Harvard Yard Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

Harvard Yard Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district

Harvard Yard in December 2015
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Location	Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Built	1673
Architectural style	Georgian and Federal
NRHP reference No.	73000287 (original) 87002137 (increase)
Added to NRHP	February 6, 1973
Boundary increase	December 14, 1987

Harvard Yard is a very old and important part of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It's like the heart of the campus! This historic area is home to many important buildings. You'll find most of the dorms for first-year students here. It also has Harvard's main libraries, the beautiful Memorial Church, and many classrooms. Even the offices of Harvard's top leaders, like the President, are in the Yard.

The Yard started small, with the first piece of land bought in 1637. Over hundreds of years, it grew into what it is today. It's a large grassy space, about 22.4 acres, surrounded by streets like Massachusetts Avenue. The Yard has a fence around it, mostly made of iron and some brick. There are twenty-seven gates that let you enter this famous place.

Exploring Harvard Yard's Main Areas
- Tercentenary Theatre: Where Big Events Happen
- The Old Yard: A Glimpse into History
Important Buildings in Harvard Yard
Images for kids
See also

Exploring Harvard Yard's Main Areas

Harvard Yard from above. You can see Widener Library (left), Memorial Church (center), and University Hall (right).

Harvard Yard has different sections, each with its own special feel. Let's explore the most famous parts.

Tercentenary Theatre: Where Big Events Happen

The very center of Harvard Yard is called Tercentenary Theatre. It's a big, open grassy area. Important buildings like Widener Library, Memorial Church, University Hall, and Sever Hall surround it. This is where Harvard holds its yearly commencement ceremonies. These are graduation events where students receive their degrees. Other large gatherings also take place here.

The Old Yard: A Glimpse into History

The western part of Harvard Yard is known as the Old Yard. You can enter it through Johnston Gate, which is near Harvard Square. Many of the dorms for first-year students are located around the Old Yard. One of the most famous buildings here is Massachusetts Hall, built in 1720. It's Harvard's oldest building and one of the oldest academic buildings in the entire United States! The President of Harvard University also has offices in Massachusetts Hall.

The first Harvard Hall, also in the Old Yard, once held the college's library. This included books given by John Harvard, who the university is named after. Sadly, almost all these books were lost when the building burned down in 1764. A new Harvard Hall was built in 1766 and is now used for classrooms.

Across the Old Yard from Johnston Gate is University Hall, built in 1815. This building has a white stone front, which was a new style at the time. In front of it stands the famous John Harvard statue. University Hall houses important administrative offices, including those for the deans of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Harvard College.

Important Buildings in Harvard Yard

Harvard Yard is packed with buildings that serve different purposes, from learning to living.

Libraries for Learning

Several important libraries are found in the Yard. These include Widener Library, which is huge, and its connected Pusey Library. For rare and special books, there's Houghton Library. Lamont Library is the main library for undergraduate students. Near Widener, you can also see the Harvard Bixi, which is a Chinese stone tablet with writing on it.

Dorms for First-Year Students

Many first-year students live in dorms right in Harvard Yard. These include the upper floors of Massachusetts Hall, along with Wigglesworth Hall, Weld Hall, Grays Hall, Matthews Hall, Straus Hall, Mower Hall, Hollis Hall, Stoughton Hall, Lionel Hall, Holworthy Hall, Canaday Hall, and Thayer Hall.

Other Special Buildings

Tucked among some of the dorms is Holden Chapel, which is home to the Holden Choirs. Close by is Phillips Brooks House, a place dedicated to students helping out in the community.

The Yard also has administrative buildings like University Hall and Massachusetts Hall. Loeb House, on the east side, is where Harvard's main governing groups meet. Wadsworth House, on the south side, holds offices for the Harvard University Librarian and the University Marshal. Lehman Hall, at the southwest corner, helps students who live off-campus.