Adams Academy

Adams Academy is a school building in Quincy, Massachusetts, constructed of stone with three Gothic gables as defining features. The interior contains a central entrance hall and classrooms flanking both sides with distinctive hammer beam wooden ceilings.

John Adams established the institution through a deed of trust in 1822, with the structure completed and opened in 1872 to serve as a preparatory school for boys. Educational operations continued there until 1908, marking the end of its original mission.

The building served as an educational center where sons of prominent families prepared for college through rigorous classical study. Visitors can observe the rooms where Latin, Greek, and literature shaped young minds during its years of operation.

The structure at 8 Adams Street now operates as the Quincy Historical Society museum and serves as a research library for visitors. Plan time to explore both the architectural details and the historical collections inside, which offer insight into the region's past.

The building's foundation incorporates the cellar of a 1753 house that once belonged to Reverend John Hancock, a detail many visitors overlook. This hidden historical layer literally sits beneath the school structure, connecting different periods of the town's development.

Location: Massachusetts

Inception: 1872

Architects: Henry Van Brunt

GPS coordinates: 42.25369,-71.00638

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:05