John Hancock’s horse-drawn carriage on display Thursday in Quincy

Guests at the third annual Charles Francis Adams award gala in Quincy will enjoy a rare chance to marvel at an authentic piece of early American history: an original horse-drawn carriage owned by Quincy native and U.S. Founding Father John Hancock.

The elegant garden party is a fundraiser for the non-profit Quincy Parks Conservancy. It will take place on the grounds of the beautifully preserved Dorothy Quincy Homestead at 34 Butler Road in Quincy Center, three blocks from Quincy Center Station on the MBTA Red Line. Tickets cost $100 per person or $150 per couple and are available at the gate on the day of the event.

The homestead was built in 1686 by the Quincy family, a political dynasty in colonial Massachusetts. Its namesake, Dorothy Quincy, was the wife of John Hancock and, as such, was the first First Lady of Massachusetts. Period actors from the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum portraying Hancock and Quincy will be at the Homestead, just as the couple was in the 18th century.

Guests can also enjoy tours of the 331-year-old homestead. Hancock’s carriage, meanwhile, boasts its own dramatic bit of history: it was built in England around 1777 and was then bound for the colonies when the ship carrying the cargo was captured by an American privateer. The ship’s owner presented the captured chariot to Hancock as a gift for his role in leading the charge for American independence.

The carriage was converted into a horse-drawn sleigh in the 1800s, which it remains today, and was extensively refurbished in 2014.

Awards namesake Charles Francis Adams II was the great-grandson of President John Adams, grandson of President John Quincy Adams, a Union officer in the Civil War and one of the leading preservationists of his era.

The host Quincy Parks Conservancy is a non-profit volunteer group devoted to maintaining, beautifying and promoting the city’s vast network of nearly 400 acres of parks, beaches and open spaces.

This year’s award honoree is former Quincy mayor Walter Hannon who, among other accomplishments, led the effort to create the Quarry Hills complex that today includes the stunning 27-hole Granite Links Golf Club, plus hiking trails, youth soccer and baseball fields, and preserved quarries.

“The Charles Francis Adams award pays homage to those individuals who have made invaluable contributions to Quincy’s beautiful networks of parks and beaches,” said Quincy Parks Conservancy president David Murphy. “We’re excited this year to honor Mayor Hannon for his role in helping the city build and maintain our unparalleled collection of greenways and beachfronts right here in the heart of Greater Boston.”

Media wishing to attend should contact Kerry J. Byrne at [email protected].

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