Adams National Historical Park

08/28/2026

Did you know that Americans in the 1700s made their own musket balls?

This bullet mold is one of the most famous objects in the collection here at Adams NHP. It is attributed to Abigail Adams during the time of the American Revolution. As the featured object for August, we dive into the family lore around this bullet mold and the process of hand casting musket balls.

Read more about the bullet mold on our website: https://www.nps.gov/adam/blogs/bullet-mold.htm

Credit: NPS Photo

08/28/2026

Happy 110th birthday, National Park Service! And happy 80th birthday, Adams National Historical Park! As we celebrate these important milestones, we are taking some time to reflect on experiences shared at Adams NHP over the park's 80-year history.

What is your favorite memory at Adams NHP or another National Park Service site?

Image: The Old House at Peace field in the 1990s. The Old House at Peace field was gifted to the nation by the Adams Memorial Society 80 years ago in 1946.

Credit: NPS Photo

08/27/2026

Did you hear the news? We're turning 80 and you're invited to celebrate with us!

2026 marks the 80th anniversary of the establishment of Adams National Historical Park. In order to celebrate this milestone and commemorate the gift the Adams Memorial Society made to the nation, we're hosting an 80th birthday block party tonight, Thursday, August 27. Stop by the grounds of Peace field, located at 135 Adams Street in Quincy, between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. for music and lawn games. Bring a picnic and a blanket and enjoy the beautiful landscape. Meet John and Abigail Adams and learn more about their lives and the special places they called home. Say hello to our community partners who have helped us tell the Adams story for 80 years.

This special birthday event is free to attend. Reservations are not required. Learn more at https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/event-details.htm?id=48AA0A4D-04CE-63F9-AA5A4705C484D8D2.

Credit: NPS

08/26/2026

Visitors are not the only ones enjoying the lovely grounds at the Old House at Peace field! Eastern cottontail rabbits hop around all day long and keep our park rangers company. Park staff even lovingly call the rabbits "Dr. Joseph" in honor Dr. Joseph Warren, American Revolution hero and Adams family friend, because--you guessed it--many rabbits live in warrens! (We'll show ourselves out.)

It's important to respect wildlife and give them space, but we can admire them from afar. Have you spotted any of our furry friends in the gardens?

Explore more way to watch wildlife safely at: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/watchingwildlife.

Image: A rabbit pauses on the pathway in the Peace field garden.

Credit: NPS Photo / K Jackson

08/24/2026

Rain or shine, our trolley transports visitors across our park from the Visitor Center to the Adams Farm at Penn's Hill and the Old House at Peace field! Always on the move, the park's free trolley allows visitors to enjoy views of Quincy, Massachusetts, as they travel around our park. Did you know that you can ride the trolley without a tour reservation?

Get more information to plan your trolley ride and your 2026 visit at https://www.nps.gov/adam/planyourvisit/2026-tour-season.htm.

Image: The Adams National Historical Park trolley rolls down Hancock Street in Quincy, Mass., during the Quincy Flag Day Parade on June 14, 2025.

Credit: NPS Photo / C Gould

08/23/2026

If you’ve been to the Adams Farm at Penn’s Hill (John Adams and John Quincy Adams Birthplaces), you may have noticed that, today, the site is a bit less than farm-like. Following years of development of the property and modernization of the surrounding area, the landscape around the Birthplaces little resembles the historic landscape known by John and Abigail Adams.

In honor of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the National Park Service is undertaking a major landscape treatment project to restore elements of the historic landscape known to the Adamses. This project will also improve visitor use and access to the site.

In order to carry out the construction work for this major project, the site will be fully closed and inaccessible to the public starting August 24, 2026, and continuing through the remainder of the 2026 tour season. The Visitor Center and the Old House at Peace field are not affected by this closure and remain open and accessible to the public. Plan your 2026 visit at https://www.nps.gov/adam/planyourvisit/2026-tour-season.htm.

We look forward to welcoming you back to the Adams Farm at Penn’s Hill, complete with a new (historic) look, in the future!

NPS Photo / S. Bachan

08/22/2026

This summer, Adams National Historical Park hosted some incredible events to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary. And we are ready for more!

This week, we are celebrating National Park Week and the 80th birthday of Adams National Historical Park. Check out our website to see what special events we're hosting and plan your National Park Week visit: https://www.nps.gov/adam/index.htm.

Image: Visitors gathered for a participatory reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026, on the grounds of the Old House at Peace field.

Credit: NPS Photo / A Zavatchan

08/21/2026

Come celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary and Adams National Historical Park’s 80th birthday this National Park Week, August 22-30. Join the National Park Service in “Celebrating America’s Story” through a week of special programs and events for visitors of all ages.

Nature Discovery Day
Saturday, August 22, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Get outside and join the National Park Service at Adams National Historical Park for a day of nature-focused programming for visitors of all ages. These special walks and talks will take place on the grounds of the Old House at Peace field and the Adams Farm at Penn’s Hill.

Arts in the Park – Let Peace field Be Your Muse!
Sunday, August 23, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Let your creativity run wild with a day of activities celebrating the arts and the beauty of the Peace field gardens and grounds! Visitors of all ages can join these special activities at Adams National Historical Park and find their inspiration.

Dogs, Cats, and… Alligators? – Presidential Pets
Wednesday, August 24, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Did John Quincy Adams really have a pet alligator? Find out the answer, hear about presidential pets, and craft your own alligator to take home during this free, child-friendly event at Carriage House at Peace field at Adams National Historical Park.

Happy 80th Birthday, Adams NHP!
Thursday, August 27, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Join the National Park Service for a block party celebrating Adams National Historical Park’s 80th birthday! In December 1946, the Adams Memorial Society gifted to the nation the Old House at Peace field, home of Presidents John and John Quincy Adams and First Ladies Abigail and Louisa Catherine Adams. Since then, the park has grown to include the John Adams and John Quincy Adams Birthplaces. Visitors of all ages are invited to a fun evening on the Peace field grounds to mark the occasion. Listen to music, play lawn games, talk with historical figures, and, of course, send your own birthday message to the park. Meet representatives from Quincy’s historical sites and join park staff in thanking them for their partnership in telling the story of the Adamses and the Quincy community.

Stories of Service to the Nation
Friday, August 28, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Join the National Park Service at Adams National Historical Park and learn about some of the acts of public service carried out by members of the Adams family. Discover how Abigail and Louisa Catherine Adams shaped and redefined the role of the First Lady. Learn more about the Amistad event and the role John Quincy Adams played in the famous court case that followed.

Digging History
Saturday, August 29, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Do you "dig" history? Come learn about the field of archeology during this special event at the Carriage House at Peace field. Get your hands in the dirt and see how archeologists uncover our history. Practice excavating an artifact with the guidance of an archeologist. Hear about archeological discoveries at Adams National Historical Park. Learn more about the role the National Park Service plays in protecting, preserving and sharing our history.

Junior Ranger Day – Revolutionary Junior Rangers
Sunday, August 30, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Calling all Junior Rangers and Junior Rangers-to-Be! Are you interested in hearing more about the American Revolution? Think you can crack a spy code? Wonder what it’s like to write with a quill pen or wear a tricorn hat? Visit the Peace field Carriage House at Adams National Historical Park for a day of family-friendly activities that transport you back in time to the American Revolution.

All special National Park Week events and programs are free to attend. Get more details and plan your National Park Week visit at www.nps.gov/adam.

07/22/2026

250 years ago, Abigail Adams "went with the Multitude...to hear the proclamation for independance read and proclamed," as she shared in a letter with her husband, John. She was in Boston with her children, recuperating from smallpox inoculation, when the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence was held at the Old State House.

Join the National Park Service at Adams National Historical Park July 25 and 26 for special programming commemorating 250 years since Abigail Adams first heard the words of the Declaration of Independence. Join in a public reading of the famed document. Hear from Abigail Adams, portrayed by Audrey Stuck-Girard, as she reflects on the Declaration and her experiences during the American Revolution. Learn more about this historical moment and its legacy during special ranger talks and programs.

Schedule:

-Remember the Ladies ranger talk - 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

-Reading of the Declaration of Independence, followed by Abigail Adams's reflections on the Declaration and the American Revolution - 10:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m. and 2:15 p.m.

-Revolutionary Resilience: Abigail Adams in the American Revolution guided tour -11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (requires reservations and entrance passes)

-Inoculation and Independence ranger talk - 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

-Revolutionary Farm self-guided tours (requires entrance passes), Boston refugee programs and kids’ activities available throughout the day

With the exception of the Revolutionary Resilience guided tours and Revolutionary Farm self-guided tours, these programs will be held outdoors on the grounds of the Adams Farm at Penn's Hill, located at 141 Franklin St., Quincy, MA. Visitors should park at the Visitor Center at 1250 Hancock Street, Quincy, Mass., and may walk or ride the park trolley 1 mile to the Adams Farm at Penn's Hill. Limited street parking is available at the Adams Farm at Penn's Hill. The Visitor Center and the Adams Farm at Penn's Hill are accessible by the MBTA Red Line via the Quincy Adams (0.5 miles) and Quincy Center (1 mile) stations.

Outdoor talks and programs are free to attend and do not require reservations. Reservations for guided tours are required for all visitors (adults, including passholders, and children) and may be obtained in person at the Visitor Center on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the tour. You must have a daily park entrance pass, an annual park entrance pass, or a valid Interagency pass or to enter the park’s historic buildings in addition to any tour reservations you make. You can purchase entrance passes in person at the Visitor Center. Revolutionary Farm self-guided tours of the Adams Farm at Penn's Hill do not require reservations, only entrance passes.

This event may be modified or cancelled due to inclement weather or unsafe conditions. Alerts and updates will be posted on the park website.

Learn more about park events for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution at https://www.nps.gov/adam/planyourvisit/250-anniversary.htm.

NPS Photo / Y.E. Wang

07/11/2026

If you are heading to the park this weekend for our End of the Revolutionary Era: The Passing of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson event marking the 200th anniversary of the passing of Adams and Jefferson on July 4, 1826, here is some important safety information:

For visitors joining the John Adams's Final Journey ranger-led walks following in the footsteps of Adams's 1826 funeral procession, you should wear walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing as the walk is a half-mile with segments of limited shade. Attendees will cross several intersections between Peace field and the Hancock-Adams Common.

All visitors should be prepared for hot summer weather. Limited seating is available for outdoor ranger talks, but attendees are welcome to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets.

Schedule and availability are subject to change. These events may be modified or cancelled due to inclement weather or unsafe conditions. Alerts and updates will be posted on the park website.

For more information, call the Visitor Center at 617-770-1175.

July 4 marked 250 years of American independence, but it was not the only significant anniversary that day. 200 years ago, on July 4, 1826, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both passed away on the nation's 50th anniversary. Join the National Park Service this Saturday and Sunday, July 11 and 12, at Adams National Historical Park for special programming remembering Adams and Jefferson and commemorating the end of the Revolutionary Era:

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson: Parallel Lives, Parallel Deaths outdoor ranger talks - Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

"They Yet Live, and Live Forever" guided tours of Peace field - Saturday, 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. (reservations and entrance fees required)

Mourning Adams and Jefferson outdoor ranger talks - Saturday and Sunday, 11:15 a.m., 1:15 pm. and 3:15 pm.

John Adams's Final Journey ranger-guided walks from Peace field to the Hancock-Adams Common following in the footsteps of Adams's 1826 funeral procession- Saturday and Sunday, 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Hallowed Ground ranger-led tours of Hancock Cemetery - Saturday and Sunday, 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Cosmic Coincidence: Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the Deaths of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson - Sunday, 3 p.m. at United First Parish Church

Unless otherwise noted, the NPS is hosting all End of the Revolutionary Erea events outdoors on the grounds of the Old House at Peace field, located at 135 Adams Street, Quincy, MA. Limited seating will be provided, but visitors are welcome to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets. Visitors should park at the Visitor Center at 1250 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA, and may walk or ride the park trolley 0.5 miles to Peace field. Limited street parking will be available at Peace field along Adams Street. The Visitor Center and the Old House at Peace field are accessible by the MBTA Red Line via the Quincy Center station (0.5 miles). Visitors should leave ample time to travel between park sites.

Other than the guided tours of Peace field at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., these special talks and walks are free to attend and do not require reservations. Reservations for the special guided tour of Peace field and other guided tours are required for all visitors (adults, including passholders, and children) and may be obtained in person at the Visitor Center on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the tour. You must have a daily park entrance pass, an annual park entrance pass, or a valid Interagency pass or to enter the park’s historic buildings in addition to any tour reservations you make. You can purchase entrance passes in person at the Visitor Center. Self-guided tours of the Adams Farm at Penn's Hill are also available and do not require reservations, only entrance passes.

There are no restroom facilities available in the historic buildings. You cannot bring large bags (over 9" x 11" x 5"), luggage or strollers in the historic buildings and there are no locker facilities available. Bags may not be left unattended on park grounds or with park staff. The historic buildings are not temperature controlled, so expect hot and humid conditions over the summer. You cannot v**e or smoke on park property. Food and drinks are not allowed in the historic buildings.

Schedule and availability are subject to change. These events may be modified or cancelled due to inclement weather or unsafe conditions. Alerts and updates will be posted on the park website.

Learn more about upcoming events for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution at https://www.nps.gov/adam/planyourvisit/250-anniversary.htm.