Abigail Adams and Louisa Catherine and Adams National Historical Park

<img height="125" style="padding: 5px 10px 5px 0px;" width="100" align="left" src="http://www.latimes.com/media/thumbnails/photo/2010-06/54394245-17154753.jpg" /><img height="125" style="padding: 5px 10px 5px 0px;" width="100" align="left" src="http://www.latimes.com/media/alternatethumbnails/photo/2010-06/54394245-17155114.jpg" />At the Adams National Historical Park in Quincy, Mass., you can visit a pair of houses where two presidents were born: <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id="PEPLT000016" title="John Adams" href="/topic/politics/john-adams-PEPLT000016.topic">John Adams</a>, who led the country from 1797 to 1801, and his son, <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id="PEPLT000017" title="John Quincy Adams" href="/topic/politics/john-quincy-adams-PEPLT000017.topic">John Quincy Adams</a>, who served as chief of state from 1825 to 1829.<br>
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But there were distinguished Adams women as wel, whose lives are elucidated at the park -- among them Abigail, John Adams' wife, whose letters testify to her charm and strength of character; and Louisa Catherine, who married John Quincy Adams and was so well loved that both houses of Congress adjourned for a day upon her death.<br>
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-- Susan Spano<br>
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<b>Read more: </b> <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2000/oct/15/travel/tr-36736">At hearth and home with the Adams women, first ladies of grit and grace</a><br>
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<i>Upper photo: The dining room of the Old House</i><br>
<i>Lower left photo: A painting of Abigail Adams by Gilbert Stuart</i><br>
<i>Lower right photo: A painting of Louisa Catherine by Gilbert Stuart</i>

( David Bohl / NPS )

At the Adams National Historical Park in Quincy, Mass., you can visit a pair of houses where two presidents were born: John Adams, who led the country from 1797 to 1801, and his son, John Quincy Adams, who served as chief of state from 1825 to 1829.

But there were distinguished Adams women as wel, whose lives are elucidated at the park -- among them Abigail, John Adams' wife, whose letters testify to her charm and strength of character; and Louisa Catherine, who married John Quincy Adams and was so well loved that both houses of Congress adjourned for a day upon her death.

-- Susan Spano

Read more: At hearth and home with the Adams women, first ladies of grit and grace

Upper photo: The dining room of the Old House
Lower left photo: A painting of Abigail Adams by Gilbert Stuart
Lower right photo: A painting of Louisa Catherine by Gilbert Stuart

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