Adams National Historical Park Visitor Center

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Visitor Center for Adams National Historical Park is located inside the President’s Place Galleria, a high-rise retail and office building at 1250 Hancock Street in Quincy. There is a parking garage for the building that is accessed via Saville Avenue, and the National Park Service will validate your ticket so that you do not have to pay. Do not park in any other parking lot that you see in the surrounding area because these are not free. Furthermore, the validated parking is good for the entire day, not just the hours that the Visitor Center is open. This means that after touring Adams National Historical Park, you can walk across the street to the Quincy Center subway station and travel to downtown Boston and see the sights there without having to pay for parking. You do have to pay the entrance fee for Adams National Historical Park, so don’t think you can just walk in and ask to have your ticket validated.

Galleria at President’s Place on Hancock Street in Quincy is home to the Adams National Historical Park’s Visitor Center

OPERATING HOURS

While the historical homes are only open seasonally, the Visitor Center is open year-round so people can buy National Park passes and books and souvenirs. However, hours change depending on the month. To get the current schedule, visit the National Park Service’s official Operating Hours and Seasons web page for Adams National Historical Park.

AMENITIES

• Entrance fees are paid at the Visitor Center
• Ranger-staffed information desk where visitors can get a park brochure
• Sign up for a guided tour of the Old House at Peace Field and the 2.5-hour Legacies of Leadership Extended Park Tour
• Book and souvenir store
• Park film
• Restrooms (there are no restrooms at the houses)
• Park shuttle bus stop outside

PARK FILM

Be sure to watch the park film Enduring Legacy: Four Generations of the Adams Family, a 27-minute documentary about the Adamses who lived in the Old House at Peace Field. The film is narrated by Laura Linney (who played Abigail Adams in the HBO mini-series John Adams). Paul Giamatti (who played John Adams in the mini-series) and Tom Hanks provide additional voice narration. While there are actors in the film, there is no connection to the mini-series other than the people narrating it. The film shows every half hour. There is no objectionable material, so it is suitable for all ages.

EXHIBITS

Unlike most National Park Service visitor centers, there are no exhibits other than a timeline of the Adams Family history.