If you think Harvard University is just an Ivy League institution you are in for a big surprise. The University with the motto "History, lore and more," has plenty to offer everyone. For history buffs and architecture lovers, you will enjoy Harvard's rich sampling of American history and architecture from the Colonial period to present day.
Be sure to get a look at the Harvard Yard Gates. In addition to beautiful craftsmanship, each gate has its own story to tell. An inscription on the Johnston Gate tells the story of the founding, funding and naming of Harvard College in1636. Among Harvard's thousands of graduates, are seven U.S. presidents.
Harvard once operated out of the University president's home, but today, Harvard spans 4,938 acres located in the heart of Boston, near Cambridge and Allston, Massachusetts. The University is conveniently located on the Red Line of the trolley system.
Enjoy an hour-long, free historical tour of the beautiful and culturally rich campus, where the brick buildings date back to the 1700s and are still in use today. The oldest standing Harvard building – Massachusetts Hall – was built in 1720 and sheltered soldiers of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.
Take a moment at The Memorial Church. Built in 1932, the church was a memorial to Harvard's sons who fought in World War I. Inscriptions on the walls of the church's interior commemorate those who died in both World Wars. Tablets also bear the names of graduates who died in Korea and Vietnam. Today, the cathedral-like church conducts daily prayers and Sunday services. Built in 1878, it also commemorates Harvard men who died in the Civil War while fighting for the Union. Memorial Hall contains 21 stained-glass windows from the Tiffany and La Farge studios.
Stop over at Wadsworth House, an antique wooden structure built in 1726, which served as temporary headquarters for General George Washington in 1775. Hear how Washington took command of the Revolutionary troops and came up with plans to oust King George from Boston.
Appreciate Roman-style late-19th-century architecture at Sever Hall, built by Henry Hobson. See the lively, contemporary Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts - the only building on the North American continent designed by the French architect Le Corbusier. Gund Hall, which houses the Graduate School of Design, exemplifies the remarkable style of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Also on the tour you will find the locations of several art, music, theater and lecture programs and exhibitions on campus. The student-led tour gives you a unique perspective on Harvard. While on the tour, you may even catch a glimpse of the school's mascot, John Harvard, a pilgrim-like figure in 17th-century dress.
A very popular tourist attraction, The John Harvard Statue, is located in front of University Hall. Cast in 1884 by the sculptor of the Lincoln Memorial, the statue is known as "The Statue of Three Lies." Although the inscription reads "John Harvard, Founder, 1638," none of these three statements are true. The seated figure is not really John Harvard, since no authentic pictures of Mr. Harvard exist; and John Harvard was not the founder of Harvard College. Despite the "lies," the statue is an immensely popular draw for tourists, and thousands of visitors a year rub John Harvard's shoe for luck.
Art lovers will have plenty to do and see at Harvard's three art museums. Each museum offers something unique with ongoing exhibitions. The museums house objects of art that range in date from ancient times to the present, and come from Europe, North America, North Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia and Southeast Asia.
With its plethora of exhibitions and billions of years of history Harvard's Museum of Natural History has something to offer everyone. It's the public museum of the University's three natural history institutions: the Botanical Museum, the Museum of Comparative Zoology and the Mineralogical and Geological Museum. Throughout the year, the Museum presents an exciting array of changing exhibits highlighting collections and research done at Harvard University not usually on display.
The botanical galleries feature a unique collection of more than 3,000 models of Glass Flowers from the internationally acclaimed Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Models of Plants.
The zoological galleries feature examples of animals ranging from the earliest prehistoric creatures to modern mammals from around the world. See one of the first Triceratops ever found, the world's only mounted Kronosaurus, a 42-foot-long prehistoric marine reptile, and "Arthropods: Creatures that Rule" - a window into the amazing world of spiders, insects, crustaceans and their relatives. See extraordinarily comprehensive mineral collections in the mineralogical galleries where you will enjoy sparkling displays of gemstones in both rough and cut examples.
Visit the Peabody Museum, one of the oldest archaeological and ethnographic museums in the world - where you can see materials from Africa, ancient Europe, North America, Mesoamerica, Oceania and South America.
If you have more time and want a more upscale meal, visit one of over 90 restaurants in Harvard Square. Whichever restaurant you choose, you can be sure your taste buds will be satisfied.
After your meal you can shop to your heart's delight in Harvard Square, where the motto is "Want it? Find it here." Shopping will be fun for everyone, even the kids. With stores selling antiques to toys and literally everything in between, you won't be disappointed with your shopping experience in the Square. Exhausted yet? If not, put down your shopping and enjoy one of the Square's more than 40 artistic and cultural events. Old-timers will enjoy Leavitt & Pierce, the 118-year-old tobacco shop and specialty store still in its original location in the heart of Harvard Square. Leavitt & Pierce specializes in chess sets and other classic board games along with old-fashioned shaving supplies.
Want to spend the night at Harvard? You can stay on campus at the "Inn at Harvard" in one of the 111 luxury-style guestrooms or you can find accommodation at Harvard Square, where visitors have been staying since 1630. Whether you want a simple hotel room, a bed-and-breakfast or a romantic getaway for two, you will find it in the Square. If you prefer to be off campus then there is no shortage of accommodation in the Cambridge area. Cambridge-area accommodations tailor to your needs, whether traveling alone or with family. You can stay at hotels that include unique tours of the Cambridge area, a regular hotel or Inn, or even hotels that include a spa or a family-fun package. For a bite to eat, choose from over 300 restaurants that the Cambridge area has to offer. Whatever you chose you will find a place that suits your needs and your budget!