Cambridge
Historic Sites
Old Cambridge Walk
http://www.cambridgema.gov/Historic/Tour1_Old_Cambridge.pdf
Cambridge is, like Boston, a very good city to see by foot. The Old Cambridge Walk is an excellent way to discover different remainders of the revolution and the wealthy Royalists who once lived in Cambridge. The walk starts at the information booth by the MBTA entrance in Harvard Square. This walk will take you to the Old Harvard Yard, University Hall, Widener Library, the First Church in Cambridge, Cambridge Common and more.
Brattle Street
www.nps.gov/long
With its large, old houses, Brattle Street has long been an expensive place to live. Back in the 1700s, it was an enclave of seven mansions owned by wealthy families, all related by marriage. Their loyalist sympathies sparked the nickname "Tory Rowe". The most famous house is No.105: Longfellow National Historic Site. Few houses in America can claim a history that matches this one.
Other famous houses on Brattle Street include No. 54: Dexter Pratt House and No.159: Hooper/Lee/Nichols House.
Mount Auburn Cemetery
www.mountauburn.org
The Mount Auburn Cemetery is America's first garden cemetery. It was built in 1831. Inspired by English and French garden traditions, this has become a peaceful resting place with beautiful and unusual plants, trees, and sculptures. It is also a terrific spot for bird watching.
Among the notable personalities buried here are Charles Bulfinch (architect of the Massachusetts State House and Boston Common), Isabella Stewart Gardner (art patron who has a museum named after her), Mary Baker Eddy (founder of the Christian Science movement), and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (poet of "Paul Revere's Ride").
You are not allowed to run, bike or picnic here, just to walk around and enjoy the atmosphere. Make sure to climb up the 105 steps in the old crematorium. The view over Cambridge and Boston is well worth it.
Tours & Walks
Cambridge is home to Harvard and MIT, two of the top universities in the world. There are free guided tours on campus that take you through the history of these places of learning. To find out more, visit these websites:
To explore more of Cambridge, you can take the following paid tours:
You can also go for walks on your own with the help of maps and paper guides. Visit the following sites for more options:
Visitors Information
To learn more about sightseeing in and around Cambridge, visit the official website at: Cambridge Office for Tourism.
Last Updated: September 2009
