Berkeley Street Historic District facts for kids
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Berkeley Street Historic District
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Berkeley Street
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Berkeley St. and Berkeley Pl., Cambridge, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 4.9 acres (2.0 ha) (original size) 7.2 acres (2.9 ha) (after 1986 increase) |
| Built | 1852 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian, Italian Villa |
| MPS | Cambridge MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001920 (original) 86001265 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 13, 1982 |
| Boundary increase | May 19, 1986 |
The Berkeley Street Historic District is a special neighborhood in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It's known for having many beautiful old houses. These homes were built a long time ago, mostly in the 1800s. They show off popular building styles from that time, like Italianate and Second Empire. This area is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This means it's officially recognized as a place worth protecting because of its history and architecture.
Exploring Berkeley Street's History
Berkeley Street is found in western Cambridge. It runs near Cambridge Common, a famous park. In 1843, a professor from Harvard University named Joseph Worcester bought land here. He planned out the area for new homes in 1852.
Most of the houses on Berkeley Street were built between 1852 and 1872. Important people lived in these homes. They included leaders in business, culture, and even politics.
How Berkeley Place Was Added
Berkeley Place is a smaller street that branches off Berkeley Street. It was created in 1890. This street was once a back path to the Longfellow House. This house was Joseph Worcester's home in the 1840s. Most of the houses on Berkeley Place were built a bit later. They date from 1892 to 1918.
Architectural Styles You Can See
When the Berkeley Street Historic District was first listed in 1982, it included 15 properties. Many of these houses show the "Bracketed Italianate" style. This means they have wide eaves and decorative brackets under the roof. You can also see homes in the "Second Empire" style. These often have a special kind of roof called a mansard roof.
A few newer houses were built in the "Queen Anne" style. These homes fit in well with the older ones. They have similar shapes and sizes.
In 1986, the district grew bigger. It then included most of the homes on Berkeley Place. These houses show a mix of styles popular at that time. You can find Queen Anne, Shingle, and Colonial Revival styles. Each style has its own unique look and history.
