The Adams Home

Figure A--The glorious blooms of this 18th-century garden outside Boston reflect a carefully tended family home. President John Adams, one of America's founding fathers, said fondly of his beloved house, "It is but the farm of a patriot." This was much more than a simple farm, though, it was home to two U.S. presidents. The family refered to it as the Old House, and it came to represent the ideals of both presidents.

Figure B--The room above the parlor served as John Adams' study. When he retired from the presidency, Adams often sat at this French secretary--made in 1775--and penned letters to his friend, Thomas Jefferson.

Figure C--In 1824, John Quincy Adams was elected president. The home soon became an important symbol of his presidency as well. He made it his own, often holding meetings in the small library. Called the Paneled Room, it features a Queen Anne center table and a red velvet Chippendale sofa that belonged to his parents. It was here that John Quincy Adams met with lawyers for the Africans from the slave ship Amistad and agreed to argue their case for freedom before the Supreme Court.

Figure D--The room that most reflected John Quincy Adams was not built until after his death. It was called the Stone Library. Above all, John Quincy loved learning. He read seven languages and collected books on nearly every subject. Constructed in 1870, according to his will, the oak shelves house a collection of 14,000 books.