North of Harvard square on Peabody street stands the First Parish in Cambridge. This is where we started our tour of the Harvard square neighborhood, the historically famous intellectual and offbeat neighborhood of mainly streets fulled with diverse businesses surrounded by Harvard University’s campus. It is a tiny sub-neighborhood in Cambridge, North of Charles River, bordering Somerville and Charlestown.

We entered Harvard Yard, the oldest part of Harvard University’s campus, from the famous Johnston Gate of the 25 gates. Facing the gate stands the First Parish in Cambridge. Next to the gate is Massachusetts Hall which is the oldest building on the Harvard campus built in 1720.

In the center of Harvard Square stands the John Harvard statue in front of the University Hall.

There are many bikes parked by buildings like in this image of Matthew Hall which shows that biking is a common transportation tool for the Harvard community.

The Memorial church and the Widener Library face each other. The center of the yard, between these two buildings is a green area called the Tercentenary Theatre where Harvard commencements ceremonies are held.

Widener Library

Harvard students usually hangout under the sun in Harvard Yard.

Signs of spring on Harvard yard

On the other side of the Harvard Yard by the gates is the Harvard Art Museums, the Fogg Museum, Busch-Reisinger Museum, and Arthur M. Sackler Museum.

Inside the museum is very large and modern despite the art pieces are European and American art works since middle ages. The day we visited the admission was free.

Next to the Harvard Art Museums is the carpenter center for the visual arts.

Keep walking down Quincy street we see an elegant gate. This section of Harvard campus is the Dana Palmer house and the Harvard faculty club.

As we exit the Yard and walk on Harvard street to Massachusetts ave surrounding Harvard Yard, we ran into an engraving in memory of Theodore Roosevelt from the class of 1880.

Then we saw many stores including Harvard-related stores such as the Harvard bookstore selling both used and new books and the Harvard shirt shop selling Harvard gear and accessories.

Closer we are to the Harvard square center, the more businesses and shops we see.

Then we reach the very center of Harvard Square where we see a conspicuous red brick building that is the Cambridge savings bank. In front of it is a booth that is the information center. 

By the square, there are many restaurants, bakeries, and food shops including both franchise stores and local ones. Taiyaki is an ice cream dessert brand store from New York City.

The Brattle Theatre located in Brattle hall on 40 Brattle street is a repertory theatre that shows traditional motion pictures from time to time. This small local theatre with only one screen is very well-known in the entire Massachusetts area.

Bluestone Lane is a local Australian-style Brunch cafe in the center of Harvard Square. It has great food and a nice environment.

Walking through the neighborhood to scout more stores and restaurants, we saw a fancy-looking restaurant called the Hourly Oyster House on Plympton street.

Blue Bottle, a coffee shop based in LA with over 100 locations around the world, is also on Plympton street at an inconspicuous spot.

We encountered a nice-looking florist shop called Petali Flowers. 

We saw many of the twelve Harvard undergraduate dorms. This is the Randolph Hall of Adams House which was under construction.

This is the Lowell House. Both dorms are named after Boston Brahmin families, the nineteenth century upper class, who make great contributions to Harvard.

There are lots of greens and gardens around Harvard Square. This is Winthrop Park or the Winthrop Square on J.F.Kennedy street. Many people are enjoying the sun and a performer is playing the guitar.

 

Harvard Square Hotel is the most central hotel around Harvard Square. 


On J.F. Kennedy Street, this ordinary white house is surprisingly the Hicks House Library and connects to the other dormitory halls.

The Harvard Kennedy School is probably the most modern architecture we encountered so far on the south of Harvard square.

The J.F.K street leads south to the Anderson Memorial Bridge which crosses the Charles River that leads to Harvard Business School Allston campus.

By the river, the J.F.K Memorial Park has great views and marks the end of our tour of Harvard Square.