Boston Trip

8:59 PM Monday, May 26, 2008

Just checking the date and it appears that we last blogged almost three weeks ago. That just won't do! Well, today is Memorial Day. As I think back to the last week I found it fitting that I spent two and half days of it in Boston, in the cradle of our fair country. I travelled to Boston on a business trip, but I had some time with one of my colleagues to do a bit of sightseeing.

We visited "Old Ironsides," the U.S.S. Constitution. She's the oldest warship afloat in the world. I've been to see her a couple of times now, but it never ceases to amaze me everytime. She's a commissioned vessel, so the men and women who are priviliged to be her crew are active duty Navy personnel.

Now, I've been to Boston about 4 times. Each time, I've really wanted to see John Adam's house. He's a bit of a hero of mine and I've had no luck taking the tour of his birthplace and the home that he and Abigail lived in until they died. Well, this trip, I got my chance. There's been a heightened amount of traffic lately given the popularity of the HBO series that recently aired. There are three parts to the tour. First, you see the birthplace homes of John Adams (our 2nd President) and his son John Quincy Adams (our 6th President).

The National Park Service doesn't let you take pictures inside. The homes sit on their original foundations and the structures themselves are the original. Of course, the siding and interior "decorations" have been remodeled for a variety of reasons. The yellow house above is the home of John Adams. It was the first home that he and Abigail lived in when they got married. The brown house is the home where John was born. I'm standing at the doorway of the yellow house, taking a picture of the brown house... to give you an idea of perspective. The proximity was very common in the 18th centry, I'm told.
The 2nd stop on the tour is the old house. This is "Peacefield." John and Abigail purchased this property when they returned from England, after the Revolution.
Ajoining the homesite is a place where John Adams grandson, Charles Francis Adams constructed the first ever presidential library. In 1870, the structure was completed and it houses over 12,000 volumes. There is little of the Adams presidency in the library. Instead, the volumes are all books that John and his son John Quincy read. The tilework inside is imported Italian tile. The pattern is ornate and designed by Charles Francis himself... there is an error in the tilework, a piece purposely put out of place. It was Charles way of telling the world that only God was perfect. I wish we were allowed to take photos inside. The library was my favorite part of this two hour time-travel.

The last stop is United First Parish Church in Quincy, Mass. We drove by, but didn't get out. It's the burial place of John Adams, his wife Abigail, John Quincy Adams and his wife Louisa are entombed. It is the only place where two related presidents and their wives are buried in the same place...

2 comments:

  1. John, it is all fascinating information, but how do you know so dang much?!!!

    Jen

  2. Jen, I'll answer that...he is really a sponge! He soaks up info and it just sits there till he needs it...Always has been that way.

    Sally

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