News Release

Follow in Abigail Adams’s Footsteps during the Battle of Bunker Hill 250th Anniversary Event at Adams National Historical Park

Abigail Adams, portrayed here by Audrey Stuck-Girard, wrote detailed accounts of her experience during the Battle of Bunker Hill

Audrey Stuck-Girard

News Release Date: May 30, 2025

Contact: Hilary Miller, 617-706-1716

QUINCY, Mass. — Join the National Park Service at Adams National Historical Park on Saturday, June 14, for a special event following the footsteps of the Adams family as they witnessed the Battle of Bunker Hill 250 years ago during the American Revolution. This event is free and does not require registration.

“The constant roar of the cannon is so [distre]ssing that we can not Eat, Drink or Sleep,” wrote Abigail Adams on June 18, 1775. The day prior, the Adamses walked from their home to the top of Penn’s Hill and saw the destruction of Charlestown during the Battle of Bunker Hill. With her husband, John, away at the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Adams worried for the safety of her family, lamented the loss of friends, and reflected on the battle’s significance. Park rangers will retrace the Adamses’ steps during and after the Battle of Bunker Hill with a special event at the Adams Farm at Penn’s Hill (the John Adams and John Quincy Adams Birthplaces).

“We’re honored to share these stories as we commemorate the 250^th anniversary of the American Revolution,” said Superintendent Marianne Peak. “We’re also telling a story of a community at war, which is even more poignant as we join the City of Quincy in marking their 400^th anniversary. This connection is strengthened by the scheduling of the park event and the City’s Flag Day Parade on the same day, allowing an opportunity to reflect on Quincy’s past, present, and future.”

At 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., join park rangers for guided walks to the top of Penn’s Hill. Walks begin at the Adams Farm and proceed uphill to the Abigail Adams Cairn. There, stand alongside Abigail Adams, portrayed by Audrey Stuck-Girard, as she tells of the danger and distress that the Adamses experienced before and during the Battle of Bunker Hill. The walk is half a mile uphill, with uneven terrain, limited shade, steep inclines, and traffic crossings. Attendees are advised to bring water and dress appropriately for early summer weather.

From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., experience the aftermath of the battle and its effect on the Adamses and their community with special programming at the Adams Farm at Penn’s Hill. Step into the moment of uncertainty faced by the household following the battle. Converse with Abigail Adams, but don't be taken aback if she mistakes you for some of the many family members, neighbors, in-laws, servants, messengers, and children underfoot at the farm in June 1775. Meet a militiaman, portrayed by Michael Lepage, traveling the Old Coast Road and learn more about the battle from his perspective.

At 3:30 p.m., reflect on the legacy of the Battle of Bunker Hill during a special ranger talk on the grounds of the Adams Farm at Penn’s Hill. Learn more about the commemoration of the battle, Quincy community ties to the Bunker Hill Monument, and the role of the historical record and public memory in the telling of the Adamses’ experiences during the battle.

All events will take place at or start from the Adams Farm at Penn’s Hill (the John Adams and John Quincy Adams Birthplaces), located at 141 Franklin St., Quincy, MA. Street parking is available at the site in addition to the validated parking at the Visitor Center at 1250 Hancock St., Quincy, MA, a one-mile walk from the Adams Farm. Visitors may also park at the Lincoln-Hancock Community School at 300 Granite St., Quincy, MA, a 0.6-mile walk from the Adams Farm. The Adams Farm is accessible by the MBTA Red Line via the Quincy Adams (0.5 miles) and Quincy Center stations (one mile). Parking and transportation details are available on the park website. This event is weather and staffing dependent. Alerts and updates are available on the park website and social media.

The Adams National Historical Park Visitor Center and historic Adams homes are open Thursdays through Sundays, June 5 through October 31. Guided and self-guided tours are available. Tour reservations can be acquired on a first-come, first-served basis at the Visitor Center at 1250 Hancock St. in Quincy. Park grounds are open daily dawn to dusk and are free to visit. For information regarding tours and programming, call the Visitor Center at 617-770-1175 or visit the park website.

About Adams National Historical Park. Adams National Historical Park includes the birthplaces of the second and sixth presidents of the United States, John Adams and John Quincy Adams, along with the Old House at Peace field, home to both presidents and four generations of their distinguished family.