Harvard Square Guide

Harvard Square in Cambridge has always been one of the liveliest spots in the Boston area and a favorite stop for Boston visitors.

A typical busy summer afternoon in Harvard Square. Photo by C. Danko, © 2001-2008

The nearby museums and theaters, as well as the character of the area, remain throughout the year, but the best time to see Harvard Square is from late spring to early fall. Sidewalk performers bring the street corners to life. Musicians, magicians, and others - some of whom with great talent - entertain the crowds who make their way to the busy center on warm evenings. You'll find jugglers, bands, folk singers, or jazz musicians. Some of the performers you watch may be destined for greater things someday. Joan Baez and Tracy Chapman both got their start performing in the Harvard Square area.

Annual events include MayFair in the spring, Octoberfest in the fall, and in June, the Cambridge River Festival, which is held along Memorial Drive outside of the square. When there's not a big event such as those planned, there's still plenty to do. You can spend the afternoon shopping, exploring the historic sites, taking a tour of an art exhibit, and eating at one of the Harvard diners or nicer restaurants. The early evenings are good for getting an ice cream or coffee and walking around the square watching the street performers who are out during the summer months. And for the late nights, there are theater, film, jazz clubs and sports bars all near by.

Historic Sites

Cambridge Common - After the shot heard round the world, General George Washington arrived in Cambridge to assume control of the Continental Army. He did that at Cambridge Common, under what would become a famous Elm Tree. The tree has since died and been replaced, but the spot is marked, and nearby a couple of cannon from the Siege of Boston are displayed. While the siege was taking place, Washington was in Cambridge, using what is now the Longfellow House as Army headquarters. Many years later, the common became a popular site for protests during the turbulent 1960s.

Paul Revere's Ride - Paul Revere's famous route followed what is now Massachusetts Avenue, a main road that cuts through the square. Look for a marking noting the midnight trip near the bus station between Harvard Square and Cambridge Common.

Longfellow House - The stately house on Brattle Street was home to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow from 1837 to 1882. It was also headquarters for the Continental Army, headed by General George Washington as he planned his strategy against the British during the Siege of Boston from 1775 to 1776. Today, the colonial-style home is a National Historic Site and is open for tours from mid-May through October.

Christ Church - The oldest church in Cambridge is located on Garden Street, just off Cambridge Common. It was originally used by "Tories" loyal to the Crown of England, who lived in the mansions along Brattle Street.

Old Burying Ground - The old cemetery near Cambridge Common is where you'll find the graves of Cambridge's early settlers, including Tories, slaves, soldiers, and Harvard presidents.

Harvard Yard - Harvard itself is full of history. If you take a stroll through the courtyard, you'll see the old buildings and the statues. A virtual tour from Harvard's Web site gives you a preview of what you will find.

Cambridge African American Heritage Trail - Several spots significant in African-American history in the Harvard Square area are marked. For more information, purchase a guide book at the information center located in the alleyway behind Au Bon Pain.

Tory Row - If you stroll along Brattle Street, you'll see many old mansions that one held families loyal to the crown of England. Most of these, with the exceptions of Longfellow House and Hooper-Lee-Nichols House, are private residences.

Hooper-Lee-Nichols House - The structure that houses the Cambridge Historical Society is a 1685 Georgian-style home that is considered part of "Tory Row." It is open for tours on certain hours.

Arts/Entertainment

American Repertory Theatre - One of Boston's best theaters, with an impressive lineup of shows.

Harvard University Art Museums - Three world-famous art museums - the Fogg Museum, The Busch-Reisinger Museum and the Arthur M. Sackler Museum - are just blocks away from Harvard Square. Together they present a mix of European, American, Asian, and Middle Eastern art work.

Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology - The museum claims to be one of oldest museums in the world devoted to anthropology. It is located within the Harvard campus.

Harvard Museum of Natural History - Three natural history institutions - Harvard University Herbaria, the Museum of Comparative Zoology, and the Mineralogical and Geological Museum - make up this public museum at Harvard.

Brattle Theatre - An art-film theater in Harvard Square, the Brattle is local institution and a place where you can relax watching a classic or one or their special engagements.

Loews Harvard Square Theatre - Keeping with the feel of Harvard Square, the Loews Harvard Square offers showings of more art and classic films than most chain theaters.

Food

Harvard Square features a wide array of eating locations, from neighborhood burger joints, to top-rated cuisine. Here are a few favorites, along with nightlife options:

Border Cafe - Offers tasty Mexican food, and pretty good margaritas, too.

Henrietta's Table - A restaurant in the Charles Hotel that is recommended by locals for its Sunday brunch.

Fire and Ice - An "improvisational grill" where you pick your meat, vegetables, and sauce and watch the chefs cook it up for you.

Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage - A local favorite burger joint.

Upstairs on the Square - An upscale restaurant that replaced the Harvard Square institution UpStairs at the Pudding. The new establishment opened to rave reviews.

Harvard Square Hotels

Charles Hotel - A favorite hotel by many frequent visitors to Cambridge, the hotel is located in a central location.

Harvard Square Hotel - Also in a central location.

Inn at Harvard - Located on the campus of Harvard Square.

See the Cambridge lodging page for more options.

Things you should know

There's a public restroom in the visitors' area in the alleyway behind Au Bon Pain. Many people also use the restrooms at Au Bon Pain.

Be sure to visit the Out of Town newsstand. It's a Harvard Square landmark.

The triangle of sidewalk in the center of Harvard Square is called the "Pit" and is where many local kids hang out.

Harvard Square has been said to have the highest concentration of bookstores in the area, and possibly the country.

Getting There and Parking

Public transportation is recommended. The MBTA's Red Line runs through Cambridge, stopping at Harvard Square. You can also take the bus there. If you are going to drive, Route 2A (Massachusetts Avenue) cuts through the square. You can also access Harvard Square by Memorial Drive, which runs along the Cambridge side of the Charles River, or by Soldiers Field Road, which runs along the Boston side of the Charles River and turns into Storrow Drive. Many of the streets in the area are for residents only, but there is public on-street parking around Cambridge Common and along Mt. Auburn Street. On-street parking is competitive, and most spots are for a maximum of one or two hours during weekdays and Saturdays. Street parking on Sundays is free. There are several parking garages in the area.

Web Links

Harvard Square Web site
Cambridge History
Longfellow House
Christ Church Cambridge
Hooper-Lee-Nichols House
History of Cambridge
African-American Heritage Trail Guidebook
Harvard Museum of Natural History
Peabody Museum
Virtual tour of Harvard
American Repertory Theatre
Harvard Art Museums

Author: C. Danko
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