Adams, John Quincy, Birthplace
Why it's listed
This salt-box house at 141 Franklin Street in Quincy, Massachusetts, was the birthplace of John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the United States, born in the north chamber in 1767. The main part of the frame and clapboard building dates to 1716, and it may incorporate the chimney stack and foundation of a smaller house built about 1663. The lean-to was added before Deacon John Adams bought the property in 1744. His son John Adams, later second President, owned the house from 1761 to 1803 and used the old kitchen as a law office, where he prepared the draft of the Massachusetts Constitution ratified in 1780. John Quincy Adams bought the house in 1803 and lived there from 1805 to 1807. The Adams family deeded it to the City of Quincy in 1940. Restoration in 1896 prepared it for the Quincy Historical Society, which still administers it as a museum alongside the neighboring John Adams Birthplace.
Significance in brief: The house was home to two American Presidents and the birthplace of John Quincy Adams, sixth President, born there in 1767. John Adams owned it from 1761 to 1803 and drafted the Massachusetts Constitution of 1780 in its old kitchen, which served as his law office. The nomination also stresses John Quincy Adams's long diplomatic and political career.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 66000128, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 141 Franklin St., Quincy |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000128 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Specific dates 1716; 1761-83; 1803-07 |
| Architectural style | Salt-box type frame house |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 19, 1960 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the City of Quincy and administered by the Quincy Historical Society as a museum; condition listed as good and open to the public seasonally. |
| Acreage | 0.7 |
| Coordinates | 42.23933, -71.00359 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 66000128.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715643
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.