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Adams National Historical Park is located in the City of Quincy, Norfolk
County, Massachusetts, approximately ten miles south of Boston. The Park
comprises 11 historic structures and a cultural landscape totaling almost
14 acres. The story encompasses five generations of the Adams family (from
1720 to 1927) including two Presidents and First Ladies, three U.S.Ministers,
historians, writers and family members who supported and contributed to
the success of these public figures. The site's main historic features include:
John Adams Birthplace, where 2nd U.S. President John Adams was born on October
30, 1735, and less than 75 yards away the John Quincy Adams Birthplace,
where his son, John Quincy Adams, 6th U.S. President was born on July 11,
1767; the "Old House," home to four generations of the Adams family;
the Stone Library contains more than 14,000 historic volumes and includes
the book collection of John Quincy Adams; no tour is complete without a
visit to the United First Parish Church, where both Presidents and the First
Ladies are entombed in the Adams family crypt. There is an off-site visitor
center located within one mile of the historic structures.
The National Parks Conservation Association working in cooperation with
the National Trust for Historic Preservation initiated the State of the
Parks program to assess the condition of natural and cultural resources
in the parks. Through a series of reports, the program incorporates objective
information to assess the condition of resources, forecast the future
condition of those resources, and determine how well equipped the Park
Service is to protect them—its "conservation capacity."
This is the first time that such an assessment has been undertaken for
the National Park System. As such, the approach is a work in progress.
Comments on the program's initial direction and methods are welcome. The
goal is to provide information to help policymakers and the National Park
Service improve conditions in our national parks and ensure a lasting
legacy for future generations. Independent reviews indicate that a large
part of the challenge to protecting park resources stems from a lack of
scientific and scholarly information. Without sound information that can
be used to identify problems and potential solutions, it is not likely
that funding and administrative policies will change.
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