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Across the Charles River from Boston is Cambridge, which is home to one of the most prestigious universities in the world – Harvard. Only a 5 minute trip on the “T” Subway service Red Line, visiting Harvard University during your Boston tour makes for an interesting and easily accessible half or full day away..
Harvard University is the oldest university in the USA, founded even before independence was contemplated in 1636. Some of the most famous names in American History have studied at Harvard, including six American Presidents – John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt, Rutherford B. Hayes, and John F. Kennedy.
Tours
Harvard offers free guided walking tours of its facilities to visitors. Led by current students, these tours will provide you with general information, history and the perspective of a current student on attending this famous institution. These tours begin from the Harvard Information Center, in the Holyoke Center Arcade. You do not need to reserve your spot in advance; just check the tour times on the University’s website and turn up on the day that best suits you!
There are also options for self-guided tours if you would prefer to take your time wandering the university grounds. Tour pamphlets in nine languages are available for purchase from the Harvard Information Center and you can also download a guide onto your smart phone from the University’s website.
What to See
Boston tours are the perfect vacation for history enthusiasts, and a visit to Harvard compliments what you will see in Boston itself. Harvard has a number of buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places including Wadsworth House, which was a temporary headquarters for General George Washington in 1775. There you will find the famous statue of John Harvard and also the Widener Library, which is home to the world’s largest university collection of books, with over 13 million volumes.
Harvard University is also home to some interesting universities including the Harvard Museum of Natural History, which for dinosaur fans features a 42 ft long Kronosaurus. Another notable museum is the Arthur M. Sackler Museum, which features a small but interesting collection of Islamic and Indian art.
Where to Shop
Being a centre of intellectual study, Harvard is the perfect opportunity for bibliophiles to find that book they have been looking for. In fact, Cambridge is home to about two dozen bookstores. The Harvard Coop is the official Harvard bookstore, covering over four floors – perfect for an afternoon of browsing. Another interesting bookstore is Schoenhof’s Foreign Books, which is home to the largest foreign language collection in North America.
Where to Eat
Being home to so many young people, there is no shortage of places to eat in Harvard, one of the most famous places to stop for a bite is Mr Bartley’s Burger Cottage. Since 1960 the Bartley family has worked on perfecting the hamburger and now serve an amazing variety, all named after famous individuals. Currently on the menu you can choose from The Michelle Obama – (blue cheese burger with Cajun seasoning and French fries) or the Mitt Romney – (with Swiss cheese, grilled onions, & onion rings).
Harvard University is famous all over the world as an amazing university and if you are visiting Boston on your tour