john adams house virtual tour

8 Former Presidents’ Homes You Can Virtually Tour

Our list includes famed sites like Sagamore Hill, Mount Vernon, and Monticello.

Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, Hyde Park, New York

Franklin Delano Roosevelt called Springwood home for his entire life, given that it was his birthplace and his burial place. It became a National Historic Site in 1945, and its architectural style is a combination of Federal and Italianate. Springwood consists of 800 acres and was originally built in 1800, then remodeled in 1845.

Adams National Historical Park, Quincy, Massachusetts

Adams National Historical Park, previously known as Adams National Historic Site, was built in 1788 and sits on 8.5 acres. The structures located in the park are works of Georgian and Federal architecture. This virtual tour includes four historic sites: the Stone Library, the Old House, John Adams's birthplace, and John Quincy Adams's birthplace.

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site, New York City, New York

Theodore Roosevelt lived in this Manhattan townhouse from birth (in 1858) until his early teenage years in the 1870s. The structure that exists today is an exact recreation of the original one, given that the 1848 home was demolished in 1916, only to be reconstructed in 1923 and turned into the historic house museum we know it as today. Fortunately, many of the original furnishings remain part of the home’s decor to this day.

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, Oyster Bay, New York

Theodore Roosevelt lived at Sagamore Hill from 1885 until his death in 1919. It became known as the “Summer White House” because Roosevelt continued to spend time here during his presidency, which began in 1901 and ended in 1909. This circa 1884, Queen Anne-style home is located on 83 acres and boasts 22 rooms.

George Washington's Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon, Virginia

Mount Vernon, which was built in 1758 on 500 acres of land, became part of the Washington family in 1674 when George Washington’s great-grandfather, John, purchased the property along with his friend, Nicholas Spencer. Despite being hundreds of years old, many of the design elements at Mount Vernon—like vibrant colors such as turquoise blue and emerald green and a checkerboard floor design—look as timely as ever.

Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Springfield, Illinois

Abraham Lincoln lived here from 1844 until 1861, the year he became the 16th President of the United States of America. He was elected president while residing at this home, and it was the only house Lincoln ever owned. He had the home renovated and remodeled multiple times between 1846 and 1859, during which he made changes such as adding an additional bedroom, a pantry, a barn, stoves, and raising the roof.

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, Charlottesville, Virginia

Monticello served as Thomas Jefferson’s home for over 55 years, from 1770 until he passed away in 1826. Jefferson renovated the house towards the end of the 1700s into the early 1800s, a project that included an alteration of six fireplaces and an addition of two more fireplaces, one of which is the Rumford fireplace, featuring a blue and white Wedgwood panel inlay.

Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, Kinderhook, New York

Martin Van Buren’s former home, known as Lindenwald, is a unique mix of Federal and Gothic Revival style architecture, designed by Peter Van Ness and Richard Upjohn. This 220 acre farm was home to Martin Van Buren and his family for over 20 years, from 1841 to 1862, and still features an original Dutch door from 1797.

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Home > Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies > Virtual Tours > John Adams Birthplace and Home

John Adams Birthplace and Home

John Adams's Birthplace and Home Quincy, MA

Photos and text © Gleaves Whitney 2004

John Adams's birthplace , in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts, is about ten miles south of Boston. Adams was born in this house on October 30, 1735. Neither of his parents had attended college, but both were readers and provided a good education for their studious son. They sacrificed to send him to Harvard. After graduating, John spent six years teaching school and studying the law. He started his own law practice in 1762. In an adjacent house, in 1779, Adams and two other Patriots drafted the Massachusetts Constitution, a landmark for two reasons: (1) it is the oldest living constitution in the world; and (2) it would serve as a model for the U.S. Constitution drafted eight years later in Philadelphia. Ironically, Adams was not a delegate at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, but was serving as a minister to Great Britain. However, while in London he did write an apologia of the Framers' work titled A Defence of the the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America . From 1789-1797 John Adams served as the nation's first vice president. From 1797-1801 he was our second president. The first presidency to operate out of the White House, his administration was particularly vexed by the French, who in the wake of a violent revolution came close to provoking an all-out war with the U.S. Adams ran for re-election in 1801 and was narrowly defeated by his vice president, Thomas Jefferson. It was the only time in U.S. history that a sitting vice president challenged the sitting president for the top job. The two men had a bitter falling out, but were able to resume their friendship after Jefferson left the White House. Their correspondence in retirement comprises one of the most high-minded, enlightening conversations in the human record. Both men died on the same day, July 4, 1826, as Americans celebrated the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. The house in Quincy, pictured above, is a New England saltbox. No reconstruction, it is the real thing maintained by the National Park Service. Note that locals pronounce Quincy not quintsy , but quinzy .

John and Abigail Adams house. The famous couple moved into this New England saltbox located a few paces from the saltbox in which John was born. This newer, bigger house was the birthplace, on July 11, 1767, of John Quincy Adams. Behind the window to the right is the room in which the oldest extant constitution in the world was drafted.

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John Adams House: A Guided Historic Tour in Quincy, MA

By Craig 2 Comments

The John Adams house trolley tour is a lot of fun, very informative and inexpensive ($5 to get in, children and students get in free). The tour starts at the Adams National Historical Park Visitor Center; from there they take you by trolley to four destinations: 1) the birthplace of John Adams, 2) the birthplace of his son John Quincy Adams, 3) “The Old House” (also called “Peacefield” or John Adams house) and finally 4) The Stone Library.  Both of the birthplaces are on the same lot of land; “The Old House” and The Stone Library are also located on one lot of land, meaning the tour really goes to just 2 destinations.

Starting at the Visitor Center

The Adams National Historical Park Visitor Center has a lot of information on the Adams family mounted on plaques and information cards around the room as well as miniature replicas of the tour’s destinations.

They also have many books and trinkets for sale to commemorate your visit. You purchase your tickets at the register for the next available guided tour. It’s first-come first-served so no reservations can be made beforehand.

The visitor’s center is located at 1250 Hancock Street in Quincy, MA.

John Adams and John Quincy Adams Birthplace

The first stop is to the birthplaces of John Adams and John Quincy Adams.

The dark brown house with the wooden siding is John Adams’s birthplace and the tan house with the vinyl siding is his son’s.  Both of these buildings are located on a busy street so at times the traffic noises drowned out the tour guide.  Due to security reasons, no picture taking is allowed inside any of the buildings on the John Adams home tours.

The tour guides take you through the few rooms of each house and tell the story of John and Abigail Adams.

They explain how each room was significant and contributed to the rise of the Adams legacy as well as the important role they played in the Revolutionary War.

The first destination was a little hurried, the trolley showed up early and the park ranger cut his tour short; which was a little disappointing because he was a funny, pleasant, entertaining guy.

There wasn’t time to take any outside pictures of the buildings so we had to go back after the tour was over on our own.  These two buildings aren’t fenced off so they are accessible at any time.

John Adams House at “Peacefield”

Next stop Peacefield! This is the longest part of the tour, so make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes – there are no breaks.

The Stone Library is an amazing piece of history; it contains about 12,000 books collected throughout John Adams’s life, most of which are still legible today. Some of these books are hundreds of years old.  The Stone Library is considered the first presidential library in the U.S.

Between the library and the main estate is a beautiful, well-maintained garden that you can stroll through.

From there you will enter the mansion “Old House” at “Peacefield” and are taken through just about every room of the house, each room having a story behind it.

There are many well preserved relics throughout the estate that give you a feel for what life was like during John Adams’s time. The park ranger/tour guide Betsy was very informative, cordial and delivered the lines with a dramatic flair that made the experience that much more worthwhile.

Continuing to the Church of the Presidents

After the trolley returned to the visitor’s center, we walked over to the Church of the Presidents, only a few minutes away.

This was not an official part of the John Adams tour, but came recommended by the cashiers at the visitor’s center.

This church has a long history of being associated with the Adams family, in the basement of this church you can see the crypts of both John Adams and John Quincy Adams and their wives.

The tour costs $4 and you are allowed to take pictures inside the church, unlike at the other sites.

You are taken through the church, shown the special “Adams” pew and finally taken to the crypts below the church. The tour guide talked and walked fast and at times overloaded us with so much information that it was tough to follow what she was talking about.  It was a much shorter tour but a nice conclusion to the day.

For history buffs or for those looking for a quick jolt of feel good New England pride, the John Adams house and Church of the Presidents tours are recommended. Tours are given from April 19th – November 10th, 7 days a week from 9AM – 5PM with the last tour departing at 3:15. Tours are about 2 hours long.

For further Information on this tour, see: www.nps.gov/adam/index.htm For more information on Church of the Presidents:  www.ufpc.org/

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June 24, 2014 at 8:01 AM

July 14, 2014 at 10:05 AM

Hi Howard, Sorry for the delay in approving your comment, I’ve been on vacation. I’m glad you really liked the John Adams tours. I did this trip a few years back, but to this day it still remains one of my favorites. I always recommend it to family and friends from out of town 🙂

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Adams National Historical Park | A Visit to the John Adams House, John Quincy Adams House & Peacefield

A visit to the Adams National Historical Park in Quincy, Massachusetts, where the stories of four generations of the Adams family are brought to life.

By Bethany Bourgault

Sep 06 2017

The perfect example of classic New England architecture – a 17th century saltbox house.

John Adams House #1  (John Adams Birthplace)

John Adams House #2 (John Quincy Adams Birthplace)

Stone Library

SEE MORE: Visiting the JFK Birthplace | A National Historic Site New England Architecture | Guide to House Styles in New England Curious About George | George Washington in New England

Bethany Bourgault

Bethany Bourgault interned with Yankee Magazine and New England.com during the summers of 2015 and 2016. She recently graduated from Syracuse University, majoring in magazine journalism with minors in writing and religion. She loves reading, exploring the outdoors, ballroom dancing, and trying new recipes. Keep up with her adventures at bethanybourgault.com .

Adams National Historical Park Quincy, United States

ADAMS NHP provides "an extraordinary window into the personal lives of two presidential families; early American literature, education and intellectual life; and the formation of our nation’s government.”

In 1920 Brooks Adams began arranging the furnishings and preserving the “Old House” as a historical memorial to his forefathers Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams. The Adams Memorial Society operated the house as a museum from 1928-1946, when at that time, they gave to the people of the United States five acres of land and five historic buildings containing the original family furnishings.

America's First Father and Son Presidents

Adams national historical park, in this collection, united states, united kingdom, john quincy adams, 4 museum views.

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How To Visit Three Presidential Homes In One Historical Park

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Boston, Massachusetts, offers so many amazing historical experiences, and one you will not want to miss is a tour of Adams National Historical Park . John Adams was the second president of the U.S., a scholar and farmer, a world traveler, and father of another president. He lived a full life crammed with stellar achievements. Using his talents as a writer, he helped author the Declaration of Independence. For a season of his life, he met with royalty and diplomats in Europe. And he collected memorabilia from his travels that you can see on display in his house.

The John Adams “experience” is run by the National Park Service in Braintree and Quincy, just outside Boston. This tour of three homes makes a fascinating day trip when you visit this area of the U.S. Whether you appreciate architecture, art, literature, U.S. history, or gardens, you will enjoy your day. Here are tips on visiting plus a look at some of the inspiring highlights of Adams National Historical Park .

What’s So Interesting About John Adams?

Before spending a good part of a day touring his houses, it’s helpful to learn about or review just why John Adams is notable. Born in 1735, Adams grew up in Braintree, Massachusetts. His father encouraged him to read and study, instilling a lifelong habit of learning in his young son. After studying at Harvard, John Adams decided to pursue law. He courted and married future first lady Abigail Adams, who also excelled in her studies. She would prove to be a partner who would give intelligent advice as well as support to her husband throughout their marriage.

John Adams soon garnered a reputation as a competent lawyer. Known for his fairness, he gained fame when he defended British officers on trial for murder during the Boston Massacre. But he was also an outspoken critic of Great Britain. Elected as a delegate to the First Continental Congress, he helped Thomas Jefferson draft the Declaration of Independence.

During and after the Revolutionary War, Adams served as a diplomat in France and England. He returned to the U.S. and helped establish the fledgling country in his role as vice president under President George Washington. The first peaceful transfer of power in the U.S. took place eight years later when Adams was elected president.

Adams returned to Peace Field after his presidency, and there he lived out his days happy at his home and farm until his death in 1826.

Begin Your Adventure At The Visitor Center

To begin your day exploring the homes of John Adams, head to the Visitor Center in Quincy, Massachusetts. The National Park Service runs tours of the homes, with a trolley ride between them included in your ticket. Days and hours vary. Check the website before you plan to go. Winter hours are more limited than other seasons.

Once you park at the Visitor Center, you don’t have to worry about structuring your visit. Go inside, get your ticket, and from there on, follow directions to board a trolley. At the end of your tour, a trolley will return you to the center. Allow at least 3 hours, and longer if you want to wander through the gardens and grounds of the larger home.

First, view the orientation film, Enduring Legacy: Four Generations of the Adams Family . And browse the bookstore either before or after your tour — or both!

At the designated time, hop aboard the trolley, and off you go.

Pro Tip: The restrooms at the Visitor Center are the last you will see in a while.

Daniel M. Silva / Shutterstock

Make The First Stop At The John Adams Birthplace Home

You arrive first at the home where John Adams was born. This is the oldest presidential birthplace in the U.S. The small home, built in 1861, is a classic style of New England home referred to as a saltbox house. The name comes from the resemblance to boxes with slanted lids used to store salt in colonial kitchens.

A park service employee will tell you about this house and also talk about John Adams and his son, John Quincy Adams, who would follow in his father’s footsteps to become the sixth president of the U.S.

Continue To The Home Where John Adams Raised His Family

Walk across the lawn just 75 feet to a larger saltbox home. This is where John Adams lived as an adult. And it was the birthplace of John Quincy Adams. From here, John Adams worked as an attorney from his office. And in this house, he and two colleagues wrote the Massachusetts Constitution, which is still in effect.

The two Adams houses sit at their original locations. As you tour them, stop to imagine that behind the small house farmland spread out for 200 acres. The family of John Adams grew corn, wheat, oats, and barley. And horses, sheep, hogs, and poultry lived here. The original well is still on the grounds.

Joseph Sohm / Shutterstock

Step Back In Time At The Historic Old House At Peace Field

Board the trolley for a short ride to Peace Field. This stately home is the gem of the tour. Adams moved his family here in 1788, and he lived here until his death. The house, built in 1731, remained in the family until 1927. Peace Field highlights all Adams’s interests, including art, gardens, architecture, and books.

An hour-long guided tour by a park ranger takes you through the house. You’ll enjoy a running narrative about the generations of the family and the treasures you’re seeing.

Discover Art Collections Of Many Kinds

Peace Field is far more than a lovely architectural and historical dwelling. It is filled with collections of many kinds of art gathered by John and Abigail Adams and four generations of Adams after them. The collections of artifacts are worth viewing for their beauty and also because they represent events, travels, and experiences of the family. Furniture, dishes, and other items are European as well as American. Notice the Dutch chairs, French secretary, and Louis XV settee. Furniture made in America includes an American Queen Anne Highboy and a Federal-style mahogany banquet table. And remember to take in the paintings. Artists John Trumbull and Mather Brown are represented here.

When you tour the home, you are looking at the original artifacts amassed by the Adams family. The National Park Service takes pride in presenting authentic, original collections and furnishings. The only exceptions are small bits of upholstery and wallpaper.

Marvel At The Books In The Stone Library

The Stone Library is a separate building next to the house. More than 12,000 books, documents, and manuscripts that belonged to the Adams family live here. John Adams commissioned the building of this library in his will, noting to his son Charles that it should be fireproof. And he noted that Abigail Adams should have “the use of any of the books in the library at her descretions.”

Stand in this library, built in 1873, and you will be astounded at the extent of the written word gathered in this one august place.

Walk In The Gardens

Leave time, if possible, to stroll through the formal gardens after your tour of the buildings. The 18th-century gardens bloom with thousands of annuals and perennials. There’s also a historic orchard.

John Adams’s son Henry wrote about this garden, noting in a letter to a friend that while writing History of the United States , he worked on the book “as though it were serious, five hours a day; and when my hand and head get tired, I step out in the rose-beds and watch my favorite roses.”

The National Park tour of the three Adams homes in Massachusetts allows you to see where John Adams was born, where he built his career as a lawyer as his young family grew, and where four generations of the family lived. Peace Field gives you a sense of the world view of John Adams as he collected his favorite items from his travels. And you will be reminded of all the touchpoints of John Adams with the history of the U.S., from helping to write the Declaration of Independence to serving as the second president of a new nation.

You can almost feel how torn Adams was between serving his country and living in his idyllic Peace Field. You will likely end your day curious to learn more about this family who contributed so much to the formation of a nation struggling to learn how to promote life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

To learn more about the life of John Adams, either before or after your visit, read the biography John Adams by David McCullough, which won a Pulitzer Prize, and watch the excellent seven-episode John Adams HBO series based on the book. For more in-and-around-Boston inspiration, consider 11 Important Tips For Experiencing Boston’s Freedom Trail and Boston’s Historical Gems: 8 Fantastic Spots To Check Out .

As the owner of the travel blog, Exploring Our World , Sharon enjoys taking her readers on a journey with her. Articles often delve into the history of a place, and by adding in a generous number of photos, she inspires others to explore for themselves. In her early travels, she was most frustrated by coming back home and learning that she had missed a fascinating sight or a hidden gem. Now she helps travelers prepare for a trip by passing along travel tips, pointing out lesser known things to see, and alerting them to enjoyable day trips from major cities.

Her travel articles have been published by Stripes Europe Newsletter and the World War 2 Writing and Research Center. Whether she's discovering more about her hometown of San Diego, California or flying to faraway places, she enjoys sharing with travel lovers around the world.

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Adams National Historical Park | GUIDED TOUR

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Adams National Historical Park tour bus

The birth homes of John Adams and his son John Quincy and the Old House at Peacefield are only open to the public on guided tours that start at the Adams National Historical Park Visitor Center on Hancock Street. Tours are typically offered from May 1st through October 31st, Wednesdays through Sundays at multiple times each day. Allow three hours for the tour. This includes watching the park film at the Visitor Center before you depart to the home sites. From there, a bus takes participants to the homes, so you do not need to drive.

There is a fee for the tour, and tickets can be purchased up to two months in advance at Recreation.gov or, if any tickets remain, on the day of the tour at the Visitor Center (credit or debit cards). Only eight people are allowed on each tour, and these usually sell out in advance, particularly during July and August. Unless you don’t have Internet service, it is highly recommended that you get your tickets online. Again, tickets are only available at the Visitor Center if they were not sold online. Tour times are provided at Recreation.gov.

Luggage, large bags, and backpacks are not allowed on the tour. There is no place to store such items at the Visitor Center, so leave them in your car, home, or hotel room. All you really need is a bottle of water and a camera. The only restrooms are at the Visitor Center.

The tour first stops at the birth homes on Franklin Street, then proceeds to the Peacefield mansion on Adams Street. While there is nothing to do at the birth homes except tour the houses, there are gardens that you can explore on your own at Peacefield. If you want to spend more time there, you do not have to take the bus back with your group. Instead, you can walk back to the Visitor Center. The distance is only a half mile, a 10-15 minute walk for most people.

Birth home of John Adams, Adams National Historical Park

The tour of the birth homes only covers the lower floor, so those in non-motorized wheelchairs or with other mobility problems can enter the house (if you only have a motorized wheelchair, you can borrow a non-motorized chair at the park). The tour of the Old House at Peacefield ventures upstairs, so while the first floor is accessible, disabled visitors cannot see the second floor. Furthermore, the bus does not have a place for wheelchairs, so disabled visitors must drive themselves to the homes. If this is your situation, please call the park at (617) 773-1177 before arriving so the proper arrangements can be made.

Photography was not allowed inside the house when I took the tour, and thus I have no interior photos. However, the policy has changed, though no flash or selfie-sticks may be used, and no video may be shot. You can do what you want outside. You can see some of the rooms of the Peacefield mansion in this short video by Bob Vila.

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Beyond the Revolution Tour

Boston's most historic moments.

Boston is known for its role in the American Revolution, but there’s so much more to the story! Join Revolutionary Spaces on a compelling new walking tour that explores Boston’s enduring role in the American story from its founding to the present.

Beyond the Revolution takes you to 10 different downtown sites that range from can’t-miss landmarks to lesser known gems. Led by a member of the Revolutionary Spaces Visitor Experience team, this 75-minute tour covers approximately one mile and visits:

• Old State House
• Faneuil Hall
• City Hall Plaza
• John Adams Courthouse
• Massachusetts State House
• Site of the Manufactory House
• Old Corner Bookstore
• Old South Meeting House

Beyond the Revolution Tour includes all-day access to two of the Freedom Trail’s most iconic sites: The Old South Meeting House, where the Boston Tea Party began, and the Old State House, which was the center of government in colonial Massachusetts. You will leave inspired by diverse stories of how Bostonians made their voices heard in their ongoing pursuit of a free society.

Beyond the Revolution is available for private bookings of 10 or more people. Please contact [email protected] or click here to request more information.

Available for private group bookings only.

Includes all-day General Admission to both the Old State House and Old South Meeting House. Tour run for approximately 75 minutes.

Please contact [email protected] for more information or click the button below.

Extended Park Guided Tour

Adams National Historical Park Tours

Guided tour of the Adams Farm at Penn’s Hill (the John Adams and John Quincy Adams Birthplaces), followed by a guided tour of the Old House at Peace field and the Stone Library. This tour is 2 hours total in length, including 15 minutes for travel between the two sites. The park does not currently provide transportation between sites.  The Extended Park Tour includes an extended experience in the historic structures and content covered in the Old House at Peace field Tour. Visitors may not want to book both tours as the content overlaps.

Select a date to see a list of times

Need to Know

Your Extended Park Tour starts at the Adams Farm at Penn’s Hill (the John Adams and John Quincy Adams Birthplaces), located at 141 Franklin St., Quincy, MA. Arrive 15 minutes before your tour starts. 

You need to plan transportation to the second stop on the tour, the Old House at Peace field, located approximately 1.5 miles away from the Adams Farm at Penn's Hill at 135 Adams Street, Quincy, MA. Street parking is available at both locations. You will have a 15 minute window to travel between the two locations.   

You must pay an entrance fee or possess a valid pass to enter the park’s historic buildings in addition to any tour reservations you make. You can purchase entrance passes online at recreation.gov or in-person at the Visitor Center.    

There are no restroom facilities available in the historic buildings. You cannot bring backpacks, luggage, large bags, or strollers in the historic buildings and there are no locker facilities available. The historic buildings are not temperature controlled, so expect hot and humid conditions over the summer. You cannot vape or smoke on park property. Food and drinks are not allowed in the historic buildings. Tours may be modified for visitor safety and adverse weather conditions. 

Motorized chairs and assistance vehicles are not permitted in the historic houses. The park provides non-motorized wheelchairs for loan. The first floor of the Old House at Peace field has limited wheelchair access. The park has a photograph album and guidebook available for viewing at the Old House. The interior of the Old House is dimly lit and the second floor of the Old House at Peace field is accessible via stairs only. The John Adams and John Quincy Adams Birthplaces are not accessible by wheelchair. 

We strongly recommend that you start your visit to Adams National Historical Park at the Visitor Center, located at 1250 Hancock Street. You will find information, public restrooms, the 26-minute park film, and park store at the Visitor Center. Garage parking is available at 44 Saville Avenue in the President’s Place parking garage.  

You can book tour reservations starting 60 days in advance of the date of the tour until midnight the day before. You can also get tour reservations on the day of your visit on a limited, first come, first served basis at the Visitor Center. 

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Open 365 days a year, Mount Vernon is located just 15 miles south of Washington DC.

From the mansion to lush gardens and grounds, intriguing museum galleries, immersive programs, and the distillery and gristmill. Spend the day with us!

Discover what made Washington "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen".

The Mount Vernon Ladies Association has been maintaining the Mount Vernon Estate since they acquired it from the Washington family in 1858.

Need primary and secondary sources, videos, or interactives? Explore our Education Pages!

The Washington Library is open to all researchers and scholars, by appointment only.

Together, John and Abigail Adams managed a farm and had six children, one of whom would become the sixth president of the United States. John Adams dedicated his life to the public service of his country throughout the American Revolution and later served as the first vice president of the United States under George Washington, and one term as the second president of the United States.

Adams first met George Washington in 1774 while serving as delegates to the First Continental Congress. The two men dined together several times, and were a complementary pair with Adams a passionate talker and Washington a concentrated listener. 1 Adams greatly respected Washington and in 1775 pushed for Congress to name him the head of the army. Adams believed that with Washington in command, "This Appointment will have a great Effect, in cementing and securing the Union of these Colonies." 2

Despite the successful nomination of Washington as the commander of the army, Adams was not ideally suited for the life of a politician. He was often noted for his bluntness and tactlessness as well as his impatience with legislative proceedings. 3 Adams was also hypersensitive to criticism and became easily frustrated with his opponents. His devotion to supporting independence, however, did not go unnoticed and led to several government appointments, including as diplomat to France and later to England to negotiate peace at the end of the Revolution. It was through his foreign service that John Adams came into focus as a national leader. 4  

Upon his return from Europe, Adams initially wished to retire from public service. The plan was postponed, however, when George Washington was unanimously elected the first president of the United States in 1789 with John Adams as his vice president. 5 Adams found his role as vice president a tedious one even referring to it as "the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived or his imagination conceived." 6

Even though both men were Federalists, Washington relied on his cabinet instead of his vice president, even excluding Adams from cabinet meetings. 7 As president of the Senate, Adams was not permitted a voice in debate. For a man who relished debate, duties as a silent witness were difficult to bear. However, Adams consistently attended meetings, casting thirty-one tie-breaking votes in his tenure, always in support of the Washington administration. 8

Adams retired to his farm in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1800 after losing his bid for reelection, after serving one presidential term. Adams' presidency was largely unpopular, especially in comparison to the overwhelming popularity of Washington's administration. 9 Adams lived to be ninety years old, passing away on the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the same day as his lifelong friend, Thomas Jefferson .

Maureen Connors Santelli George Mason University

Notes: 1. Harlow G. Unger, The Unexpected George Washington: His Private Life (Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley & Sons, 2006), 95.

2. Edmund Sears Morgan, The Meaning of Independence: John Adams, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Richard Lectures for 1975 , University of Virginia (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1976), 18; C. "John Adams to Abigail Adams, 11 June 1775, The Adams Papers Digital Edition , ed. C. James Taylor (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, Rotunda, 2008).

3. Sears Morgan, 7.

4. Joseph J. Ellis and Brian Lamb, Passionate Sage: The Character and Legacy of John Adams (New York: Norton, 1993), 37.

5. John E. Ferling, The Ascent of George Washington: The Hidden Political Genius of an American Icon (New York, NY: Bloomsbury Press, 2009), 274.

6. John Adams, Letters of John Adams, Addressed to His Wife (C.C. Little and J. Brown, 1841), 133.

7. Unger, The Unexpected George Washington , 227–8.

8. David G. McCullough, John Adams (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001), 460.

9. Ellis, Passionate Sage , 66–7.

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Virtual tours.

For the armchair explorer in all of us, there are virtual tours of national parks with presidential history that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home. Travel to our nation's capital and across the country virtually to sites remembering the life and legacies of U.S. presidents using your digital devices. Virtual tours take many forms, including 3-D renderings, cell phone talks, videos, maps, and more. Additional tours will be added in celebration of the upcoming Inauguration Day.

Tour Presidential History in the Nation's Capital

As the nation's capital, Washington, D.C. is home to the greatest collection of the nation's most iconic presidential memorials. Join park rangers and our partners for virtual tours of presidential memorials. Most are part of the National Mall and Memorial Parks in the heart of downtown, but a few are located on islands along the George Washington Memorial Parkway .

Treat yourself to a tour of presidential memorials in the round with 360° photographs of these iconic places.

Follow the life of Dwight D. Eisenhower as told through an audio tour of the newest presidential memorial in D.C.

Take a quick video tour to see some of the special places along the longest presidential memorial, which also runs in Virginia and Maryland.

Tour Presidential History Across the Country

Explore national parks across the country that are dedicated to honoring U.S. presidents or have presidents' stories to tell. Presidential sites can take many shapes and sizes, including homes, birthplaces, archeology sites, monuments, and memorials.

Virtually wander around Independence NHP, where the new nation continued to be molded into a lasting democracy in its early years.

Virtually tour the grounds of George Washington Birthplace NM to see the modest beginnings of the first U.S. president.

Explore the lives of John Adams, Abigail Adams, John Quincy Adams, and Louisa Catherine Adams through art and artifacts of the Adams home.

Floor by floor, walk the halls of Martin Van Buren's home at “Lindenwald,” a 220-acre farm where Van Buren lived and worked.

Be a guest of Mr. Abraham Lincoln at his home on the corner of Eight and Jackson Streets, Springfield, Illinois in 1860.

See the home and farm where people were enslaved on the plantation managed by Ulysses S. Grant prior to the Civil War.

Take a quick video tour of the General Grant Memorial to the tune of "Hail to the Chief."

Dial in to take an audio tour around the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt NHS to peer into the lives of the political power couple.

Come home to Val-Kill with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Val-Kill was both a retreat space and center of advocacy and activism.

Visit the home of Harry S. Truman and discover the home town, personal roots, and history of the 33rd president.

Go inside at John Fitzgerald Kennedy NHS on a virtual tour of the family home available in various languages.

Let Farm Manager Brett recommend some fun activities to enjoy Jimmy Carter National Historic Site as he takes you on a tour.

More Virtual Experiences

The 59th Presidential Inauguration is going virtual! Join the virtual festivities and explore your presidential national parks.

Remotely explore presidential memorials in D.C. in the round and see if you can pass the test to become a virtual tour guide.

Don't move! We'll come to you to give ranger programs through your digital devices this inauguration.

Gotta collect them all! Earn Junior Ranger badges while learning about U.S. presidents, inaugurations, and memorials.

Trivia time! Test your knowledge of presidential history with games for all ages about history and places found in national parks.

Do you collect national park passport cancellation stamps? Congratulations, you've found the virtual Presidential Inauguration stamp!

Last updated: January 20, 2021

• International

Trump hush money trial

Student protests

Israel-Hamas war

April 22, 2024 - Protests at Columbia and other schools escalate

Matt Egan, Alicia Wallace and Chandelis Duster

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology says it is 'determining next steps'

From CNN's Jillian Sykes

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology issued a statement Monday regarding tents on its campus.

"MIT officials are aware of the tents, and are determining next steps with a focus on ensuring campus is physically safe and fully functioning. MIT Police were on scene throughout the night and will continue to be present."

Robert Kraft says he is willing to support The Kraft Center at the university

From CNN's Chandelis Duster

Robert Kraft, billionaire owner of the NFL’s New England Patriots and backer of Columbia University, on Monday said he is still willing to support The Kraft Center at the school that supports Jewish students, calling it “a haven of safety.”

Kraft, an alumnus of the university, told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “The Lead” that he loves the school and “we have to have accountability.”

“There are both professors and students within the university who say things that I think cross the line and there should be accountability. I believe in free speech. Say whatever you want but pay the consequences. And don't have your face covered. I don't think that should be allowed,” he said.  

“I can’t believe in New York City at Columbia University Jewish students are afraid to go to classes in the United States of America in 2024. It’s amazing to me and horrible,” Kraft also said.

Asked where he drew the line at Columbia University regarding both pro-Palestine and pro-Israel protests and what he finds objectionable, he said “there is a lack of education on the situation” happening in the Middle East. 

“I’m concerned about America and what’s going on in this country. And to keep it open and free for all people of all backgrounds to do as they wish,” he said.

Asked if he has confidence in Columbia University’s president, Minouche Shafik, he said he thinks she is “very well intentioned” and said “we have to look at what goes on with faculty.”

Columbia faculty stage walk-out in solidarity with students

From CNN's John Towfighi

Hundreds of people gathered on Low Plaza Monday afternoon as Columbia University faculty delivered speeches in support of the student protesters who were suspended and arrested Thursday.

Faculty who spoke denounced university president Minouche Shafik’s decision to authorize the New York Police Department to remove protesters from campus and demanded all legal and disciplinary charges be dismissed and expunged from students' records.

Faculty held signs that read, “Hands off our students,” and “End student suspensions now.” Some faculty donned their academic regalia and wore sashes that read, “We support students.”

Speeches were met with cheers and claps from the crowd, as well as chants for Shafik to resign.

Christopher Brown, a professor of history, said, “I’m here because I am so concerned about what is happening at this university, with where we are now and with where we are going. Thursday April 18, 2024, will be remembered as a shameful day in Columbia history.”

“The president’s decision to send riot police to pick up peaceful protesters on our campus was unprecedented, unjustified, disproportionate, divisive and dangerous,” Brown said.

US Rep. Ilhan Omar, whose daughter Isra Hirsi was among the protesters arrested Thursday , posted on X that while she’s glad to see faculty demonstrate in solidarity with students, she wants the protests to focus on Gaza.

"On Thursday, Columbia arrested and suspended its students who were peacefully protesting and have now ignited a nationwide Gaza Solidarity movement. This is more than the students hoped for and I am glad to see this type of solidarity. But to be clear, this about the genocide in Gaza and the attention has to remain on that," Omar wrote.

NYC Mayor condemns "vile" and "disgusting" rhetoric at college campuses

From CNN's Alicia Wallace

New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Monday condemned “vile” and “disgusting” rhetoric being used at campuses such as Columbia University, where students are holding protests over the Israel-Hamas War.

Adams told CNN’s Jake Tapper that he supports First Amendment rights but said law enforcement officials are on the ready if any of that speech goes too far or if there’s an imminent threat to people or property.

"That is one of the fundamental rights we hold dear as Americans: The right to protest," Adams said on CNN's "The Lead." "What we have seen playing out on many of our college campuses, and particularly Columbia University, is hate. We’re seeing vile language being used."

Adams noted that he can feel the "duality of this moment" and how the events of the past six months are weighing heavily on Jewish and Palestinian New Yorkers. He added that the police escorts of Jewish students through campus were reminiscent of the Army soldiers who escorted nine Black students into a high school in Little Rock, Arkansas, nearly 67 years ago.

"There is no place for hate in this city," he said.

New York Police Department officers have a “large presence” surrounding Columbia but have remained off the campus grounds at the request of the school’s administration, NYPD deputy commissioners said earlier on Monday.

Adams told Tapper that the NYPD’s commissioner of legal matter is monitoring the protests for any speech that violates law. Additionally, police officers will take "appropriate action" and go on private property if there’s an "imminent threat."

Protesters gather at The New School in New York City

From CNN's Elisabeth Buchwald

Protesters have gathered at The New School, located near the Chelsea area of the New York City borough of Manhattan.

An encampment of four tents was set up in the lobby of the building that houses auditoriums, a cafeteria and a library. Roughly 75 students, and other people who have The New School IDs, gathered inside the building.

"Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not stop, we will not rest," was repeatedly chanted. 

Outside the building, protesters from the school, as well as outsiders, joined in chants from the sidewalk.

There is a stark difference between the inside and outside of Columbia University's campus

From CNN's Ramishah Maruf

There’s a stark difference between the inside of Columbia University's campus and the outside, where there are protesters gathered on the street. 

The encampment is only open to those affiliated with campus. Only those with a Columbia ID can enter the campus gates. Inside the encampment, programs include teach-ins, poetry readings and film screenings. Some students are quietly finishing assignments, while others are painting posters.

Elsewhere around campus, students are eating and completing assignments. Many students take graduation pictures at this time, and some are in graduation gowns walking down Broadway. Risers are set up for an upcoming commencement ceremony.

Other students are holding large American flags underneath Butler Library.

But the students can still hear the tension that is taking place yards away at the university gates. There is a gathering of pro-Palestinian protesters, who in the early afternoon were chanting “I believe that we will win” and “Long Live the Intifada.” There was a smaller group of pro-Israeli protesters, who chanted back “Down with Hamas” and “Victory to Israel.” A line of New York Police officers were monitoring the street.

What it's like inside the Columbia University encampment

The inside of the encampment is quiet – most of the noise comes from protestors outside the gates of Columbia University's campus, who are chanting “I believe that we will win” and “Long live the Intifada."

It was a sunny day on campus, and in one corner, students were painting posters. One person strummed a stringed instrument, and other students are reading books or on their laptops finishing assignments. Others have donated provisions, ranging from a table of snacks to hygiene products. There was also a pile of blankets.

“We’ve just been trying to keep students mobilized and keep pushing for divestment,” Dalia, a first-year student at Columbia College, told CNN. “We are a very mobilized student body and a very unified student body. Hundreds of people have been in and out of the encampment.”

CNN agreed not to publish her surname due to safety concerns.

She said the students at the campus “refuse to be complicit in the genocide, the apartheid, and the occupation of Palestine.”

There are strict community guidelines for the encampment. One rule says not to share names or details of anyone met in camp, and asking for permission before photographing or taking video.

The encampment is filled with dozens and dozens of tents, from students to neighboring Barnard College staff. Today’s encampment program included an Earth Day performance, poetry reading and a Dabka lesson, a traditional dance from the Arab region. Prior program events included dance performances from different cultures.

Democratic House members tour Columbia campus

Democratic Reps. Jared Moskowitz of Florida, Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, Dan Goldman of New York and Kathy Manning of North Carolina, who are all Jewish, spoke at a news conference Monday after touring Columbia University’s campus. 

"We saw it firsthand as we walked past the encampments on the university's main lawn full of protesters spewing incendiary antisemitic hate and vitriol. Many aren't even Columbia students I've been told. Their campaign of intimidation is sickening and shocking and as the White House said yesterday, ‘echoes the rhetoric of Hamas terrorists,'" Gottheimer said. 

He also criticized Columbia University leadership, saying, “toothless combinations from administrators aren't going to stop the anarchy we’re seeing.”

“The only way to do it is with deeds, not words,” Gottheimer said. “Colleges have a legal obligation under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to provide students, including Jews and Muslims, a school environment free from discrimination and harassment based on race color or national origin. Yet just feet from here, Jewish students are being verbally and even physically assaulted.”

Gottheimer continued, “To the administrators of Columbia and beyond, here are our demands: Stop the double talk and start acting now. Discipline harassers, restore civility on this campus, encourage peaceful constructive dialogue.”

He also gave a message for students: “While the leadership of Columbia may be failing you, we will not. We will do everything in our power to keep you safe and do everything in Washington we can to make sure that you feel welcome at this university or any university across the United States of America. And Columbia University, if they don't follow through, will pay the price.”

Goldman said he was "encouraged" the Columbia University president issued guidelines about additional security, calling it a "very important first step" and criticized what is happening on campus.

"That is unacceptable for a university, that is unacceptable for an academic institution. There is no question that everyone has a First Amendment right to speak out in this country and that must be preserved," Goldman said. "But a university and all universities have an obligation to maintain the safety and security of their students from all backgrounds."

Manning said university leadership should "do more to keep Jewish students safe and to re-establish an atmosphere in which all students can learn, study and participate safely in campus life."

"Columbia must also move forward with its promised efforts to teach its students and its faculty about the nature and history and dangers of antisemitism. It must ensure that Columbia professors are not encouraging and spreading antisemitism," Manning said.

"I call on the US Department of Education and the US Department of Justice to work with the White House to ensure that all universities take steps necessary to keep Jewish students and faculty safe. I also call on Congress to enact legislation to implement the steps outlined in the US national strategy to counter antisemitism, to address the scourge of antisemitism which is a threat to the foundations of our democracy," she said.

President Joe Biden condemns antisemitism on campus

From CNN's Kevin Liptak

President Joe Biden decried antisemitic protests around college campuses Monday and said his administration was working to combat anti-Jewish hatred.

"I condemn the antisemitic protests, that’s why I’ve set up a program to deal with that," Biden said when questioned about the events at Columbia University in New York.

"I also condemn those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians," he said, without expanding upon what he meant.

Biden was speaking after an Earth Day event in Prince William Forest Park in Triangle, Virginia.

When asked whether Columbia's president should resign, Biden appeared to mishear: "I didn’t know that. I'll have to find out more," he said.

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