John Quincy Adams Birthplace facts for kids
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John Quincy Adams Birthplace
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Rear view of the birthplace of President John Quincy Adams, Quincy, Massachusetts.
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 141 Franklin Street, Quincy, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1716 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000128 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 19, 1960 |
The John Quincy Adams Birthplace is a historic house located at 141 Franklin Street in Quincy, Massachusetts. This special old house is where John Quincy Adams, who became the sixth President of the United States, was born in 1767. It's known as a saltbox style home because of its unique shape, with a long, sloping roof at the back.
His family lived in this house while his father, John Adams (who later became the second President!), was helping to create the United States. John Adams worked on important things like the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolutionary War. Interestingly, his father's own birthplace is super close, only about 23 meters (75 feet) away, right on the same property!
Both of these houses are now National Historic Landmarks. This means they are very important places in American history. They are part of the Adams National Historical Park, which is looked after by the National Park Service.
Contents
Building a Historic Home
This historic house is a two-and-a-half-story building made of wood. It has a classic saltbox style, covered with wooden clapboards. Inside, there are two main rooms on each of the two floors, with a big chimney in the middle. There are also two more rooms in the lean-to section on the first floor.
The front of the house has three sections, with the main door in the middle. This doorway has decorative pillars and a triangular top. There's another similar entrance at the back of the house.
How the House Grew
The house was first built in 1717. The lean-to section at the back was added later. In 1744, a man named Deacon John Adams bought the house. He was the father of the future President John Adams. He probably made the house bigger by adding rooms on the other side of the chimney.
In 1761, Deacon Adams gave the house to his son, the future second president. The younger John Adams moved into the house in 1764. Around this time, the lean-to was added, along with the fancy door frames and the second entrance.
Life in the Adams Home
John and Abigail Adams lived in this house until 1783. After that, they rented it out to other people. In 1803, John Quincy Adams bought both this house and his father's neighboring birthplace. He lived in this house himself from 1805 to 1807.
The houses continued to be rented out until 1885. At that time, much of the land around them was sold. In 1895, Charles Francis Adams, Jr. allowed the Quincy Historical Society to use the house as their main office. The house was then sold to the City of Quincy in 1940, which continued to rent it to the Historical Society.
Becoming a National Landmark
On December 19, 1960, the John Quincy Adams Birthplace was officially named a National Historic Landmark. The area that is part of this landmark includes both the John Quincy Adams and John Adams birthplaces, along with a park area.
Today, both houses are part of the Adams National Historical Park. They are cared for and operated by the National Park Service, so people can visit and learn about this important part of American history.
Other Adams Family Sites
The later home of the elder John Adams, called Peacefield, is just a few miles away. The graves of both presidents and their wives are also nearby, at the United First Parish Church.
You can also find the Abigail Adams Cairn on a nearby hill. This is where Abigail Adams and her 7-year-old son, John Quincy Adams, watched the Battle of Bunker Hill and saw the town of Charlestown burning during the Revolutionary War. All these places are open for the public to visit and explore!
Images for kids
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Front Elevation, 2015
