National Register of Historic Places

Harvard Square Historic District (Boundary Increase)

Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Listed
July 27, 1988
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
86003654

About this property

Harvard Square is a triangular plaza at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue, Brattle Street, and John F. Kennedy Street near the center of Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. The term "Harvard Square" is also used to delineate the business district and Harvard University surrounding that intersection, which is the historic center of Cambridge. Adjacent to Harvard Yard, the historic heart of Harvard University, the Square (as it is sometimes called, locally) functions as a commercial center for Harvard students, as well as residents of western Cambridge, the western and northern neighborhoods and the inner suburbs of Boston. The Square is served by Harvard station, a major MBTA Red Line subway station and a bus transportation hub. The name "Harvard Square" can also refer to the entire neighborhood surrounding this intersection for several blocks in each direction, including Brattle Square, a block away, and the nearby Cambridge Common. The Common is a park area with a playground, baseball field, and a number of monuments, several relating to the Revolutionary War.

Location

Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
42.37243, -71.11876

Categories

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENTMILITARYTRANSPORTATIONENTERTAINMENT/RECREATIONEDUCATIONARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Harvard Square Historic District (Boundary Increase)

This page lists Harvard Square Historic District (Boundary Increase). A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Harvard Square Historic District (Boundary Increase) report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Hasty Pudding Club
Colonial
0 mi
Porcellian Club
Industrial
0.1 mi
Harvard Square Subway Kiosk
Industrial
0.1 mi
Harvard Yard Historic District
Listed
0.1 mi
Harvard Square Historic District
Listed
0.1 mi

Nearby Battles

Siege of Boston – Cambridge Lines
1775Revolutionary War
0.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Harvard Square Historic District (Boundary Increase) listed on the National Register?

Harvard Square Historic District (Boundary Increase) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 27, 1988.

What type of historic resource is Harvard Square Historic District (Boundary Increase)?

Harvard Square Historic District (Boundary Increase) is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Harvard Square Historic District (Boundary Increase)?

The period of significance for Harvard Square Historic District (Boundary Increase) is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Harvard Square Historic District (Boundary Increase)?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Harvard Square Historic District (Boundary Increase) will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Middlesex County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Middlesex County.

Explore MiddlesexCounty ›

More historic places in Massachusetts

Browse all historic places in Massachusetts.

View Massachusettshistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Massachusetts history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Massachusettshistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Harvard Square Historic District (Boundary Increase) will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report