Five Historic Places To Visit In Quincy MA

Although its relatively small population may not raise too many eyebrows, the city of Quincy MA is one of the most historic places in the country. Originally settled in 1625, Quincy has been home to several of important American figures including two former presidents. Although you may expect a city with so much history to be old and boring, Quincy is anything but. In fact, even today, the city remains an interesting and exciting place that brings in countless tourists each year. Sure, you might expect the neighboring city of Boston to steal all of the shine, but a trip to Quincy is definitely worth traveling a few extra miles – especially if you’re a history buff. Here are five historic places to visit in Quincy MA.

United First Parish Church

Even if you’re not a religious person, you’ll definitely still want to take some time to visit the historic United First Parish Church. Established in 1639, the church became the parish church of the entire town. The church was attended by both presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams. The building which stands today was built in 1828, and the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places and dubbed a National Historic Landmark in 1970.

image via www.ufpc.org

Stone Library

Education has always been a very important part of the state of Massachusetts, so it should come as no surprise that Stone Library still stands. Although libraries don’t have a reputation for being particularly exciting, the Stone Library is in a league of its own. Built in 1870, the library houses more than 14,000 papers and books that once belonged to infamous Adams family including George Washington’s farewell address.

image via bostonprivatetours.com

John Quincy Adams Birthplace

It’s pretty impressive for a single city to say that it’s the birth place of not one, but two United States presidents. Well, Quincy definitely has bragging rights in that area. As a member of one of the most well-known political families in the history of the United States, John Quincy Adams is one of Quincy’s well-known residents. Born in 1767, John Quincy Adams was born in a small saltbox home at 141 Franklin Street. The home is located right next to the birthplace of Adams father, John Adams.

image via www.presidentsusa.net

Mount Wollaston Cemetery

As one of the oldest states in the country, Massachusetts is home to several historic cemeteries. Opened in 1855 after Hanock Cemetery became filled to capacity, Mount Wollaston is the final resting place of several well know figures in American history including John Quincy Adams. The cemetery is also home to several war monuments including the Civil War, World War II, and the Korean War.

image via commons.wikimedia.org

USS Salem

If you’re into war history, then there’s no doubt you’ll be impressed by the USS Salem. Built for naval action during World War II, USS Salem was “last all-gun heavy cruiser to enter service.” Salem was decommissioned in 1959 and was used for civilian purposes, including a film appearance, until being opened as a museum in 1994.

image via www.uss-salem.org

lead image via www.reddoor-re.com