National Park Service

Northeast Region

**Memorandum of Understanding**

**with the Europarc Federation**

Northeast Region Park Questionnaire

+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| Name:      | Marianne Peak                                           |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| Position:  | Superintendent                                          |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| ### Park   | Adams National Historical Park                          |
|            |                                                         |
| **Heritage |                                                         |
| Area**     |                                                         |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| Address:   | 135 Adams Street, Quincy, MA 02169                      |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| Tel:       | 617-773-1177                                            |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| Fax:       | 617-471-9683                                            |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+
| E-mail:    | <Marianne_Peak@nps.gov>                                 |
|            |                                                         |
| Web Site:  | [www.nps.gov/adam](http://www.nps.gov/adam/)            |
+------------+---------------------------------------------------------+

**** Yes, we are interested in sharing information and expertise with
a protected area in Europe.

*If you are currently working with an area in Europe, please note that
here:*

 No, we are not interested.

*Please state reason:*

**1. If yes, on which topics would you be interested in pursuing
cooperation?**

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  organizational development        ecotourism

  sustainability                    marketing

  multi jurisdictional management   education

   financing                         other (please state) wildlife
                                      management
  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

**2. If yes, what type of communication exchange would you be interested
in?**

at staff level (professional development)

at partner level (Presidents, Board Members)

other stakeholders (e.g. farmers, tourism businesses)

*continued \....*

3\. If yes, please give a [short]{.underline} description of the
features of your park and main areas of current work. Please note the
cultural and/or natural connections/similarities to countries/places in
Europe if possible:

The purpose of Adams National Historical Park is to \"preserve for
public use the sites associated with the Adams family, as well as the
birthplaces of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams; and to
stimulate an appreciation of the Adams family, which by its dedication
to public service and its contributions in the field of literature, has
strongly influenced the course of the United States of America.\"

Adams National Historical Park is the only place in America where the
stories of two presidents can be told from birth to death. The site\'s
main historic features include: John Adams Birthplace, where 2nd U.S.
President John Adams was born on October 30, 1735, and less than 75
yards away the John Quincy Adams Birthplace, where his son, John Quincy
Adams, 6th U.S. President was born on July 11, 1767; the \"Old House,\"
home to four generations of the Adams family; the Stone Library contains
more than 14,000 historic volumes and includes the book collection of
John Quincy Adams. In all three homes and the library, visitors are
treated to historical furnishings, fine art, memorabilia, and
collectibles that tell the story of this extraordinary family from the
18th to the 20th centuries. From the original wallpaper that still
exists on some of the walls to the dinnerware, paintings, and light
fixtures, we learn of changes in style and technology over 200 years of
occupation by the Adams family.

One of the most notable aspects of the Adams family story is their long
standing connection with U.S. Diplomacy. John Adams served as a diplomat
to France, the Netherlands, and Great Britain and negotiated an end to
the American Revolutionary War. John Quincy served as Minister to the
Netherlands, Prussia, Russia, Great Britain and helped to negotiate an
end to the War of 1812. John Quincy Adams' son Charles Francis Adams
served as the United States Minister to Great Britain during the
American Civil War. While serving in these posts the Adamses paid great
attention to all aspects of connections with other nations. They were
intent on learning about foreign cultures to gain useful knowledge for
the United States. They understood that true diplomacy took many forms,
political, commercial, cultural, and scientific. Truly they served as
conduits for an interchange of ideas that increased understanding and
cooperation between the U.S. and many of its global partners.

Because of the Adams Family's sustained, substantial association with
relations between the United States and Europe, Adams NHP sees a natural
benefit in establishing links with the Europarc Federation. The Park
particularly would like to work with this organization to preserve,
protect, and interpret those historical, natural, and cultural resources
associated with the Adams family story, including landmarks various
members of the family visited, institutions that foster greater
understanding between the U.S. and Europe. This interchange will benefit
each partner to understand better the sustained, qualitative and
quantitative connections between the U.S. and Europe and the
contributions that we as individuals can make to foster closer ties as
evidenced by the Adams family example.

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
  Signed: Marianne Peak               Date: 9/15/2003

  ----------------------------------- -----------------------------------

Please return by June 28, 2003 to: Edie Shean-Hammond

e-mail: <edie_shean-hammond@nps.gov>

fax: 215-597-0815