Harvard Yard and Harvard Square

Harvard Yard and Harvard Square are the historic heart of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just across the Charles River from Boston. Harvard, founded in 1636, is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and the Yard is its original campus, a tree-shaded quadrangle of brick halls, libraries and dormitories. Landmarks include the statue of John Harvard, popularly called the statue of three lies and traditionally rubbed on the foot for luck, the monumental Widener Library with its columned facade, Memorial Church, Sever Hall and University Hall. Student-led tours are free and begin at the Harvard Information Center, with schedules posted at harvard.edu. Outside the gates, Harvard Square offers bookstores such as the Harvard Book Store and the Coop, cafes, street musicians and chess players at the Out of Town News kiosk. Nearby museums, including the Harvard Art Museums and the Harvard Museum of Natural History, add further options for visitors with more time. A typical visit takes two to three hours for the Yard, the tour and the square. Good photo angles include the John Harvard statue in University Hall's courtyard, the Widener steps and the brick lanes of the Old Yard in autumn. Crowds are heaviest in spring and summer, when tour groups and prospective students crowd the main paths, and during commencement in late May, when parts of the Yard are closed. Weekday mornings are quieter and let visitors see students moving between classes. The Yard is reached by the Red Line to Harvard station, which opens directly onto the Square, and entry to the grounds is free. Visitors should follow signs, as some buildings are restricted to students and staff.