Massachusetts Hall, Harvard University
About this property
Massachusetts Hall is the oldest surviving building at Harvard College, the first institution of higher learning in the British colonies in America, and second-oldest academic building in the United States after the Wren Building at the College of William & Mary. The building possesses great significance in the history of American education and in the development of the Thirteen Colonies during the 18th century. The building was constructed between 1718 and 1720. Massachusetts Hall was designed by Harvard Presidents John Leverett and his successor Benjamin Wadsworth. The building initially was a dormitory, including 32 chambers and 64 small private studies for the 64 students it was designed to house. During the Siege of Boston in the Revolutionary War, 640 American soldiers took quarters in the hall. Much of the interior woodwork and hardware, including brass doorknobs, disappeared at this time. While designed as a residence for students, the building has served many purposes through the years. After Thomas Hollis donated a quadrant and a 24-foot telescope in 1722, for example, the building housed an informal observatory. The president of the university, provost, treasurer, and vice presidents have offices that occupy the first two floors and half of the third. Freshmen reside in the fourth floor. Massachusetts Hall, as Harvard's oldest extant dormitory, has housed many influential people. Founding Fathers who lived in Massachusetts Hall include John Adams, Samuel Adams, Elbridge Gerry, John Hancock, and James Otis. Members of the Wigglesworth, Weld, Thayer, Eliot, and Lowell families (among others), whose names now grace other dormitories, also lived in Massachusetts Hall. More recent notable residents of Massachusetts Hall include Alan Jay Lerner, Elliot Richardson, John Harbison, and Jeff Schaffer.
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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.
Everything a full report reveals about Massachusetts Hall, Harvard University
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Questions about this property
When was Massachusetts Hall, Harvard University listed on the National Register?
Massachusetts Hall, Harvard University was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.
What type of historic resource is Massachusetts Hall, Harvard University?
Massachusetts Hall, Harvard University is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
Is Massachusetts Hall, Harvard University a National Historic Landmark?
Yes. Massachusetts Hall, Harvard University has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.
What is the period of significance for Massachusetts Hall, Harvard University?
The period of significance for Massachusetts Hall, Harvard University is recorded as the industrial era.
Can I research the history near Massachusetts Hall, Harvard University?
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 Massachusetts Hall, Harvard University will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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