Visitors Program

Welcome to United First Parish Church

The Church of the Presidents

Quincy,  Massachusetts, is proud to be distinguished as the birthplace lifetime  home, and final resting place of the second and sixth Presidents of the  United States, who each played crucial roles in securing our nation's  independence and making our democracy strong.  The tombs of John Adams  and John Quincy Adams, alongside those of First Ladies Abigail Adams,  and Louisa Catherine Adams, rest within the crypt at United First Parish  Church, which was their place of family worship.

The  Church of the Presidents is more than a home for its congregation.  It  is a centerpiece of the City.  It is a symbol of our freedom.  While the  Church of the Presidents has a cooperative arrangement with the Adams  National Historic Park to open the crypt and the church building to  visitors, because we are an active congregation we receive no money  whatsoever from the Federal Government.

In  2018, the Church and presidential crypts were visited by 10.950  visitors, including folks from all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto  Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and 42 countries around the world!

We first  opened to visit by the public in 1976, the Bicentennial Year. Until that time visits to the crypts were by  appointment only.  The presidential crypts were originally sealed, and  in 1903 the granite door was replaced by the current gate.

Each year, the birthdays of each president are marked by a ceremonial wreath laying presented on behalf of the current sitting president. These ceremonies started 52 years ago during the presidency of Lyndon Johnson, with ten United States presidents having been represented at the ceremonies.  The U.S. Navy serves as the official representative of the President and provides both an honor guard and musicians from the Navy band for the ceremonies each year. 

Click here to see John Quincy Adams wreath laying ceremony which took place on July 12, 2021.

Operating the Visitor Program is a public service, and as such we ask our visitors to give a donation in support of the program rather than  charging a formal admission fee.  The generosity of our visitors has  helped us to see Adams crypt is open to visitors and tourists from  across the country and around the world for the last 41 years.  

Therefore,  the Church of the Presidents is asking for your help with the  maintenance and care of this historic treasure.  The Adams and their  generation pledged their lives and sacred honor so that we might enjoy  independence and liberty today. Your  tax-deductible contribution is important. We are a 501[c][3] tax-exempt  organization and, in fact your gift may be eligible as a matching gift  from your employer.