Boston, so much history; to learn, to see, to enjoy... |
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| and it's all around. Boston Town, Plymouth, Quincy, and Cambridge (just to name a few). We did not have enough time to do it justice, but we gave it the 'ole college try. | |
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Visiting Adams National Park First stop on our historic trips was the town of Quincy (once was part of the town of Braintree). This is where our 2nd President and 6th President were born and lived. The town was named for Abigail Quincy Adams' family (wife of John Adams, 2nd President). |
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| Always the first place to start when checking out National Parks. Go to the visitors center to see what there is to do and see, get tickets, tours, etc. That is Jim's and my reflection in the window as I was taking this picture. | United First Parish Church, established in 1639. Reverend John Hancock (father of John Hancock signer of the Declaration of Independence) presided over this church. |
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| While waiting for our tour trolley to see the homes of John and John Quincy Adams, we headed down to the church where they have been moved to for their final resting place. | Outside of the United First Parish Church is a statue of Abigail and John Quincy Adams... |
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| The Adams's church pew, this is where the family always sat during the service, they "paid" for the privilege to have their own pew (as most families did). | Down under the church is where John, Abigail, John Quincy and Louisa Catherine Adams have their final resting place. It was very serene and empowering to be down there with them. |
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| Copies of the entries made by Rev. John Hancock into the church's records of both the birth of John Hancock and John Adams. | Here is the copy of John Adams's death made by Rev. Peter Whitney for July 4, 1826. Thomas Jefferson also died on this same date just a few hours prior to John Adams. |
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| Another National Park... | The home of Deacon John Adams & his wife, Susannah Boylston Adams where their first son, John Adams was born. |
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| John and Abigail lived next door to John's parents, this is their home and where John Quincy Adams was born. | This is Peacefield where John and Abigail lived later in their lives. The house was along the main route to Boston and it's not far from where Abigail and her kids watched one of the Revolutionary battles. Everything is original in the home, it was an exceptional tour.
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| Next stop on the tour was Plymouth (or Plimouth), to see where it all began in 1620. | |
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| Plymouth Harbor from Plymouth Memorial Park. You can see the Mayflower II replica to the right of the picture. | They are doing some renovating of the building that "stores" or protects the Plymouth Rock. |
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| Plymouth Rock through the construction. | A back view of the housing for the Plymouth Rock from the beach. |
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| The Mayflower II | Jim checking out the insides of the ship. |
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| Mayflower Society House; The grounds host the historic eighteenth century dwelling built by Edward Winslow. Behind this stately mansion are the offices and library of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. | I just liked the look of this house. |
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| more "cool" houses in Plymouth. | The oldest street in North America, site of the original settlement (Leyden Street). |
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| Even though it is such an historic town, kids will be kids :) | 1766 Harlow Bishop House, it could be yours for a few dollars. |
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| Stream through the park where Jenny Pond and Grist Mill are located (built in 1636). | Looking down Main Street in Plymouth, MA. |
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| The oldest home in Plymouth, built in 1640, now an art gallery & museum. | Plaque to prove it is so. |
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| Old cemetery up on the hill in Plymouth, there are some really old gravestones up here. | Looking down towards the bay from the cemetery. |
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| 1749 Court House Museum; it is the oldest wooden Court House and the longest used municipal building in America. | First Parish Church |
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| Back down by the waterfront, we found this chocolate shop. | We had to buy ourselves a little treat. |
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| Entering the Plimouth Plantation. | Native People that can tell you about the Wampanoag history and culture. |
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A replica of what the Plymouth village would have looked like in 1627. There are role players that stay in character and the village is about 1/3 the size of the original colony. |
| Last stop is Historic Boston and surrounding area... | |
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| Trinity Episcopal Church on Boylston & Tremont in Back Bay area of Boston | Beacon Street, richest street in Boston |
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| More of Beacon street. | If you look to the lower window on the far left, you will see a couple of panes of glass that are purple. They are original glass panes from when the building was originally built. There was lead pigment in the glass that has changed the color. |
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| old time shops of Boston. | Oldest functioning US Post Office |
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| Another view of Bunker Monument. | Going to check out the USS Constitution "Old Ironsides". |
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| Launched in 1797, "Old Ironsides" was one of the first six ships of the US Navy. | There was quite a bit of the ship that we could not tour due to renovations. |
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| Bunker Hill Museum, across from the monument | Entering the Bunker Hill park |
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| Bunker Monument | Take your time climbing up the monument... |
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| On top of the 294th step at the top of Bunker Monument. | The view of the Charleston Shipyard from the top of the monument. |
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| View of Boston and the Zakim/Bunker Hill suspension bridge. | The Bunker Monument is not in the exact spot where the battle was fought, but very close to it. The famous saying "Don't fire 'til you see the whites of their eyes" came from the fact that they were running our of ammunition and needed to make every bullet count. |
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| The skinniest house in America, less than 11 feet wide. | Follow the red brick trail to enjoy The Freedom Trail of Boston. |
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| Each historic site along the trail is marked by this plaque. | One of the older tombstones in one of the cemeteries in Boston. |
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| They still hold services in the Old North Church. | Old North Church |
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| Inside the Old North Church | Jim and Paul Revere |
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| Plaque on the Church where Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy was baptized. | Plaque on the Catholic Church that the Kennedy Clan would attend in Boston. |
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| old cobbled street in Boston, near the Italian area. | Paul Revere's Home. |
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| Old State House Museum | Governor's and other famous Massachusetts people are buried here, including Mary Chilton, wife of John Winslow, she was a passenger on the Mayflower. |
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| Some of the older tombstones in the Kings Chapel Burial Ground. | Jim is related to Robert Treat Paine who is buried in Granary Burial Ground. |
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| Paul Revere's tombstone | A Memorial tombstone to John Hancock (the first signer of the Declaration of Independence). |
