hours and the park service tour guides are very knowledgeable. At Peacefield, you also tour the family library which contains over twelve thousand volumes. The cost is only ten dollars for the entire tour and they validate parking at the parking garage (plenty of spaces) just behind the visitors center. It is important to note that the tours start at the visitor's center and not at Peacefield it's self!

The National Park Service has put together a wonderful and educational tour of the homes of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams. The park rangers gave very informative tours and offered up a great experience. Well worth the trip and the time.

The trolley tour of the three houses where John Adams (and family) lived was really interesting. The NPS staff was very knowledgeable. Do not miss this tour if you are in Boston.

It was amazing to see these historical sites. Please read their website in its entirety before going. They are closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Also buy your tickets online in advance because tours fill up quickly. Because we didn’t do this we showed up at the visitor center at 10 am and the next available tour was at 1:30. The visitor center where you get your tickets to see these sites was not informative at all. The ranger didn’t give much information and was inaccurate with the information he did give. He was not friendly. Also he said the trolley wasn’t connected to the tours which was inaccurate. We were told after driving to Adam’s Penn Hill that the trolley is somewhat connected, we could not do a self- guided tour after 11am (which the park ranger at the visitor center said self - guided tours are from 9:30-11:30), and we weren’t told about the inclusive tours at the visitor center that included all 3 homes. Also the tour we did get at Peacefield that was given by a park ranger was not inclusive. This ranger could not answer half the questions asked And didn’t even attempt to explain who most of the individuals were in the portraits in most rooms. He also would only answer questions at certain points of the tour. He wasn’t very friendly.

Everything was right about this attraction. It was well organized, efficient, interesting and inexpensive. For $10 and free parking visitors are trollied to see three homes and a library of 2 Presidents, John Adams and John Quincy Adams. The guides are very well informed and move visitors through in 2 hours. We truly felt a great sense of early American history.

The park service doesn't make it easy to visit the site as it's accessed from the park service desk on Hancock Street in downtown Quincy. Once the tickets are in hand a bus takes you to two sites the first having two pre-revolution homes and then post. We thought it was a very good visit and filled in some holes in our knowledge of Adams and his remarkable family.
As has been said, without Jefferson we wouldn't have such a good Declaration; without Adams we wouldn't have a country.

The interior of the house is impressive with original family furniture, etc. and the gardens are beautiful. I learnt a lot about American history from the tour.

This place is a great walking history lesson for families to enjoy together. Beautiful grounds and guided tours...

Ironically, after traveling coast to coast and from Key West to Fort Kent, Maine in our pursuit to visit all the 413 National Park Service sites, my wife and I were wondering how the NPS finds so many committed, pleasant people, full time, seasonal, volunteers and SCA persons. Then we came to Adams NHP on a beautiful Sunday afternoon Labor Day weekend and we met the rudest most unpleasant National Park Ranger. I never thought I would give a National Park a low rating or feel unwelcome at one of our NPS sites but this woman was very unpleasant. Reading the other poor review, I suspect they encountered the same ranger. I first stopped in for my passport stamp and ask for information on what to see. The unpleasant young lady responded quite rudely that all tours were full and over, as if this was the only thing to do. I said, can't I look at the outside of the buildings and she grudgingly said yes. We often do not do tours and opt to only see the visitors center exhibits and view the grounds so this was not as big a problem as she made it. To be polite I said, so I could do the tour tomorrow and she rudely responded "it's going to be busy tomorrow also so you need to show up a lot earlier" as if I did not understand that from her precious rude responses. I said "okay, thank you. I will let my wife know and she may come in and use the restroom. (I should note this was about 3:30 p.m. And they are suppose to be open till 5 p.m. as she acted like there was no reason for us to be there.) I walked around the building to take some photos and back out front including a cute dog house - an area that is all gravel. This woman apparently noticed I had a dog (17 lb. well behaved cockapoo) and came running out the door to tell me I had to leave the property as they have a unique landscape that cannot be exposed to dogs. I waited outside the brick wall for my wife and told her I had been kicked out. My wife never complains about anyone...she said she had encountered a very rude woman at the desk when she went in. She commented how bummed she was to come from Ohio and not get to do the tour...she said the woman rudely responded "Just keep going to the restroom." I told her about my experience and we decided that she had ruined our entire experience and we were not even interested in seeing the property or the birthplace some distance away...the rude ranger acted like we shouldn't anyway. I would recommend the NPS transfer this rude woman to the desert to count rattlesnakes, but I think more of our wildlife than to expect our snakes to endure her. I should note having been to many NPS sites, the standard is no dogs in the building, but okay on the property on a 6' leash. Areas where dogs cannot be outside are usually clearly marked and we saw no such markings as we are careful to observe them. We passed two rangers on the way in who said nothing. Her statement about a unique landscape are laughable as we had just come from Fairsted, visited Roosevelt-Campobello IHP last week and have visited many NPS and other sites who dogs were welcome which had much more unique landscapes. Based on the other reviews it sounds like Adams NHP may be a beautiful place with important historical relevance, but I would warn all persons to beware of this obnoxious person and don't visit unless you get there early and sign up for a tour or you may get a tongue lashing. For heavens sake don't let you dog on their gravel or lawn. I will post photos so you can see their "unique landscape." While they have a few nice flower beds they all have gravel paths with small hedges that would prevent a dog from doing damage, the rest is a vast unimpressive lawn area.

Great photographer opportunity in the back of the historic house. The Adams house is a treasure. Love to sketch in the garden later on.

Must go here if you are in Quincy. Take the trolley that's starts at Quincy center and get ready for some exciting history lessons. Quincy is the city of presidents.

We go to George Washington's Mt. Vernon at least once a year, so when in Boston we made the time to take the Adams' tour. It was a great contrast to the other Presidents to see the Adams' household. While certainly opulent for the time (not his birthplace, but Peacefield), one could tell they were not as well off as Washington, Jefferson or Madison.

The tour itself was very informative and interesting, the tour guide seemed to be hurried in the birthplace, maybe because of time restraints, but the one in Peacefield was fascinating.

The tour guides were very knowledgeable about the Adams family, it seemed to me they knew just enough to answer questions and not much of the background info.
But that's just the history geek in me talking - I have no complaints about them.

The visitor center was a PIA to get to, it really should be in a different place.
Don't miss the library.

We went here after a VA appointment in Jamicia Plains.
From the trolley ride to the park rangers knowledge it was such a great day. Seeing the Adams homestead and the library on the grounds.
Here is some pictures. We are going back in the Spring of 2019 as we wanted to spend more time and there’s so much to see in Quincy🙂

The National Park Service has done a fantastic job in bringing the Adams Family's estate to life, making for one of the best and most affordable tours in the Boston Area. Best of all, it's only 30 minutes from South Station via the MBTA's Red Line (just make sure to get on the Braintree Line).

The tour of the houses where John was born (and where he and Abigail first lived together) is a little underwhelming. Fortunately, things get much more interesting once you arrive at Peace Field, the main estate, which makes for a fascinating contrast to the Virginian estates of Mount Vernon, Monticello, and Montpelier.

Check the monument's website in advance to see if there are any additional events going on and take time afterward to walk the gardens (that's the locals do). Weather-permitting, then walk to the Quincy's new downtown center, about a quarter mile away, which has a pedestrian park and lots of restaurants.

We so looked forward to touring these Adams homes. Parking was in a ramp behind the Visitor's Center in the heart of Quincy - a little hard to find, but not that hard for those reading other reviews. Parking was free with a validated pass. We watched the informative film and then took off on the trolley for the birthplace homes of John and John Quincy Adams. The guide there "Rick" was excellent. He truly knew much of the history and lives of the Adams and brought it to life in a lively and almost dramatic manner. Unfortunately, we felt rushed at these homes and did not feel like we had the time to appreciate both the interiors and exteriors of these historic homes. We were rushed back on to the trolley. In fact, Rick was bothered by the trolley driver (or someone) notifying him to move things along as the trolley had to leave.

The next stop was Peace field. Our group was divided into two more manageable groups. Our guide was named "Gabby" and she was excellent. Enthusiastic and well-versed in all things Adams. We learned much from her narrative and she was pleasant in dealing with some rather clueless members of our group who wandered where they were not supposed to go. Again, we felt rather rushed in this tour, and again, by what seems to be everything on "trolley time." We would have liked to have lingered and could not. The house was fascinating and the grounds, beautiful

I have to agree with other reviewers about the lack of even porto-potties in these locations. We had no need for them, but I can imagine other people might. And, in this regard, only one restroom was in service at the Visitor's Center.

One other comment in case National Parks people read these reviews, we saw a number of people obviously older than 62 be charged $20 ($10 per person) entrance fee that they could have avoided by being offered a Golden Eagle Pass as a possibility for entrance. Seems to me that the associates running the cash register might be trained to offer the varied fees for entrance. We had a Golden Eagle Pass and our entrance was free.

Be sure to visit the neighboring church to view the crypt where John and Abigail and John Quincy and Louisa are entombed. Very interesting!

At the Adams National Historic Park you will board a shuttle that will take you to three of the Adam Homes for a 2 1/2 hour tour. You will learn some fascinating facts about John, Abigail, and John Quincy, and Henry Adams. The information on John Quincy Adams was most impressive. The highlight at Peace Field was the library built to hold the family's extensive collection of books that would be impressive at any time but especially considering the expense of books in that era. Do yourself a favor and make this trip to Quincy if you are anywhere close. In addition, if you don't have an America The Beautiful Pass that gets you into all National Historic Parks and more you might want to consider buying one.

The staff was very informed on the history of the Adam's family and the history of the home. The library was spectacular.

This was a gem! At ten dollars a person, it is a bargain. The tour guides are young and their energy is contagious! So mich history. We loved the tour,everything about it. They will validate your parking, so do not be afriad of the cost of the parking structure.

We found out that my wife is related to the Adams family and decided to see for our selves their history. We learned so much about them and the way they lived. This home was the summer White House while John and John Quincy Adams were presidents. Our biggest discovery was the Abigail Adams was the real power in government, So much so, that when she died they closed the congress for one day in her honor, happening only four times in it's history. This is a great piece of our countries history.

We were traveling from Boston to Plymouth and decided to detour to Quincy and so glad we did! The Adams National Historical Park was a highlight of our trip. The parking is abit tricky to find, it is right by the Visitor center on a side street in a parking garage. Our parking was validated at the site so it ended up being free! The rangers are so helpful and informative. There is a short film on the history of the Adams before you take the scheduled trolley tour. I can't remember the price, but, very reasonable and worth it. Unfortunately no photo's are allowed in the homes but we do understand. The guide explained the interior of the homes and very open to questions. If memory serves me most of the furniture is original to home. It was wonderful seeing the standing desk that so many historical articles were written on.
The grounds at Peace Field were outstanding, only wish we could have taken more time to walk around them.
We had only planned to do a quick stop off on our way but ended up spending almost three hours. Well worth the time and so informative!

We have lived in the Northeast for our entire lives and it took us 40+ years to realize this park even existed, never mind visiting it. It is a real treasure and we were both surprised we hadn't heard more of.

The park can only be visited by a tour offered by the National Park Service. It was very efficiently run - right on time, very organized. It starts at the headquarters building and they take you by trolley first to the childhood home of John Adams, and then his home where John Quincy Adams was born. You get a guided tour of both homes. Then you get back on the trolley to go to a larger home that John Adams owned later in life. This included the separate library he had built. This is also a guided tour and the most interesting part of the tour. Most of the furnishing are original - the desk where Adams wrote the MA constitution, the furniture where both he and Abigail died, White House china from his administration, and more. The library is pretty much as Adams left it. So much American history can be traced to this location - two presidents and their not-to-be overlooked spouses and children. It was all very informative and well done.

This was an absolutely amazing morning and could not have enjoyed it more despite the rain.
Note the first public tours are 10:15, so don’t race in, the mornings are reserved for school groups.

Tucked away in the quaint town of Quincy, a subway ride from downtown Boston is the homestead oft of America's prominent first families- John Adams and John Quincy Adams. The tour begins at the visitors center where one can view a 20 minute history of the Adams family and their contributions to America. A trolley shuttle takes visits to the houses of John and John Quincy Adams as well as the Stone Library and Peace Farm.
The park Rangers provided detail information about the families, the farm and their role in the early days of the US. Admission cost is $15 and includes a guided tour of all four properties. If you have a US Park pass, admission is free. Children are always free.
Youngsters can participate in the junior ranger program. There is a modest gift shop with books about John and Abigail. An interesting aside is the role JohnQuincy Adams played in the Amistad court case. There are other Adams related places in the town of Quincy that are not part of the tour including their burial sites. Validated parking is available . May not be suitable for young children.

I grew up in Quincy and have the ability to see and visit this location many, many times. However, I still stop and see it when I get back to the area. This home just drips with History and if you are a fan of the HBO mini-series 'John Adams', then you get a different perspective of the roll this historic place took during the early days of this country's birth.

Its one of those places you walk into and you 'feel' the history seep into you. You end up taking a journey back in time and are amazed at the history that surrounds you. This is truly a 'do not miss' spot.

Definitely do this visit. If you have a National Park Pass it is free for a great 2 hour tour to visit all three Adams residences. Incredible collections of Adams historical pieces and books. As is typical of The National Park Service this tour was excellent with informative guides at each location. What a perfect place for a history enthusiasts
As a side comment even parking in the parking garage connected to the visitor center is free of you get your ticket validated.
You will not be disappointed.

This site requires a trolley ride and a bit over two hours. I was going along without a lot of enthusiasm but was happily surprised at how much I enjoyed the tour. The guides told such good stories that were informative and entertaining. All tours start from the visitor center and you have to go on the NPS trolley. There is public parking at the visitor center that is validated. Highly recommend this NPS site.

This is a gem in hiding. Part of the National Park Service (yes Senior passes get you in free) includes the birth places of John and John Quincy Adams and then John's retirement home nearby where 4 -5 generations of Adams lived. Near the visitor center, the church JQ attended is able to be visited and it is where they both are entombed. The parking is confusing at the visitor center being a ramp "behind it". The visitor center is in an office type building, 1st floor, with various medical facilities. The center validates your parking stub, so parking is free.

Reserve the tour on line in advance since tours can sell out.
Park in the high rise behind the Park Visitors Center in Quincy, MA for easy access to the area.
The tour is around two hours; participants are transported on a trolley to the different areas which include the birthplace houses of John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams; the mansion, the Old House at Peacefield; and the Adams Library. The properties were in the Adams family for four generations, and as a result much of the furniture and other items are original to the family.
The docents are National Park Service rangers who are excellent. The graves of John and John Quincy Adams and their wives are in the United First Parish Church about two blocks from the visitors center.
In the NPS Visitors Center there is a great gift shop which features an excellent video.

Very interesting look into the lives of the Adams family, spanning 4 generations. A trolley takes participants from the Visitors Center to and from the birthplace homes of John and John Quincy Adams, as well as the estate of John and Abigail. The park rangers guiding the approximately 90 minute tours are very informative, but don't be shy! Asking questions prompted additional details. Also, take advantage of the restrooms at the Visitors Center prior to boarding the trolley! This tour is not for small children.

The Adams sites in Quincy are worth a trip, particularly if you have done your "homework" beforehand and researched the logistics. There are three main sites, all separated by some distance (one CAN walk, but it is not pleasant to walk around in the city, traffic etc being what it is) and there is no longer a trolley between them. So expect to drive. The visitor center has an associated parking garage, but at the house sites, we were told to find parking on the street, which is "never a problem". This system seems a bit haphazard and I hope the NPS can reinstate the trolley.
While the houses are interesting and the tours very informative, the whole thing left me feeling a bit depressed. Why on earth have the powers that be in Quincy over the years allowed the amount of REALLY UGLY "development" to occur right next to the properties? The two birth houses are on a tiny piece of remaining grass (maybe 1/4 acre?) in a triangle bound by two very busy (i.e. LOUD) roads with tons of traffic, across the street is a gigantic gross parking lot, unattractive businesses, rundown apartment houses, and above ground electric wires. There is no remnant of the 180 farm acres left. Peace Field, which has retained a bit more space (the whole thing was donated to the town in the will of a descendant of John and John Q Adams) has a lovely garden and a few gravel paths, the stone library, and a pleasant grassy area. But forget any expectation you have of actually experiencing "peace" there. Sitting on the front porch area, one hears traffic, sirens blaring, car horns, etc. We were told that over the years since the bequest (in the 1920s), the town of Quincy has "reclaimed" the property. I guess this means they carved it up and built a bunch of ugly stuff on it. Asphalt seems to be a favorite medium.
Anyway, learning the history of the Adams Family is 100% worth it, if you are interested in the founding of the US. The park rangers are knowledgeable, the houses well maintained, the stories entertaining. Shame on Quincy for not having an appreciation for their own history.

A visitor’s center which provides excellent information in regard to the Adam’s National Historic Park. The Rangers were excellent in providing information about the two different properties which makes the Park. The Visitor’s Center has a souvenir shop with lots of interesting things to but. In addition they have a complimentary trolley to bring you to the sites.

The national park rangers are so informative and have excitement for the house. They are wonderful story tellers. The house has been well preserved, and to hear about the Adams family and their influence on this country is incredible. I guarantee you will learn something new even if you are a history buff. The largest collection of authentic antiques- the same furniture, dishes, art, fixtures etc as when the Adams lived there. When the rangers ask you if you want to see the library, you say "YES!" You will never want to leave.

My father has a National Park Pass which admitted him, me, and our wives free of charge. My two kids were no charge as well, as they are under 16. On top of that, parking at President's Place is validated at the Visitor's Center! My favorite portion was Stone Library and the original relics that were scattered throughout Peace field, which also had attractive period architecture and peaceful, impressive grounds. The Presidential Birthplaces, though less architecturally impressive, were great for history buffs, as well. The Rangers and guides were informative and did great work. All in my party enjoyed the tour except my eight-year old daughter, who was bored quickly. However, she did like the trolley rides. If you have time before your tour, I recommend the replaying biographical film at the Visitor's Center.

A great experience, especially if you are a history buff or even just interested in the former president's life.

Park rangers and tour guides were very friendly and informative. Ask questions! You get more stories! A must see if in Boston for a few days and you enjoy history.

My family were visiting from London and they were keen to learn about my new hometown so I joined along and I'm so glad I did.
We had a terrific tour of the Adams family homes in Quincy.
The role this family played in shaping this new country was pivotal and it says a lot about the character of the family to maintain such a presence in US politics over time.
There's a lot of insightful information surrounding the history of the homes as well as the furniture inside.
Not to mention, what the family were doing in the lead up to the war of independence, after the war and in the early years of the United States as its own nation.
The Adams library was my personal favourite of the tour.
The grounds as well are immaculate and simply stunning considering how old it is.
Truly wonderful with very knowledgable tour guides.

My husband and I took the Trolley Tour of the 3 Adams houses after we watched a fabulous 30 min video at the visitors center. We spent about 2 hours total (video, perusing gift shop and trolley tour). Word of warning there is very few if any places to sit while at the houses and there are no public restrooms. The houses were beautiful, the family library was breathtaking and the staff amazing. Afterwards we walked over to the Unitarian Church for a tour of the crypts of John/Abigail Adams and John Quincy/Louisa Adams. Also fascinating with excellent docents.

Alison is an amazing guide. We enjoyed her tour very much!
She is nice, helpful and professional.
Thank you so much!9

The 1/2 hour movie sets the tone. The guided tour is very informative. Go early in the day before tours fill up.

I'm trying to visit the early American Presidents homes, Peacefield is by far the most interesting.
The history that is in these two homes is tremendous.The tour guide had so much information. I would have paid twice the amount of admission. If you have any interest in history then Quincy, Mass should be a must visit.

I usually research NPS.gov before i visit an NPS site. Failed to do this, so didn't realize birthplaces and homes could only be seen by tour. I know from previous experience that NPS tours are excellent. And these did not disappoint! Mariah at the birthplaces and Betty at Peacefield were awesome - informative, knowledgeable and entertaining. A must see NPS!

Visit three of the homes of the Adams family. Lots of history. Good tour guides. If you like history, you will like this. A trolley takes you from the National Parks office to the three homes. My wife, daughter, and I took the tour and enjoyed it very much. Just down the street a few hundred feet is the church containing the tomb of John Adams and his wife, and John Quincy Adams and his wife. We were able to tour the tomb and the church. Also very enjoyable.

This is a wonderful way to spend a day visiting the birthplaces of John Adams and John Quincy Adams. The trolley tour beginning with a film at the visitors center and going to the birthplace homes and Peace field is a delight and people from all over the country enjoy this class act presented by the Parks Department.
You can visit the church of presidents and the cemetery across the street.
Don't be put off by the construction in Quincy Center because when the project to create green space is completed it will be a place for tourism the city can be proud of. I live on a piece of the Peace field land and feel I have a little piece of history in my own back yard. Why did I take so long to take this tour?

Super easy to get to by subway. The main center is right across the street. From there,the Rangers will take you by trolley to the homes where John and John Quincy Adams where born. The original houses! The furnishings aren't original but they are from that period. The next building is Peace field and the family Stone library. There they have plenty of amazing family furnishings, books, etc. I honestly wish I could have stayed longer.

The Rangers are knowledgeable and you can tell they enjoy the subject. I walked away wanting to learn more and more. I was familiar with John Adams and a little bit about John Quincy, but the whole family really did a part for American history.

We love visiting the Presidents' houses and the Parks Service has done a great job with this one. You get 3 house tours with this one ticket. John's father's house, John & Abby's first house, and then Peace Field - where they retired to after his presidency.

Visitors should carefully plan for this site. Not all parts of the Adams' buildings/properties are open at the same time and you must get your tickets early in the day or prior to your visit. If the places are not open on your day, you are still able to catch the trolley (which is free) and walk around the grounds. Parking can be challenging.

This was one of the highlights of our trip to the Boston area. You park your car and are then shuttled to the two sites for the homes. The National Park Service rangers are very informative and do an excellent job sharing the history of these sites.

The birthplaces of John and John Quincy Adams and the last home of John and Abigail Adams are preserved in the middle of this busy city. The guides are very engaging and knowledgeable. It was a wonderful visit for us history buffs.

I got this historic national parks New England guide and I decided to do one as an option today. Fantastic. Trolley ride around the area in Dorchester where the Adam's had lived. Great old historic estate. The grounds is lovely. Gorgeous. Fun fun fun.

For those who have been to Mount Vernon, Monticello and/or Montpelier this will not disappoint. An added plus is you see three homes (John Adam's parent's home, his first home and then his Peacefield property). Also you get to check-off two Presidential homes, John and John Quincy.

You have to go to downtown Quincy, MA to start the visit. The visitors center there has a parking garage around back (you can get your parking validated at the center). From there a trolley bus takes you to two sites. The first property includes both the birthplace site of John Adams and his first home where he and Abigail raised the children.

The next stop is Peacefield, the home that John Adams purchased when he returned from home from representing the fledgling United States to Europe during our war of independence. As soon as you enter, you get the sense that this building was a real home. It is wonderful. Peacefield was home to four generations of Adams. Do not miss the library in a separate structure on the property (check-out the foundtrips pics).

You gotta love the National Park Service.

I always love learning about the founders and visiting Presidential homes. See where The Adams were born and lived and learn all about their family and contributions. The garden is lovely at the old house, as is the carriage house. The staff was very friendly. Visitor center is more down town and it’s closed. Call ahead to make reservations to tour the birth houses. They only let 5-6 go at once through the house. Hopefully they will open the old house for tours again soon. Everything in there is original to the home as it was in the 18th and 19th century. Neat place!

Make sure you get to the Adams Visitor's Center in time to register for the trolley tour. This will take you to 3 locations. One stop covers 2 of the Adams homes and then another stop takes you to Peacefield. This is a beautiful glimpse into the Adams family. Don't get hung up on the reproductions or the restorations, as someone in our group did. Enjoy the tour, led by talented tour guides.

Amazing journey back into our countries colonial beginnings. You can ride the trolley or walk if you like. All the stops are relatively close, 1/4-1/3 mile, from the Visitor Center. But leave your car there as they include parking with admission. While in Quincy visit City Hall, Hancock Cemetery, Adam's Crypt, & Quincy History museum @ The Adams Academy.

Recommended for Middle/High School kids and all adults interested in American Presidents and History of the United States. This is a guided half a day tour (with park Rangers) that includes two real homes of the Adams Family and The First Presidential Library. Very patriotic!

This is a great place to learn about the Adam's and the way they lived way back when...It is part of the National Park Service and the Rangers are friendly and knowledgeable. It's a beautiful home with all the original furnishing and a beautiful library. During the spring and early summer you can see the fantastic gardens that are on the west side of the property...It is a very historic home , come and take a tour and step back in time .

All docents very learned about subjects and happy to share . A bit offputting when docent would ask questions to test our knowledge and the silence was uncomfortable while he waited for answers . Maybe we should have read more before the tour .

Three historic homes owned by the Adams families--the John Adams birthplace, the John Quincy Adams birthplace (the first home of John and Abigail Adams), and Peacefield (home of John and Abigail, and later John Quincy and Louisa, and two more generations). These are fascinating and inspiring people who had major roles in America's founding and early years, and I definitely recommend visiting!

A trolley takes you from the visitor center to the two birthplaces, and then Peacefield. Tour takes about 2-2.5 hours total, which was not nearly long enough. The rangers/guides had wonderful stories about the Adams family and history--but they had to talk as fast as they could and still couldn't get through all the information. There was very little time to ask questions, which is often the best part of a historic tour, as a good guide will know so much more about their topic than they can fit into their presentation. I'd like to take the tour again at a less busy time of day/year.

The visitor center has an excellent ~25-minute film on the four generations of Adams who lived at these homes, as well as a good selection of books and souvenirs (but I did not see any book on Peacefield and the Adams' home life). Parking is hard to find, but there is a Presidents Place Parking Garage behind the visitor center, accessed by Saville Avenue (it looks like an alley)--and if you pay for a tour the visitor center will validate for you.

We really enjoyed the tours of the three homes and library in the stone barn. The Park Rangers were very informative and tried to keep all on the tour involved. It was awesome to see the homes where 2 US Presidents were born and raised. The role of Abigail Adams was intertwined in the story and how impact of the service provided by this family was on those left at home was well described.

I also enjoyed hearing the story of the 4 generation family house developed.

Great day!

This is an excellent tour with really good guides. Multiple locations with a shuttle bus that was well timed. Learned a lot and really enjoyed it.

This was a great park and a great tour. I never knew much about John Quincy Adams or his descendants but I walked away with a lot of information. The tour guides were knowledgeable and I loved seeing items actually belonging to our second and sixth presidents.

A beautiful place to visit. Lovely home and surrounding grounds. Be sure to use your National Parks Senior Pass. The guides are very knowledgeable and helpful.

The visitor center is a bit hard to find and figure out parking. Visitors must be shuttled to the Adams homes since they are land-locked and very little parking nearby. The homes are really well kept and the rangers did a great job.

It is a short ride on the T to get to Quincy. Get to the visitor center early to get your tickets. They are well worth the price. You then get on a trolley and it takes you to John Adams’ birthplace and John Q Adams’ birthplace. They are right next to each other and you get a talk inside both and a chance for a few pictures of the exteriors. Then you take the trolley to Peacefield and get a guided tour through the house by a ranger. Afterwards you have time to stroll the grounds and check out the stone library before heading back to the visitor center on the trolley. Allow 2-3 hours to get the whole experience and take the T back to Boston. This tour is a must if you love presidential history

I love history and have visited this off and on for years. I find it fascinating when I visit this home and imagine what the surroundings must have been like when it was a farm instead of the busy roadways.

Definitely worth visiting, especially Peacefield. The downside is accessibility; only open June to October, closed Mondays, Tuesdays, days above a certain temperature and random other days. The website is unreliable; you must call and speak to someone to confirm days, times, etc. Rangers working within the Birthplaces and Peacefield buildings were excellent.

The only thing to complain about is the confusing nature of where to go. We got off the T station and obediently followed Google a thirty minute journey to the birthplace of John Adams - only to discover that that isn't where you're supposed to start! And we weren't the only ones, three other people showed up midway through the tour, lost and confused.

The Park Service's website says it plainly enough that you start at the visitor center, but I wish they had made it more clear that the Visitor Center and the John Adams' birthplace are nowhere near each other - that was my implicit assumption that it would all be grouped together, and probably the same for the other confused guests. So in the end we had to walk ALL the way back, and then find the center, which is none too overtly advertised either.

However, once we found the park's office, everyone was very friendly and hospitable. There's a great gift shop, and a movie theater running a good-sized movie about the lives of John and Abigail, and John Q., and then another two generations after that. To quote Hammond, they spared no expense - they got Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney to read the dialogue for John and Abigail (and if you don't know why that's perfect, you should probably brush up on the HBO miniseries before you come here anyway).

Once on the tour, the guides are all friendly, welcoming, and have excellent grasp of the subject material. The original farmhouse in which John was born is quaint, and pretty, but his retirement farm where he lived until death is absolutely breathtaking. What a beautiful garden!

My other complaint is that the tours only depart once an hour. The site does state that the first tour leaves at 9:15, but it doesn't add that there won't be another until 10:15, and it also doesn't make very clear that once you're on a tour, you're on it (back to that misleading impression that the Visitor Center and the sites are all together in one spot, when they're actually apart by miles). There's a difference between the site saying 'expect to stay about 3 hours' and 'once you begin the tour, you will not be able to leave for 3 hours', and knowing both that and that another tour wouldn't depart until 10:15 would have been very helpful in planning the remainder of the day. I hope someone will read this and learn from my mistakes.

Apparently this was his first place. This is a pretty cool place but you have to get on a trolley to go into or the mansion and it is at scheduled times. You can finish your Junior Ranger booklet right from The Visitor Center. It is the middle of town and there's not really any parking close to this one. We parked about four blocks away and walked up. There is no drop-off right in front of the building. If you're here it's worth it to get your extra Junior Ranger badge but I don't think I'd make a special trip. It's just a little bit inconvenience.

It was an interesting location, not bad, just different than most. Right downtown in the bottom of the business building. Employees didn't seem too jazzed about helping on a couple of questions. Best part was the walk to the church a block away where John Adams and John Quincy are buried. We didn't make it to the tour, they sold out of tickets to go in certain houses. But we did drive over to Peace Field, okay but nothing special. Cool info and the tour of the church was the best part

We really enjoyed the NPS tour of the three properties. The introductory film was really good to introduce the Adams to the public. All of the tour guides did a great job.

This is well worth the price, which I think is a bargain. Many local libraries offer free passes also if you are local. If you are a history buff, you will love this. The docents are very well informed and helpful. There is parking available which is a plus. The main house and yard is well maintained and kept in time period furniture and household items. My favorite is the private library building next to the house. Overall , a lovely morning outing.

The birthplace of our second president is the foundation of this National Park. You are taken there via shuttle/trolley from the visitor's center for the admission price of $15 (or free if you have a National Park pass). After a brief tour of the first floor of the birthplace home (which is over 300 years old), you will walk next door to the home that John later moved into, fixed up, and made the home for he and Abigail when they married. Another walking tour was most informative. You will get back on the trolley and be taken to the Peace Field home which he purchased after the war and his tenure in Europe as the first Ambassador to England. This is the home both he and Abigail lived in at the time of their deaths. It has several original paintings and furnishings and was another wonder walking tour, this one to include the separate library housing over 12,000 volumes and a stunning garden. A great stop for National Park or American history fans. Would be great for children. They will validate your parking ticket if you park in the garage around the corner from the Visitors Center

The Park Service does a wonderful job educating visitors about the lives of 4 generations of Adams'. You don't need to drive to Quincy - you can take the T on the red line to Quincy Center. If you drive, there's a parking garage where they can validate your parking. The T stop is about a block away in an office bldg.

They have a movie, of course, and $10/pp to take a 2 hour trolley tours to 3 houses. There is really no parking so this is the best way to visit these homes.

First stop is the home of John Adams' father where he was born. Next door is the house that John & Abigail Adams bought after their marriage and where John Quincy Adams was born. Next stop is Old House at Peace Field where John Quincy and Louisa retired. The grounds are beautiful and includes the Stone Library where John Adams' great grandson spent many years assembling the papers of the two presidents and preserving their extensive library of books - the first Presidential Library of sorts.

The tour guides were good and informative. For example, Louisa Adams the 6th First Lady was, until recently, the only foreign born First Lady. She was the daughter of the American Consul in London. Definitely worth a visit.

The National Parks Service does a splendid job in honoring the memory of the family histories of America’s second and sixth Presidents. It was a pleasure to be part of a group of mixed ages, comprising seniors, parents and children, that was taken to see the original birthplaces and then the main home of John and Abigail Adams. The library built by their grandson was a delight. The Park guides are very well-informed and bear all that knowledge lightly - readily answering questions from young and old.

My husband and I visited Quincy and took the trolley tour to the 3 Adams' homes. We went mid-week and while public schools were still in session so had the trolley, the house tours and the attention of the Park Rangers all to ourselves. Parking in the adjacent garage was easy, and the trolley ride starts right outside the musuem so there is little walking and what there is is done on well paved sidewalks. (Watch out for those scenic but treacherous brick sidewalks often found in the Boston area. They are slippery when wet, especially so in the Fall when they are covered with leaves, and the protruding brick edges can trip you up if you don't watch where you're going. OUCH!). Other reviewers have written about history. By visiting the Quincy houses you can also see the progression of American archetecture, from simple farmhouse to more complicated 2nd house to the final Adams' house, kept in the family until 1929 and therefore the entire furniture collection and other family accumulations were kept intact, including the library. Amazing. (Feminists might like to know that Abigail Adams was an entrepreneur, selling the pins that she asked John for when he was in Philadelphia helping to write the Constitution.). You could end your tour as we did by visiting another historic site in Quincy, the first Dunkin Donuts. It's near the Fire Station. Sticky, but very good. Call the Donuts beignets for any snob you might have in your group and they might like them too. Watch your step, keep your eyes open and above all else have fun.

Take the Red Line to Quincy Center and you will find the Visitor Center across the street. Purchase you ticket here and then you can watch the excellent movie and browse the gift shop. The trolley tour takes about 2.5 hours and we visit four places. The first stop takes us to the birthplaces of John Adams and John Quincy Adams. These two homes are next door to each other. A park ranger provides an informative guided tour of both houses. Then the trolley takes up to Peace Field, the home John Adams purchased in 1787, and subsequently expanded. Four generations of the Adams Family lived in that home. Adjacent to the home is the library of John Quincy Adams, built after his death to store his book collection. This tour is a great way to learn about the Adams Family.

Very educational for every age, even if you're not a history buff. Take a stroll around the gardens and inside the houses that actually contain original furniture. You can drive your own car, or relax on the trolley and let someone else do the driving. Plan on spending a day here, & check out the interesting places to eat in Quincy center.

You will have great memories and learn a lot.....

The Adams home is where President John Adams and his family grew up and lived in the Quincy area. It is a beautiful and well detailed mansion home and grounds with trees and flowers. Inside the mansion, the rooms have some furniture that
the family used. On the grounds is library with books that President John Adams used and read. A mini- series was filmed on site and is on DVD. A place to see and not miss when
coming to Quincy, MA

The visit to the Adams homestead is a must for young and old, historians and non-historians alike. There is much to learn about this famous and important family that helped shape the nation's early days. You begin at the National Park Center in Quincy to sign up for a tour---you cannot go into the various sites unless part of a tour. The tour itself takes about two hours, there is a 30 minute movie beforehand that is good though a bit confusing as it quickly traces generations of Adams family members. I would strongly recommend watching the documentary, John Adams, prior to the visit; this helps provide an important context to the visit.

Note--there is a LOT of walking with no place to sit once you board the trolley to the sites. Those with walking difficulties might find this somewhat challenging, especially the Peace Field homes where visitors climb stairs.

The two presidents and their wives are buried in a church near the visitors' center but you cannot view the graves unless you are part of a formal church tour; they clearly want a donation for the tour as they post suggested donation amounts at the church entrance.

We also drove around the bay-side area, which was a good decision. It is beautiful.

There are national park fees but seniors get in for free if they have a national park pass. Photos are not permitted in the homes nor are backpacks allowed.

There are plenty of restaurants near the visitor center---Five Guys, Starbucks etc..

I would strongly recommend the tour to families with children to help the next generation learn about the nation's beginnings, sadly not well done in today's schools.

Although this is a very odd set up for visiting a historic house the houses and the tour guides are terrific. If you are interested in the history of Revolutionaty and Post-revolution America, in particular, the Adams Family, you must go here. The portrait artwork at Peacefield is worth it alone. However, the way you have to go to a Visitors Center in the middle of Quincy, sign up for tours that are limited to 10 people every half an hour and then board a bus to go to the sites which are not too close to the Visitor Center is quite cumbersome. The people working in the Visitor Center also need to be a bit more friendly to the tourists.

The tour, to see the birthplaces of John Adams and John Quincy Adams as well as the Adams country estate, departs from the Visitor Center from which you are taken, by trolley to the sites. We did not have reservations but had no trouble getting a tour. Our guided tour was well-run, efficiently organized and most informative. The rangers' explanation of the generations of the Adams families and each of their contributions to our American Heritage was thorough and the emphasis of their talks were on the Adams' accomplishments and lives rather than the buildings. We came away with a good understanding of the Adams' and their place in history. The visitor center has an excellent movie which we suggest seeing before the tour and make sure to leave plenty of time to use the restroom before the tour. The facilities are limited and lines form quickly. Also, if you are driving and using your GPS, we suggest putting in the name of the parking garage (Presidents Place on Saville Ave) as we found it tricky to locate. Your ticket will be validated at the Visitor Center to enable you to park for free.

We booked the tour of the John Adams and John Quincy Adams Birthplaces online at Recreation.gov. The homes are run by the National Parks but the website in outsourced. The website is quirky, to say the least. It took me a couple of tries before I figured out how to reserve a slot for the tour. I grabbed the last two spots in the tour group. When I was all done with it, I had to pay by Credit Card the full $1 per person tour fee. haha, a lot of work for a little $...
When we arrived at 141 Franklin St Quincy MA for the tour it ended up only being 3 couples, 6 people on the tour. Either they are keeping the tour groups very small or most people that book the $1 tours don't care about losing their $1 fee.
In any event, the tour guide was great, very informative and encouraged questions from the group. I would highly recommend taking the tour of the two homes.

The National Park Service is offering an outstanding guided tour of Adams National Historic Park. Transportation is via trolley; we visited the birthplaces of John Adams and John Quincy Adams, the Old House at Peacefield and the marvelous stone library. The narrations by the Rangers at each location were fabulous; a wealth of knowledge was passed on in a very engaging, captivating manner. If you hadn’t already been in awe by the Adam’s family and their history of service and commitment to our country, you will be inspired after taking this tour. A highlight of our visit to Massachusetts!

My sister and I took the train out from Boston to go to this site, due to my fandom of HBO's John Adams series. The park rangers were very kind and informative, and there was a good little informational movie at the visitors center (about a 10-min walk from the actual park). However, when we got there on a Sunday afternoon, the tour tickets were sold out so we only got to walk around the outside of Peace field (the garden is gorgeous) and not go into the house. (Though we got to peak into the breathtaking library. Seriously worth in the visit in itself, in my opinion.) Missing out on the tour was on us, for not planning ahead - but perhaps this review will help others in planning. The trip to Quincy was still worth it, though.

The guides were very good and told many stories when asked questions. You actually got to walk into the rooms and you felt you learned good information.

We visited the three Adams houses which span from the 1600's to the 1900's - four generations. The houses are still in the exact locations where they were built. The first two, beautifully preserved "saltboxes" are close together, for easy communication in winter and as safety against Indian attack. The larger, more luxurious house, Peace Field, was built in the 1700's and expanded by Abigail Adams after she returned from living in France. Almost everything in this house is original - portraits, furnishings, etc. Tour guides were very knowledgeable and engaging. Excellent!

As a history buff and someone who has traveled around Boston many times, this was my first trip to the Adams home. So glad we went! The Peace Field home is something special with amazing artifacts. It is absolutely worth your time if you enjoy history at all.

This is a simple very informative tour. You board a trolley at the headquarters and first visit John Adam's birthplace and the home where he started his law practice. There is a nice narration by Rangers given as you tour the homes. You then are driven to Peacefield a home the Adams' later purchased and where both Abigail and John lived out their lives post presidency. You are taken on another narrated tour and hen walk through the gardens and into his library, the first presidential library. The trolley then takes you back to the headquarters in Quincy Center.

Learned so much about the Adams family. This tour has several homes to tour & they provide a trolley from the Visitor center. The guides at each place were very good & knew their subjects. I could take it again to take all in as so much information.

My teenage sons loved their informative tour of the father’s house & the separate son’s house. Our docent was a lovely young lady who was very patient with us & knowledgeable. Our tour lasted about an hour, I believe. You have to book 24-hrs. In advance and meet the park rangers outside at a booth between the homes.

Really enjoyed our guided tour - very informed Ranger who spoke passionately about the Adams family home. Lots of artefacts to see and you are able to get a real sense of the people. Well worth a visit

Toured with two eleven year old history buffs, also into the Junior Ranger activities. Very well organized tour, starting with free parking in attached garage, friendly Rangers at the Visitor Center, convenient trolley transportation between buildings. Take time to tour the church across street to left, very informative, the boys were impressed by the actual Adams tombs.
Adams homes tours were very good, awe inspiring to think of the people who stood where you are now standing; real, not reproductions. David, our Ranger guide at Peace Farm, was extremely knowledgeable and personable, great information.
Website states no backpacks or large bags allowed, so we left ours in car, other visitors carried backpacks without problems, wish we had too (snacks and water). No bathrooms during tour, keep that in mind.
Highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in early American history. Small/young children might get bored. Visitors need to be able to walk well on uneven grounds.

Love this national park, it is a true treasure in American Revolutionary War presidential history. Not many places you can go to see presidential and very old beautiful preserved homes.

Had a great day. Almost cancelled when got email advising that houses would be closed due to heat. So glad we didn’t. On arrival at visitors center had informative exchange with Ranger Bob. Watched the video then headed to Old House where Ranger Bret gave an informative and enjoyable talk. Later when visiting the birthplaces Ranger Alison stopped to ‘close up’ then shared her wealth of Adams knowledge with us. Rangers rocked!

The homes of two Presidents, one being the founding Father of the nation. Beautiful homes, too bad there isn't more land preserved for the homes to keep the area more like when the Adams' were there. It was very hard for us to find the tour starting place, it is in a modern high-rise building and NOT at either of the homes, something we didn't expect, so go there knowing that. Worth the trip when in the area.

We really enjoyed our visit to the Adams Historical Park. After stopping at the visitors center, we visited Peace field, the birthplaces and the United First Parish Church. We spent around three hours touring the sites and enjoyed learning about both Presidents. Like the other reviews, check in at the visitors center and get a pass to visit the locations. We enjoyed visiting the site and enjoyed the tour of Peace field.

Go early in the day as a lot of people visit and the only way to see is by a "first come, first served" ranger tour with transportation by national park trolly. There are a limited number of participants on each hourly departure. Cost is $10 per adult, free for children. Free for national pass holders. The rangers were very good at each location. A young woman ranger--sorry we don't recall her name--was very good explaining John Adams and John Quincy Adams homes. Ranger Rick was excellent taking us to the magnificnet Adams library and Peace Field.
Don't miss the introductory film.
Kids loved the Junior Ranger program.

This is a great tour. I have been to about 14 ex presidents house and this has by far more original items in it. Including furniture that John adams took to the white house. A must for history buffs

What a valuable contribution the Adams family made to our country. They sacrificed so much for us and had the good sense to preserve valuable treasures. This was the busiest park we visited on our trip and no wonder. A fabulous place with efficient Park Rangers making sure everyone got to all three sites safely. We all learned so much from the rangers on the tour. They certainly knew their facts and made history come alive with their stories. Everything in the house and library are original - so it is extra special. It's also nice to know that the Adams family descendants still meet on the lawn for picnics.

The homes were not open yet when we visited in April, but we chose to walk around the grounds and look at the houses. We saw a Ranger coming out of one of the houses...we could not go in but he did answer some questions for us. Such a fascinating time In American history. Despite not being able to physically go into the homes, we enjoyed our time spent here and can only imagine how amazing it must be when it is open.

Took the 'full' trolley tour, made reservations in advance. Everything worked like clockwork. The homes were so interesting and the rangers gave very good talks on the history of the family and the homes. Movie at the visitor center was very informative also.

Not open due to covid but the grounds are open. Lots of history. The staff very accessible and kind and responded very quickly to email questions. Beautiful location. Very easy to find sites.

This park is rich in history and the tour guides are exceptional. Alison, in particular, was very informative and helped us see the original home from the perspective of the owners. The mansion is also a treasure and I’m sure I would see more if I went through it again... so full of beautiful things to gaze upon that includes original paintings, artwork, dishes, silver, etc. so practical yet so beautiful!! A must see for sure! I could get lost in the beautiful garden and sit for hours in the library.

The site is broken up into essentially three sections. The visitors center with the ticket booth, store and film about the Adams’s family. They will validate the parking ticket. They do offer bus service which we did take but in retrospect I would have preferred to drive between sites. The bus service runs on a schedule. To visit the first two houses took about 20 minutes and we had to wait for the bus for another 20 to 25 minutes. It then went to John and Abigail Adams final house which is spectacular. Again we waited for the bus to take us back to the visitor center. A word of advice, if you want to get the rangers talk and tour, get the tickets ahead of time. They sell out fast that day. You can get them on line. Otherwise you can take an unescorted tour just show you ticket that you got at the visitor center or your annual pass.

In a letter to his wife Abigail, John Adams wrote, “Posterity! You will never know, how much it cost the present Generation, to preserve your Freedom! I hope you will make a good Use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven, that I ever took half the Pains to preserve it.“ My pilgrimage to Quincy was an attempt to honor the sacrifices of this founding family who strove “to be good, and to do good” in their lives and in service to their country. The experience met every expectation— and high expectations are definitely a mark of the Adams legacy!
Important advice: Be sure to book ahead through Recreation.gov to tour the interior of the homes.
Thank you to the caretakers of the Presidential Birth Homes and Peace Field for lovingly preserving them for the rest of us.

We enjoyed seeing the grounds of the Adams farm and homes. Unfortunately, due to staffing shortages we were unable to enter the homes and buildings, so it was frustrating to not be able to see in them. The gardens are beautiful and the film at the visitor center gave us a nice background, before heading out.

Finding it is tricky, but it is worth it. Loved the homes, gardens and especially the library. The first homes on the tour, we had a gentleman guide that obviously loved his job. He was a wonderful guide and storyteller. We could tell the young man that took us through Peacefield loved the history of this home and was very knowledgeable. If you love historic places you do not want to miss this one.

The Adams National Historical Park is a Presidential site worth seeing. The homes of both John Adams and John Quincy Adams. Terrific historical tour and guides.

Didn't have time to do the Adams National Historical Park, but spent a very informative half hour in the visitor centre where there is an excellent history map, tracing the history of the Adams family and the various landmarks in USA history. As a UK citizen it was very interesting to see how our ancestor's gained their freedom from our oppressive tax grabbing royals and also refused to help, Louis XVI of France in his failed effort to defeat the French revolutionaries.

Took advantage of some pleasant weather and visited the Adams National Historical Park in Quincy, MA. Also, by getting there at the start of their day, I had a tour that included two others - as I left the groups were closer to twenty-plus.

Lots to take in as the Park Rangers were extremely knowledgeable of the Adams Family's role in American history. Most of the artifacts in the three buildings were period pieces, few replicas.

Trolley takes you from one site to the other.

With a National Parks Pass, the entire time there was free - including the parking!

What a great 3 part tour! I went with my 12 year old. He was free and I was 15.00. The trolley took us to the original homes. The park rangers were so knowledgeable about the homes and families. I highly recommend this trip!

First off, this tour conveniently starts very near the Quincy Center subway stop. But we saw no signs directing us to the park visitor center, and we ended up walking to the left, all the way around a long building. Don't trust Google maps. So, when you exit the station, walk straight ahead and go slightly to the right. The visitor center will be right there. Next issue is that there are frequent tours, but they fill up fast, at least on Saturdays in July (even a slightly rainy one). We waited an hour and a half for the next available tour. All was fine because we watched an interesting film on the Adams family (John, Abigail, John Quincy, etc., not Uncle Fester, Morticia, Wednesday, etc.). It was narrated by Tom Hanks, Laura Linney, and Paul Giamatti. Then we took a "trolley" to the first site, the Adams childhood homes, John's and John Quincy. (Note to trolley driver, no need to blast radio commercials to passengers.) The park ranger tour guide was good but lacked full depth of knowledge about the houses. Interesting to see the two homes in their original location. Both were much plainer than the final house on the tour, which we also traveled to by short trolley ride. The final house, where John and Abigail Adams retired to and which other generations occupied, was much more opulent and fitting for a famous statesman. It also had more original furnishings and decorations. The tour guide here seemed a bit rehearsed, but knowledgeable. We also enjoyed seeing the beautiful grounds/garden and library. For those who saw the John Adams miniseries, the whole visit was particularly poignant. When the tour ended back at the visitor center, we made sure to visit the nearby church that houses (in basement tombs) the bodies of John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and their wives. The volunteer tour guide John (strong Boston accent) was fantastic, and the church tour was a real treat.

This site includes the Visitors Center, the houses where John Adams and John Quincy Adams were born, and "Peacefield," the newer nicer house that John Adams bought later. The separate "Stone Library" where they put their books to protect them from fire is interesting to see. The little church across from the Visitors Center is where John & Abigail Adams and John Quincy and Louisa Adams are buried and also worth seeing. The National Park Service rangers were very helpful and very knowledgeable, with only a couple minor slips that I caught (e.g. saying that John Quincy Adams was the only ex-President to return to Congress - Andrew Johnson also did so briefly). The rangers happily responded to questions and seemed genuinely interested in their topic. A trolley takes visitors from site to site, so that made the visit convenient. Well worth a visit!

Long fascinated by our second President, I was sure to make the Adams National Historic Park a stop on our family vacation. Sadly, I cannot echo my fellow travelers’ praise for the Adams National Historic Park.

The following tips will hopefully help you decide whether a trip to Quincy is worth the effort.

1) The Visitor Center - Is in the ground floor of an office building in congested downtown Quincy. It was hard to find, with parking down an alley in a connecting garage. Quite unusual and nothing like the amazing centers in places such as Monticello, Mount Vernon or Hyde Park.

2) Tours – Tours are conducted via street trolley/shuttle only at fixed times (supposedly every half hour) so be prepared. You must purchase tickets for a tour time in the visitor center, wait, then take a 2 hour tour regardless of what building interests you. As a result, if you include travel time of about an hour, a visit can easily take half the day.

3) Rigid Adherence to Policy – We arrived at 1:50pm on a Friday and were told the next tour wouldn’t be until 3:15pm. When the 2:15pm tour was ready we asked if we could join since there were only about 6 people boarding the trolley. We were told it was full, only to hear over the ranger’s radio 5 minutes later that there were 11 empty seats. The 2:45pm tour had been cancelled an hour earlier (5 minutes before we arrived) due to lack of attendance and was never reinstated, so we waited it out until 3:15pm.

4) Sites – Once on the tour you are first driven to the birthplaces of John Quincy Adams and John Adams (located at least 1 mile south of the visitor center). You then get back on the trolley and drive to Peacefield one mile north of the visitor center. The library and gardens are quite special, but came with an uninspiring narrative provided by someone who probably wanted to get started on their weekend.

5) Washrooms – Despite years of being operated by the National Park Service, neither site has been improved enough to provide washrooms. There are bathrooms in the visitor center only. Fair warning was given before hopping on the trolley, but this is not a two hour tour you want to bring little children on.

6) A Quick Alternative - If your heart is set on seeing John Adams sites, either dedicate the better part of the day or look the homes up on Google Map and snap a few photos from the street. I only wish I realized this before we took the tour.

We went to Adams on opening day today! The tour includes a pleasant trolley ride to 2 sites with 4 historic buildings. Wow! The guides are excellent and were basically walking encyclopedias of the Adams family history. Don’t be deceived by the urban location of the visitors center (get your parking ticket validated at the center for free parking!!). A very interesting place to visit, don’t miss it! Also-visit the church across the street and see the Adams family vault, fascinating.

I visited with a friend after I had seen the HBO mini-series and started reading the John Adams biography (plus I love the musical Hamilton, so anything from that era is fun to learn about!). The tour cost was very affordable and the condition of the buildings was excellent. Docents were very knowledge, polite, and willing to answer questions, although the tour seemed to go a little too quickly for me (I wanted to look at things a little longer). I think they were trying to avoid people getting too hot (no A/C), but we were on the first tour of the day so it didn't feel very too warm to me. I would still recommend earlier in the day to tour in the summer. Also, if you watch the mini-series or read the biography beforehand I found that immensely helpful to really connect with the locations (and not be so overwhelmed by the amount of information). However, my friend hadn't seen/read either and still had a great time! No photos allowed inside the houses, which is a shame because they are beautiful, but understandable because they apparently had things stolen before. The movie at the gift shop is also nice as a pre-tour or post-tour. Overall the visit helped me understand the Adams family as a whole (it does not just focus on John Adams). Fun gifts as well!

We decided not to wait around 2 hrs for the birthplace house tours and after watching short film at VC just walked over to the church. For a small voluntary donation got a nice private tour of the church and the coolest thing was being able to walk into the burial vault where both President Adams' and their wives were buried. Drove up to see outside of the old house and garden grounds which was fine. Parking garage is really torn up so it was tight inside but convenient to the visitor center and they validate your parking inside.

This is a great tour. You see the birth places of both John Adams and John Quincy Adams. The second stop on the tour is the peaceful home of the Adams family later in life, along with the first presidential library. There is so much history within these walls. The National Park Service guides were very interesting and knowledgeable. One of our guides who we believe his name was Rick, was a college literature professor and was so excited to relate the Adam's history to us. He could have talked for hours and we could have listened for hours. He really brought all the Adam's family members to life for us, It was nice having a shuttle bring us to the two different spots.

We found this by accident and were not disappointed. They are only open certain months during the year with, according to one of the rangers, July and early October being their busiest times. The video in the visitor center was informative. Although the tours were full for the time we could have made it was worth seeing the grounds of the farm inhabited by two of our Nation's presidents.

We wanted some real history with facts and narratives and you get it here. We learned about the 4 generations of Adams'. Toured their homes and saw how they lived. Really learned about their love of our country. I don't think I've ever been through a tour that touched on that so much before. It was truly refreshing and inspirational. Quincy is a little bit of a drive outside Boston. I think it's worth it. The town is quite nice as well. A good trip. I have 2 teens. The first part of the tour was kind of "blah" for them, but the second half made up for it. Trick here: ASK QUESTIONS! If you see something, don't assume they will tell you about it. Ask! The guides know so much about this house and to make a tour that fits everyone can make it bland. So please ask questions. They are happy to share what they know. They have little gems about the house too.

Like so many NPS websites, I was confused how to visit this park in Quincy. You should start your tour at the visitor center, which is in a busy area and tucked into a corner on the ground floor of a large building (a hospital?). The multilevel parking garage is behind the building down a small side street. There are signs, but you have to pay attention. The NPS will validate your parking ticket. The visitor center has restrooms, a gift shop and a short movie. Once you pay, the only way to the park sites is by trolley. You first stop at the two homes in which John Adams and John Quincy Adams were born and lived. John Adams’ home has been rebuilt on the original foundation. You are given a guided tour of the lower levels of each home and it takes about 30 minutes. You then reboard the shuttle and it takes you to a home that was in the Adams family for 4-5 generations. This home is a guided tour as well as takes about an hour. This home is extremely interesting. You visit the lower and upper levels as well as the detached stone library. Because the home was in the family for so many generations, the furnishings and personal belongings are original. The entire tour, with shuttle rides, takes a little over two hours. There are no restrooms or other facilities once you are out of the visitor center, so plan accordingly. Jane, our guide, was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I could have hung around for another 30 minutes, but they are on a timetable. Well worth a stop.

We took some relatives visiting from Ireland, and the tour guide was amazing! He could answer everything and offer additional info. It was really interesting, scenic and engaging. Loved it!

Oldest Presidential home and museum in the nation. Excellent tour, information center, and gift shop. Gives you an appreciation for the way people lived in the pre- and post-Revolutionary period. Worth the visit just for the history, but the buildings are great too. If you are a senior, take your Eagle Pass card for free entry.

Very easy to get to on the Redline subway. Park Service is across the street from the exit and to the left in a corner suite. Reservations are first come first serve and groups are small. One is transported to the sites. Both our guides did an excellent job of sharing the history of the locations with us. The birthplaces and Peacefield are beautifully maintained. The library at Peacefield is a wonder to behold as is the house with its gardens, original furnishings and portraits.

This was farther out than we imagined. A long ride on the T o Quincy, and then a much longer walk to the Park from the T station. Should have done this earlier in the day, as by time we got there, it was dark. Also, the walk to get there is along a major highway with a fairly narrow sidewalk, so be careful.

If you are interested in American history, this is a must visit while in the Boston area--the homes are just national treasures. The decor and historic pieces in the Peacefield house are priceless. Paintings, china, furniture....the grounds, flowers and trees are just beautiful!

I went there in the summer of 2016 and it was amazing to see how two of our greatest presidents lived. If you go , I would strongly recommend to take the tour which highlights the most important points of interest. My favorite part of the tour was the library which has an amazing collection and is in pristine condition. Bring a water bottle if you go during the summer because there is no air conditioning and it can get pretty humid in the houses.

So glad we came on this tour even though the weather was wet.
The tour retraces the lives of the Adams family starting at the original saltbox home and finishing at Peacefield with it’s beautiful gardens.
The restoration of all the properties gives you a real sense of the past and the excellent tour guides bring the lives of these forward thinking and extraordinary people to life.
If you love history and especially the relationship between the USA and Britain this is must.

Very interesting historic homes. The guides were very knowledgeable and it was very convenient. There is a parking garage next door the center where you depart from and they validate the parking. You take a NPS trolly to the locations so it is park, pay and ride. If you love American history it is well worth seeing. The grave sites of the Adams are located in a church across the street from the center and you can get a tour of the tombs and the church (not associated with the NPS). There are also places to eat within walking distance.

go in spring when the Daffodils are in bloom, And the Library is awe inspiring with the hand written volumes from our founding fathers

If you're visiting the Boston area, do not miss this! It costs $10 per adult and the trolley takes you to two different locations - the houses where John Adams was born and where he lived for awhile after he married. But the really interesting part is the house at Peace field. It is incredible how well preserved the house is and the original furnishings inside. It's a guided tour and I highly recommend this!

Some tours are boring, but I bring family to see the Adams National Historical Park when they come from out of town, and each time I find it interesting. The tour starts with a trolley after purchasing your ticket at the visitor center in Quincy center. Tours do fill up, so come ahead of time and add your name, or if you're not in a hurry, register for a tour, then hop across the street for a cup of coffee and bagel! The trolley adds some fun to the trip to visit first the homes where John Adams and John Quincy Adams were born, then to the "mansion" that John & Abigail lived in following their time as diplomats in Europe. I love that their home, Peacefield, is entirely filled with artifacts used by the family--no reproductions here. You'll walk away inspired by these early heroes of our nation, and impressed by their progressive thinking.

Visiting Quincy for the day. Wanted to see the National Park Service visitor's center, but it was closed. No parking validation for us. Hope the staff is ok.

Went to both houses on tour on the trolley. Both houses were incredible. Great docents to provide historical information and answer questions. A lot to see, especially the Library.

Returned with friends after they watched the HBO John Adams series. They loved this history-come-to-life in the national park. It’s well done.

Well stocked gift shop & historical info in visitor center, engaging park rangers, well timed logistics with trolleys, fair $15 admission & $20 seasonal pass is a bargain. Includes 3 free admissions.

Rick and Jane did super jobs leading our tours, kept the content flowing, short and sweet and playing to their personalities. What a wonderful 2 hours well spent. Plus free validated parking.

Loved all three houses! Guides Richard and Alison were fabulous. It was so fun to see how much Alison loved history and the Adams Family. We spent a week seeing Boston’s sights and this was definitely one of our favorite stops. We were glad we went to the visitor’s center and watched the movie, as well. We did not go on the church tour but walked into the sanctuary and a nice man who was a member of the church took us downstairs to the crypts to see the resting place of John and Abigail and John Quincy and Louisa. Very cool.

I read all the reviews before going here to avoid having to miss out on the first come first serve tix. I ended up getting to the Visitor Center at 8:20 am on a Sunday morning. When the door opened at 9am, there were only 6 of us waiting so we had no trouble getting on the first tour at 9:15. Trolley takes you to the homes and the rangers at each home are full of knowledge. Got back to the Visitor center around 11:30 and then watched the video. Was so glad I visited this historic site and highly recommend it - you won't be sorry to set aside 3 hours for this visit.

If you're in Quincy and care about history, this is the one thing you absolutely must do. Peace Field, the home of John Adams, is open year round on the grounds, with the interior closed in winter. But the historical significance is there year round, and the visitors center is always open. The property is still gorgeous and still maintained, so it's not hard to imagine how the house has looked over the centuries.

Visited the Adams site while in Boston. Unusual setup where the starting point is inside of a major downtown Quincy building storefront. National parks tour... so use your parks pass if you have one. Tour is almost 2 hours total and takes you to a couple of historic sites related to the Adams family by trolley bus. Very informative and worthy of a visit if you have time. Park in the Presidential Plaza garage for free validated parking.

Had a most wonderful and informative visit. The brief introductory movie is well done and a must see as you wait for the bus tour departure. Park Rangers Tom, Chris, Carol, Kiernan were at their best both in dress and presentation mode. Bus transport and team coordination was exceptional. Grasp of history and relevance of buildings was exceptional. We had deep appreciation of their understanding of all the art, portraits, construction, and all items on display various houses. Excellent aptitude for answering to group all directly or indirectly related questions asked. All were a real tribute to the finest traditions of the National Park Service. Bravo. Makes you feel proud of American heritage. Ranger Chis's photo is on the NPS Visitor Center web page and you get to meet him in person as you enter.

At first it was a little confusing where to start the tour, be sure to go to be visitor center on Hancock St... The tour is two hours long, which at first seemed like a lot of time however it was well worth it. The video at the visitor center was very good, Park Rangers at all three buildings were excellent. The amount of original furnishings and personal belongings at Peace Field were really impressive. Really thorough tour of the house, park rangers were super knowledgeable, answered everyone’s questions. Definitely one of the best presidential homes we have visited.

We visited last Fall and enjoyed the tour very much. We are both history buffs (live in Gettysburg!) and have read a great deal about John and Abigail Adams. The home and the grounds are beautifully kept with rows of lovely flowers. The separate building housing the extensive library was amazing. We would definitely recommend this tour.

Watching the HBO series on John Adams msde me want to visit here and I was not disappointed. The properties are well preserved and the tours by the rangers are well done. Our guide, Robert Stimple, was both a wealth of knowledge and a watchful guide as he advised the group about the number of stairs, changes in floor level, and other hazards so no one would be injured. The trolley schedule for taking us to the different locations (houses) was a little tight but sufficient to allow us time to enjoy the homes. Get to the visitor center early to get scheduled for a tour. They fill up quick. Use the recommended parking in the attached garage in Galleria Presidents Place. The visitor center validates it for you (free). There was plenty of space, though we were there on a Saturday. Highly recommend this historical site.

A must do if in the area. Beautiful grounds and a really great little city.

Make sure to make reservations on recreation.gov and book your tour as soon as you have a date in mind as it feels up quickly. It only costs $1 for the tour but you will need an entrance pass that’s $15.

The trolly then takes you to see and visit/tour the houses that both presidents were born in. Then you load back up and get to see where the Adam’s family lived for decades, absolutely stunning.

This is the home of John Adams the second president of the USA and signer of he Declaration of Independence. This property is worth visiting because you get to learn about the life of one of our nations founding fathers and his legacy as second president of the USA. The property very beautiful and is nice taking a stroll. The tour of the building is a must do. Put this on your list of places to see when you are in Boston or south shore MA because this is worth it.

We live near the Adams National Historical park but never visited until recently. The tour was informative and fun. Try to visit in the spring when the amazing garden is in bloom.

As part of our tour of the American Presidents, we brought my 7-year old son to the Adams National Historic Park.The NPS makes the visit easy with its trolley. But, more importantly, someone with an understanding of our country's history will be blown away with how well the Adams family has preserved a slice of important history. The tour is less than 3 hours. Well worth the time.

The tour starts at the Visitors Center with a short video. Different actors than the Adams miniseries, but same voices (Giamatti and Linney). The National Park Service employees were adorable. I didn't have to ask about the Jr Ranger program, they offered it right up when they saw my son.

We arrived on a Sunday at 12;20 pm and was put on the 1:15 pm tour. I don't think there is a worry about big crowds on this. The tour guides indicated that Massachusetts residents rarely take the tour. There were 2 local couples with us, a couple from Australia and the rest of us were from neighboring states.

The first stop is the house that John Adams was born in, followed by the "Sweet Little Farm" John Adams alluded to in his letters to Abigail. These houses date back to the late-1600s, and the historical aspect in itself merits interest. But, it is hidden, in plain sight, behind a commercial neighborhood, hidden behind a large storage building not far from the main street coming into Quincy. However, these houses would have been torn down a century ago if not for the acknowledged importance of the houses by the Adams family and their commitment to preserving the legacy of their patriarch, John Adams.

The NPS guides are cognizant of time because the tours do come through regular enough that one trolley is coming as another is leaving. They have their story to tell - stories about making musket balls by the fire, spearing eels when lobster was plentiful and John Adam's early life as a lawyer when he just wanted to be a farmer. What I found the most interesting, but the least discussed was the stone walls in front of the house where Abigail Adams would have waited and searched for the British, the militia and her own husband's homecoming. That house front to me was the true historic place.

The trolley moves on to the house at Peace Field and the Stone Library. I would have happily been locked into the Stone Library for a century. It was surreal to be among so many historic and important books. A full collection of 7000+ owned by John Quincy Adams and his children. Portraits of Adams men, with interesting back stories. Visitors walk in and stand in front of the dictionaries. Just a wall of dictionaries! Bindings indicated that they were from the late 1700s and early 1800s, and showed the languages that John Quincy would correspond in. To the side was encyclopedias. I didn't even bother to explain to my son what an encyclopedia was, given the age of Wikipedia.

John Adams' law desk, from which he wrote his petitions for the Boston Massacre case, is in the back corner.

Again, as in the birthplace houses, the family was aware of the importance of all things that touched the birth of our nation and protected it accordingly.

The big house at Peace Field has a beautiful garden. But, the tour does not touch much on that. I would love to have heard more, especially what flowers would have been there during each generation and who maintains them now. As with Mount Vernon, a short boxwood hedge kept the flower gardens contained.

Because our trolley group was split into two groups, we visited the house last. Coming in through the original entrance we were educated on the additions of the house as it went through the successive generations. But, being frugal New Englanders, each generation saved what the previous generation brought to the house.

How amazing to walk through the same corridors as the man who was the loudest and most annoying voice in the Continental Congress for our nation's independence. I like to think, and his correspondences indicated, that he knew the impact his efforts would have on future generations. Not just Americans, but most republics link their own freedoms to the case made by John Adams. It's eerie and and an honor to know that one can walk through the house at Peace Field and touch walls that would have been touched by John Adams, and more likely by his son John Quincy Adams.

As we continue to visit the Presidential houses and libraries, I know that they will get increasingly shiny and modern. I just hope that my son, some day, can understand the hardship that the Adams' had to endure in order to bring about his and my, and our freedom of life. Life was hard enough in the mid-1700s, but to add the uncertainty of travel and waging war against the British Empire makes it worthy of our respect.

The NPS guide indicated that the Adams' descendants still have an annual reunion. And they should. Their ancestors' sacrifice was noble and should be protected and shared for all.

Overall, a great destination for anyone who appreciates the freedoms that come from living in a republic. A fascinating glimpse at the lives of heroes from our nation's history.

If you want to tour the birthplaces, you will need to start at the visitor center first (1250 Hancock Street) in order to get tickets. If you want to just get a picture of the exterior of the birthplace houses, you can do so without a ticket. They are next to each other at Franklin and President’s Avenue (133-141 Franklin St). You might get lucky like we did and have a very nice park ranger explain about the differences in the houses. I do recommend a tour, though, if you have the time and you aren’t traveling with a tween who is “toured-out” ... just go to the visitor center first.

I have taken tour several times, very interesting family history. The fact that Abigail lived in the same town that I live in makes it even more special

A lot of history in Quincy but transportation is needed as the birthplace homes (both side by side), the burial sites, and the family home are very spread out. All inside tours and visits were off due to Covid but the grounds were all open. The birthplace homes I believe were opening the first week in August but the Family home is unable to be ventilated properly so it will remain closed. The staff at the homes were all friendly and very knowledgeable. If you are into US history, old homes, or just want a relaxing day visit Quincy!

The National Park Service does a great job giving an overview of the Adams' residences and the history behind them. The Rangers are knowledgeable and excited about the information presented.

The tour was an excellent value at $10. A trolley takes you from the Visitors Center to two locations. You will see 4 buildings- The birthplaces of John Adams and John Quincy Adams (next door to each other), Peacefield, and the Library at Peacefield. The tour lasts approximately 2 hours. Reserve some time to browse the Visitors Center and watch the free 15 minute video about the Adams Family before your tour.

The rangers are great at bringing the history of these old homes alive. They have worked out some great logistics. The visitor center validates parking in a local parking garage and has a 30 minute introductory film. This is where you pick up your tickets for the home tours--then a shuttle bus collects you and takes you to the two sites (three homes) where a ranger meets you to give you a great tour. The artifacts from this family are also amazing. Could have spent more time. Be sure to ask questions--the rangers have a wonderful talk prepared, but know EVERYTHING!

Full disclosure: I don't like John Adams and only went to the historical park because I get in free with my senior lifetime pass. That said, I really enjoyed the tour a lot. I gained a new respect for Abigail Adams and while my opinion of John Adams did not change, the rangers were very informative and I feel I must research further into John Quincy Adams and his wife Louisa. I did not realize that there had been so much drama with JQA's election as president and I may have to rethink my feelings. The three homes were very interesting and it was enlightening seeing the improvements to their lifestyle over time.

Great informative tour of several sites related to the John Adams/John Quincy Adams family with informative tour guides and lots of historical info and materials for everyone to review and enjoy!

The Adams National Historical Park (ANHP) is a rare treasure of American history. The site consists of three homes, all tracing back to the Adams' family. It is a must see for fans of the American revolution but does take time to plan out your visit. First, know the tour is on a first come, first serve basis with tours running every hour. The tour itself lasts about 2 hours, so prepare to spend a good chunk of time there. You must buy passes at the visitors center, located across from the United First Parish church. Parking is problematic, but the park service covers the parking for the site. When you're passing the church, look for the blue "P" sign for Presidents place. Take your ticket and park in the garage, but bring your ticket to the visitors center to have it validated, which will cover the parking fee for the garage. The gift shop was great, the usual NPS merchandise as well as a slew of Adams/Massachusetts memorabilia. Arrive before the time you want your tour or prepare to wait, luckily the church across the street is a great detour while waiting. Be prompt to arrive back at the visitors center 10 minutes before your tour takes off as a trolley will pick you up and check your tickets. From there you are driven to the birth place of John Adams and the home he and Abigail shared prior to moving to Peacefield. These are well done recreations with not much of what's inside being authentic, but time period accurate. These houses are nice to see and walk through but can be about 10-15 minutes of your time in total. The real gem here is the final stop on the tour, the old house at Peacefield where Adams and his family lived. Over four generations of Adams lived in the home, each bringing their own unique charm and design to it. When it was gifted to the NPS, it was done so given the condition that nothing be removed or changed about the house, so aside from touch up work done to keep it running, everything you see is authentic. The stone library is also an amazing thing to see which houses the families collection of books, dating back to the 1500s, including a signed original copy of the Book of Mormon. Incredible site with incredible historic value. You must purchase tickets to tour Peacefield, but you can check out the home and gardens from the outside if for any reason you don't want to spend 2 hours at the site. There is bathroom at the homes, no photography inside the homes and no food/drink allowed on the trolley or at the sites so prepare yourself before hand. The tour is magnificent inside but you have limited time outside as the trolley arrives on time so get your photos while you can.

The tour starts at the Quincy VC about a mile away from both locations (birth homes and the main house). They have a nice gift shop, 20-minute film, and rangers to answer any questions you may have. The home itself was quite immaculate and has been in family hands or ran as a tourist destination since John Adams purchased the property, so everything is authentic.

Stopped while in town to check his off the bucket list, as have wanted to come here for a long time. Nice visitor center although parking isn't the easiest thing. Tour definitely worth the admission to the three historically relevant homes. Guides at both stops did a great job.

We never knew much about the Adams Family but were very interested in learning all about them and seeing where they lived. The gardens were gorgeous and so well cared for. Would definitely recommend. Other things in Quincy we visited were the Hancock Cemetery and President's Church.

A lot of fun...worth a visit. Guide was very formed...library was amazing. Grinds are quite nice as well...all in all I highly recomend

We were so impressed with the early homes, and the mansion at Peacefield. Excellent presentation by the ranger. Grounds and gardens superb. The stone library impressive. Trolly car takes you from the visitors center.

I am glad that we went to Adams National Historic Park and do recommend it. We had wonderful guides and the rangers at the visitors' center were very pleasant and helpful.
However, there were several things that I found frustrating:

The parking garage was hard to find and there were no signs in the garage telling you where to find the Visitors' center. Upon leaving, there were no signs telling which way to turn to get back to the main street.

Tours ($10.00) of the three Adams houses only take about 10 people. You may have to wait quite a while to get on a tour. You can buy tickets for a specific time at the Visitors' Center,

There are restrooms only at the Visitors' Center. The full tour takes two hours, but you can choose to stay longer at Peacefield to visit the gardens and the groups. The trolley comes every every 30 or 60 minutes depending on how often tours are being offered. There should be restrooms at Peacefield.

The tours are rushed. You can ask questions, but the guides never ask you if you have questions. There are definitely time restraints.

In the first two houses, you are not taken upstairs to see the bedrooms.

In the last house, Peacefield, there are some rooms that you can only look into from the small doorway. With ten people, the view was very limited.

This is a fabulous site to visit! My husband and I and our two teenagers loved every minute of this well run, very informative tour. Parking is in a garage at the national park building in town, and a trolley takes you from there out to the homestead. The house where John Adams was born, the house where he and Abigail raised their family, and the larger home named " Peacefield" where he and Abigail spent their later years, as well as the stone library built for John Quincy Adams' books are all on the tour. Takes about two hours total. Note: there were not restrooms out at the homestead (only at the National Park building). Photos are not permitted inside the buildings, just outside.

Be sure to also allow time for Hancock cemetery and a tour of the Parish Church, which are both just a short walk from the National Park building in town. Our tour guide in the church gave us a guide to Hancock cemetery. John, Abigail, John Quincy, and Louisa Adams are all buried in the crypt downstairs in the church. It was very special, and quite moving, to be so close to all the history at these sites! Photographs were allowed in the church and in the crypt. It's a short drive from Boston, or you could take the T to Quincy.

I went through Quincy on foot and went past several sites that are part of the historic park. I really wish they'd let you just visit these historic homes on your own. Unfortunately the only way you can go inside is with a formal tour. It appears these can only be arranged on the day of visit, not in advance. Why not just charge an admission to each building separately and let people visit as they please?

That said, the grounds were well maintained, and they did have good signs interpreting the history of the buildings.

My spouse is a direct descendant of John Adams so on a trip to Boston we decided to "do the tour." It is an unusual National Park site in that it is in an activity city environment and requires using a trolley bus between the locations. Found it very informative about the lives of the Adams family (John Adams - 2nd US POTUS and his son John Quincy Adams - 6th US POTUS) but it was also very informative about the development of the US. The whole tour only takes 2-hours. It is very well worth a visit.

This is a great day trip. You can leave all the stress behind and let the park rangers handle the day. There is a parking garage at 1250 Hancock St, Quincy. Park here and have your parking ticket validated in the visitor center.

The visitor center has a great gift shop. Really great items.

After purchasing tickets you are given tickets for a tour and a specific time. Tours leave on the hour.

At the time of your tour you board a trolley which takes you to all 3 houses and at each house you have a guided tour with a different guide.

It does seem a little rushed but the guides / rangers were wonderful!! At John's birth place Carolyn or Caroline was one of guides and at Peacefield, Betty Brown was another. Both were great!!!!

Highly recommend!

How awesome that the two birth houses are still standing!! How incredible that Peace Fields is full of the belongings, thus the stories, of all 4 generations of the John Adam’s family!! I particularly love John Quincy’s Library with the John Adam’s desk in the corner!!

We spent most of a day touring the Adams birthplaces, Peacefield, the Adams Library, as well as the church where John and Abigail Adams and John Quincy Adams and Louisa Adams are interred. Our guides were great and we very much enjoyed the tour. Peacefield and the library are packed with actual Adams memorabilia. You will need tickets from the National Park Service (available online, and free, other than a $1 processing fee, if you have a NPS pass.) The day we went, they had plenty of walk-in availability, but this is not so during the summer months. Be sure to allow 30 minutes before your tour to enjoy the film that "sets the stage" for the tour. Highly recommend this if you can make time in your Boston visit. It is easily accessible by subway and worth the time.

We are history nerds, so it stands to reason that we loved this tour. It starts with the farm family homes, which are now nestled in a neighborhood. The National Park Service did an excellent job with the tour and then we took our trolly to see the Peace Field home where John and Abigail spent their final days and where John Quincy Adams also spent his days. The library is stunning. One stands here and can see that the writers of old and those contemporary all had a voice in shaping a fledgling nation.

The Adams National Historical Park is an wonderful place to experience and somehow not really well known locally. It requires about a half day and is a fascinating tour!! We were very pleased with how efficient the trip is which requires an old town trolley ride between 3 locations. There is no wasted time and the pace of the house tours is just right. Not too fast, not too slow. The tour bus is right there for your group when each tour is completed. Always knew these Presidents were from the area but never knew the extent of this visitor experience until we ventured to Quincy for it. We also recommend visiting the Church of the Presidents which is next door to the visitor center.

CRAIG HOCKENBERRY

Spent about 3-4 hours in Quincy and almost all of it was at the Adams NHP. We stop at everything and anything regarding the second and the sixth President of the United Stares including their final resting places.

This was so well preserved and we learned so much

Craig Hockenberry Ohio

This was definitely our highlight when we came to Boston to visit! We were able to save money and time by riding on the T to Quincy. Once you come out of the subway, the visitors center is across the street. They take you on a trolley, over to John Adams’ birthplace for about 30 minutes and then they take you to Peace field. There were a few regional pieces to the Adams’ family. It was all a wonderful experience with great guides. I was most impressed by the Stone Library. I would have loved to have looked through those books!!

We stopped here only because we saw the sign as we were headed to the Cape. The tour was excellent. I would recommend to anyone. There is a great 30 minute video which is very informative. There is a trolley ride to take you to the various buildings on the tour.

Interesting and educational, lovely grounds. The Adams's are a fascinating family. Be aware that the National Parks website is clunky with information gaps. YOU MUST START AT THE VISITOR CENTER. That is in downtown Quincy, about a mile from Peacefields, the family home. Book and get your tickets at the Visitor Center first. Tickets get you inside the rustic, early homes as wells as a ranger-guided tour of Peacefields. We arrived at 9:20am, and the first two tours of Peacefields were "sold out;" we ended up on the 11:30 tour. You can sign up for the tour of Peacefields ONLY at the Visitor Center! They take 10 people per group. We got our tickets and then went to the original, simple home of John and Abigail Adams. This site is self guided, but our tour was augmented by fine historical information presented by the staff and rangers. It provides an interesting juxtaposition to see the simple homes first and then have the guided tour the elegant Peacefields. These two settlements are about 1 mile apart. We drove to all three places: Visitor Center, the early historic homes, and then Peacefields. All total, we spent about 3 intriguing hours.

The park consists of three historic houses, an historic library and the modern visitor's center. The houses feature one where John Adams was born, one immediately adjacent that he purchased and his retirement home - Peace Field. You cannot just park and walk in (no problem with this at all!). You must go to the visitor's center and take a US Park Service bus to the sites. There is a parking garage at the visitor's center that we did not use. A red line T subway is right across the street - nice.

This is a guided tour by the Park Service who do their job well. I am very glad we went! The tour is free - questions about discounted pricing are therefore not applicable.

I had read David McCullough's biography and because we were staying with family in a nearby town, I wanted to visit the birthplace and see the actual sites where John Adams lived. The price is very reasonable and because I work at a museum, they kindly gave me and my family free admission. It is only $10 for adults and kids are free. They validate parking if you park in the big parking structure behind the visitor center. We arrived in time to get a spot on the next shuttle but we had to wait about an hour, but during that time we were able to see the short film and visit the Adams crypt at the church close by. The crypt was amazing--with a volunteer guide you can get right into the small room with the tombs of John Adams and John Quincy Adams and their wives. It was such a special feeling to be right there with no barriers or distance. We went back to the visitor center when it was time to get on the shuttle bus and visit the two small houses that are the birthplaces of the two presidents and then the house at Peacefield where they lived later. They take you in small groups and at Peacefield you get to go all over the house and also visit the stone library. The family furniture and portraits are still in the house, including the desk where John Adams wrote his letters to Thomas Jefferson. Even for the rest of my family, who were not particularly interested in John Adams, it was an interesting tour and fun to ride on the trolley. The guides were very knowledgable and welcomed questions from the group.

We enjoyed the half hour movie in the main building. We’re looking forward to touring Peacefield but it won’t be open till some time in May. We walked around the grounds though and it was lovely.

A good visit put together by the national park service. Visits to the houses of the Adams. Then on to peace field. The rangers at both houses were excellent communicators and told the stories well.
Detriment was the loud and personal discussions of the Rangers at the visitor centre.
However a worthy experience.

My son and I visited here in April 2016, it was a wonderful visit. Loved the houses on the tour especially Peacefield. The birthplace homes of John Adams and John Quincy Adams were also special to see.

Our family planned a Boston vacation specifically to visit the Adams homestead and so enjoyed it. Do check the park service website as opening hours and tours keep changing (as they deal with staff shortages.) Much is closed over winter, too. Tours of Peacefield can only take 10 people at a time so be sure to get to the park service visitor center in Quincy ideally just before 9am to get in line. We walked in at 9 to a line and barely got tickets. NPS offers an excellent star-studded movie in the visitor center and then has a free shuttle going between the birthplaces of John and John Quincy Adams (right next to each other) and the grander Peacefield, built during Adams first term as president. Only Peacefield has a guided tour which we enjoyed. But honestly our favorite was the birthplaces which are self guided. John Quincy's birthplace is the home when John and Abigail lived and worked, and John's law office is the front parlor. While we were there a John Adams interpreter/actor was there in full costume. The NPS staff at all 3 locations were great though didn't explain the timing of our tour well. (The 3 locations and trolley just make things complex and it all just takes time toing and froing.) Don't miss the beautiful church across the street with the tombs of John, Abigail, John Quincy, and Louisa Adams. The park across the street also has great statues of John and Abigail Adams and also John Hancock (also born in Quincy) and a historic cemetery.

I've lived in Quincy for years, and haven't even touched the surface of the history here until now. It's amazing that these historic buildings are just scattered around the city. The tour was very informative, and getting to see the homes was neat. Peace field and the library are by far the best parts.

This was a wonderful tour of the 3 homes. All your guides were thorough and answered many questions. Wonderful library. We were the first tour of the day at 9:15 So it wasn't crowded at all. Very informative!

This is a special Historic Park. Great tours of both of the Adams homes. They were part of the Adams farm. Now due to build up in population of Quincy the Adams farm is basically just the homes themselves. You will need to pick up your tickets and ride a shuddle bus. Great books are available at the gift shop. We had a hard time finding parking as downtown Quincy gets very busy. There is parking available in a parking garage near the gift shop, the day we were there construction crews took down the signs directing to parking. Don't miss out on John Quincy's library I was envious.

You will visit the three homes of John Adams and his family, homes of the second and sixth Presidents. They are truly a national treasure. The guide was very informative, the tour was efficient, everyone got to see everything. The homes were a bit warm so I recommend going early if it's going to be a warm day. Not really stroller friendly for families. You will get a feel for how life was and how they lived. In the third house everything is in its original state.