To be the president of the United States is to be on call all hours of the day. No phoning in with a sore throat, no snow days, and definitely no summer Fridays. The 24/7 nature of the highest office in the land is about as demanding as they come, which is why the ‘summer White House’ is a longstanding tradition. Presidential vacations—or, where the presidents spend summers—are not vacations in the traditional sense of the term, but rather, a physical getaway from the White House in a scenic setting, usually accompanied by their families. All the duties remain, just somewhere more restorative than the Oval Office.
In the early years, presidents would simply go home during the summer to tend to their gardens and farms. A bit later on, a cottage on the Old Soldiers’ Home campus became the official presidential summer house, with James Buchanan the first to make it his regular summer retreat. The cottage sat on 225 acres in the northern part of the District of Columbia, not far from the White House. It also served as a summer White House for Abraham Lincoln, and is where he is believed to have drafted the Emancipation Proclamation. As the years went on and ease of transportation improved, presidents summered further afield, cementing the tradition.
Below, discover 15 destinations where presidents spent their summers, and for the history buffs, keep an eye out for preserved residences you can still visit.
Quincy, Massachusetts (John Adams)
Photo: Getty Images
The Old House at Peace Field was built in 1731 and was the Adams family residence for four generations. John and Abigail Adams purchased the property in 1788, and John returned during his presidency whenever official duties allowed. Later, when his son John Quincy Adams was president, he also visited Peace Field, particularly during the summers. The home is preserved by the National Park Service, and today, you can tour the Old House and several acres of historic gardens.
