Fulfilling Nerdy Tourism Goals (John Adams's Homes)

After our trip to Charlotteville, Virginia I had a revelation: If I only could visit John Adams's house, I would have visited all of the first five presidents' homes. Yeah. So that totally had to happen.

When Jess and I were making our plans for Boston, I told her my two must-sees were the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and John Adams's House. She was happy to go along with my whims. In fact, she had never been to John Adams's house before, so it was a perfect little trip.

We arrived at the Adams National Historical Park bright and early. Jess regaled the rangers with the story of how I had been to George Washington's house, Thomas Jefferson's house, James Madison's house, and James Monroe's house and with this tour I would be five for five. They were duly impressed.

First, we stopped at the birthplace of John Adams. He was born here in 1735.

After John married Abigail they moved next door to the home where John Quincy Adams was born. And did you know that John Quincy Adams was our sixth president? You see where I'm going with this, yes? I have been to the first six presidents' homes!

After our tours of the birthplaces we got back on the trolley and rode to The Old House at Peace field. John and Abigail moved into this home in 1788 after they returned from London where Adams had been serving as ambassador.

Peace field was home to generations of Adamses. John and Abigail lived and died there. John Adams died, famously, on July 4th, 1826 -- the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Remarkably, this is also the day that Thomas Jefferson died. And, Adams's last words were "Jefferson survives." In truth, Jefferson had died some hours earlier. 

John Quincy Adams, the sixth president, also lived at Peace field. The Stone Library that sits on the property and is home to over 12,000 volumes. It's considered the first memorial presidential library.

It was interesting to see how the home had changed over the years. It was the home of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams; First Ladies Abigail and Louisa Catherine Adams; Civil War Minister to Great Britain Charles Francis Adams (John Quincy's son); and literary historians Henry and Brooks Adams.

Jess and I quite enjoyed our tour and our tour guide. We may have nodded adamantly during the stories we knew. I like to think we were star students.

You'd better believe that next time we are heading through Nashville we will be stopping at Andrew Jackson's home (and also the Nashville Parthenon).

P.S. I visit Mount Vernon, Monticello, Montpelier, and Ash Lawn-Highland.