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National Register of Historic Places listings in Cambridge, Massachusetts facts for kids

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Location of Cambridge in Massachusetts

Did you know that many special buildings and places in Cambridge, Massachusetts are officially recognized for their history? These places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's like a special list kept by the United States government. When a place is on this list, it means it's important to the history of our country.

Cambridge has a lot of these amazing historical spots. There are 206 places and areas listed here! Some are even more special and are called National Historic Landmarks. These landmarks are considered super important to the whole country's history.

What is the National Register of Historic Places?

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of places in the U.S. that are worth saving. These places could be buildings, neighborhoods, or even old battlefields. They are chosen because they tell important stories about our past.

Why are places listed?

Places get listed for many reasons. Maybe a famous person lived there. Or perhaps it's a great example of old architecture. Some places are important because of big events that happened there. Being on the list helps protect these places. It also helps people learn about their history.

Types of Historic Places in Cambridge

Cambridge is full of history! You'll find many different types of places on the list.

  • Historic Houses: Many old homes are on the list. These include places where important people lived. For example, the Edwin Abbot House and the Maria Baldwin House are listed. The Longfellow National Historic Site is another famous house. It was home to the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It was also George Washington's headquarters during the Revolutionary War.
  • University Buildings: Since Cambridge is home to Harvard University, many of its old buildings are listed. Massachusetts Hall and Memorial Hall are great examples. These buildings have seen many years of learning and history.
  • Historic Districts: Sometimes, a whole area or neighborhood is special. These are called historic districts. The Harvard Square Historic District is one. It's a busy area with lots of history. The Old Cambridge Historic District also protects many old buildings.
  • Churches and Public Buildings: Beautiful old churches like Christ Church are on the list. Public buildings, like the Cambridge Public Library and the US Post Office-Central Square, are also recognized.
  • Other Unique Sites: There are also interesting places like Fort Washington, an old fort from the Revolutionary War. The Mount Auburn Cemetery is also listed. It's a beautiful, historic garden cemetery. Even the Shell Oil Company "Spectacular" Sign is on the list! It's a cool old sign that shows how advertising used to be.

Exploring Cambridge's History

Walking around Cambridge is like taking a trip back in time. You can see many of these historic places up close. Each one has a story to tell. They help us understand how Cambridge grew and changed over the years.

Famous Landmarks to See

Some places are so important they are called National Historic Landmarks. Cambridge has 18 of these!

  • Christ Church: This church on Garden Street is very old. It was built before the American Revolution. George Washington even worshipped here!
  • Longfellow National Historic Site: This house was once the home of famous poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It also served as George Washington's headquarters during the Revolutionary War.
  • Mount Auburn Cemetery: This isn't just a cemetery. It's also a beautiful garden and a place for art and history. Many famous people are buried here.
  • Harvard University Buildings: Several buildings within Harvard Yard are National Historic Landmarks. These include Massachusetts Hall, Memorial Hall, and Sever Hall. They are key parts of Harvard's long history.

These landmarks are great places to visit. They offer a peek into the past. They show us how people lived and what was important long ago.

Images for kids

  • Edwin Abbot House - 1 Follen Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4061

    Edwin Abbot House

  • John Aborn House, 41 Orchard Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4646

    John Aborn House

  • AlewifeBrookParkway at PowderHouseBlvd

    Alewife Brook Parkway

  • ISBOS

    Almshouse

  • American Net and Twine Company

    American Net and Twine Company Factory

  • CambridgeMA AshStreetHD

    Ash Street Historic District

  • Athenaeum Press statue

    Athenaeum Press

  • Ephraim Atwood House - 110 Hancock Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4101

    Ephraim Atwood House

  • Austin Hall, Harvard University

    Austin Hall

  • CambridgeMA AvonHillHD

    Avon Hill Historic District

  • B and B Chemical Company, 780 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA - IMG 2955

    B and B Chemical Company

  • Maria Baldwin House, 196 Prospect Street, Cambridge (Middlesex County, Massachusetts)

    Maria Baldwin House

  • James B. Barnes House - DSC00638

    James B. Barnes House

  • CambridgeMA BeckWarrenHouse

    Beck-Warren House

  • CambridgeMA BenninkDouglasCottages

    Bennink-Douglas Cottages

  • CambridgeMA BerkeleyStreetHD

    Berkeley Street Historic District

  • Bertram Hall, Radcliffe Quadrangle, 53 Shepard Street, Cambridge, MA - pano

    Bertram Hall at Radcliffe College

  • Beth Israel Synagogue Cambridge MA

    Beth Israel Synagogue

  • Bigelow Street Historic District 2

    Bigelow Street Historic District

  • Frederick Billings House, 45 Orchard Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4648

    Frederick Billings House

  • George D Birkhoff House Cambridge MA

    George D. Birkhoff House

  • Kendall Boiler and Tank Company building

    Blake and Knowles Steam Pump Company National Register District

  • Bottle Street Block

    Bottle House Block

  • CambridgeMA EHBrabrookHouse

    E. H. Brabrook House

  • William F. Bradbury House - 369 Harvard Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4120

    William F. Bradbury House

  • Brattle Hall in Cambridge, MA

    Brattle Hall

  • General William Brattle House, 42 Brattle Street, Cambridge (Middlesex County, Massachusetts)

    William Brattle House

  • Percy W. Bridgman House (Cambridge, MA)

    Percy Bridgman House

  • Luther Brooks House in Cambridge Ma

    Luther Brooks House

  • 1707-1709 Cambridge St

    Building at 1707-1709 Cambridge Street

  • 1715-1717 Cambridge St

    Building at 1715-1717 Cambridge Street

  • Building at 10 Follen Street - 10 Follen Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4056

    Building at 10 Follen Street

  • Building at 104-106 Hancock Street - 104-106 Hancock Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4130

    Building at 104-106 Hancock Street

  • 102-104 Inman St Cambridge MA

    Building at 102-104 Inman Street

  • 106-108 Inman St Cambridge MA

    Building at 106-108 Inman St

  • 110-112 Inman St

    Buildings at 110-112 Inman St.

  • Buildings at 15-17 Lee St Cambridge MA

    Buildings at 15-17 Lee St.

  • Cambridge MA 42 Edward J. Lopez Avenue

    Building at 42 Edward J. Lopez Avenue

  • Building at 259 Mount Auburn Street in Cambridge, MA

    Building at 259 Mount Auburn Street

  • Cannons on the Common - Cambridge, MA

    Cambridge Common Historic District

  • CambridgeMA Cambridge Home for the Aged and Infirm

    Cambridge Home for the Aged and Infirm

  • Cambridge Public Library, Cambridge, Massachusetts

    Cambridge Public Library

  • Carpenter center

    Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts

  • Centralsquarecambridgemass

    Central Square Historic District

  • Charles River (Pear Biter)

    Charles River Basin Historic District

  • Charles River Reservation Parkways Boston MA

    Charles River Reservation Parkways

  • Francis J. Child House in Cambridge MA

    Francis J. Child House

  • Christ Church, Cambridge, MA - interior

    Christ Church

  • Swedenborg Chapel, Cambridge, MA

    Church of the New Jerusalem

  • CambridgeMACityHall2

    City Hall Historic District

  • Cloverden - 29 Follen Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4050

    Cloverden

  • CambridgeMA SaraFosterColburnHouse

    Sara Foster Colburn House

  • Monastery Chapel, 980 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4353

    Conventual Church of St. Mary and St. John

  • William Cook House, 71 Appleton Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4698

    William Cook House

  • Josiah Coolidge House, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4807

    Josiah Coolidge House

  • Cooper-Frost-Austin House, Cambridge, Massachusetts - front

    Cooper-Frost-Austin House

  • Craigie Arms, 6 Bennett Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4336

    Craigie Arms

  • CambridgeMA EECummingsHouse

    e.e. cummings House

  • Reginald A. Daly House (Cambridge, MA)

    Reginald A. Daly House

  • CambridgeMA DanaPalmerHouse

    Dana-Palmer House

  • CambridgeMA WilliamMorrisDavisHouse

    William Morris Davis House

  • Anna Day House, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4743

    Anna Day House

  • Deane-Williams House

    Deane-Williams House

  • CambridgeMA DerosayMcnameeHouse

    DeRosay-McNamee House

  • Divinity Hall at Harvard Divinity School, July 2005

    Divinity Hall

  • Edward Dodge House - 70 Sparks Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4034

    Edward Dodge House

  • The Dunvegan, 1654 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4427

    The Dunvegan

  • East Cambridge Historical District

    East Cambridge Historic District

  • East Cambridge Savings Bank

    East Cambridge Savings Bank

  • Grace Hopkinson Eliot Hall, Radcliffe Quadrangle, 51 Shepard Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4438

    Eliot Hall at Radcliffe College

  • Asa Ellis House

    Asa Ellis House

  • Elmwood, Cambridge, Massachusetts

    Elmwood

  • R. H. Farwell House, 2222-2224 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4419

    R.H. Farwell House

  • Issac Fay House

    Issac Fay House

  • First Baptist Church, 5 Magazine Street, Cambridge (Middlesex County, Massachusetts)

    First Baptist Church

  • Ernst Flentje House - 129 Magazine Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4180

    Ernst Flentje House

  • Fogg

    Fogg Art Museum

  • CambridgeMA FollenStreetHD 01

    Follen Street Historic District

  • Fort Washington (Cambridge, MA)

    Fort Washington

  • Fresh Pond Hotel, 234 Lakeview Avenue, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4302

    Fresh Pond Hotel

  • Fresh Pond Parkway, Cambridge, MA 02

    Fresh Pond Parkway-Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston

  • CambridgeMA DavidFrostHouse

    David Frost House

  • CambridgeMA ElizabethFrostTenantHouse

    Elizabeth Frost Tenanthouse

  • Robert Frost House, 29-35 Brewster Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4714

    Robert Frost House

  • Walter Frost House, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4735

    Walter Frost House

  • MargaretFullerHouseJuly2008

    Margaret Fuller House

  • George Gale House Cambridge MA

    George Gale House

  • Looking east on Garfield St, Cambridge MA

    Garfield Street Historic District

  • CambridgeMA GrayGardensHD 02

    Gray Gardens East and West Historic District

  • Asa Gray House, Cambridge, Massachusetts

    Asa Gray House

  • Greek Revival Cottage, 59 Rice Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4643

    Greek Revival Cottage

  • Hall Tavern - 20 Gray Gardens West Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4014

    Hall Tavern

  • Richard Hapgood House - 382-392 Harvard Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4073

    Richard Hapgood House

  • Harvard river houses historic district outlined and labeled

    Harvard Houses Historic District

  • Lampoon

    Harvard Lampoon Building

  • Harvard Square, view in 1869

    Harvard Square Historic District

  • Harvard Square Subway Kiosk

    Harvard Square Subway Kiosk

  • CambridgeMA HarvardStreetHD 1

    Harvard Street Historic District

  • Harvard Union - Quincy and Harvard Streets, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4068

    Harvard Union

  • Harvard yard winter 2009j

    Harvard Yard Historic District

  • Hastings Square sign

    Hastings Square Historic District

  • Oliver Hastings House (Cambridge, MA)

    Oliver Hastings House

  • Hasty Pudding Club Stage

    Hasty Pudding Club

  • Henderson Carriage Repository - 2067-2089 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA - pano

    Henderson Carriage Repository

  • Col. Thomas Wentworth Higginson House - 29 Buckingham Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4040

    Col. Thomas Wentworth Higginson House

  • CambridgeMA AaronHillHouse

    Aaron Hill House

  • Joseph Holmes House, 144 Coolidge Hill Road, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4526

    Joseph Holmes House

  • Homer Lovell House, Cambridge MA

    Homer-Lovell House

  • Hooper-Eliot House

    Hooper-Eliot House

  • Hooper-Lee-Nichols House, Cambridge, Massachusetts

    Hooper-Lee-Nichols House

  • Howe House, 6 Appleton Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4701

    Howe House

  • William Dean Howells House (Cambridge, MA)

    William Dean Howells House

  • Benjamin Hoyt House

    Benjamin Hoyt House

  • CambridgeMA HubbardParkHD

    Hubbard Park Historic District

  • Cambridge MA Inman Square

    Inman Square Historic District

  • The Jarvis, 27 Everett Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4381

    The Jarvis

  • William R. Jones House - 307 Harvard Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4138

    William R. Jones House

  • Cambridge MA 129 Franklin St

    F. A. Kennedy Steam Bakery

  • Kidder-Sargent-McCrehan House, 146 Rindge Avenue, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4655

    Kidder-Sargent-McCrehan House

  • Chester Kingsley House, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4728

    Chester Kingsley House

  • CambridgeMA KirklandPlaceHD

    Kirkland Place Historic District

  • Rufus Lamson House

    Rufus Lamson House

  • The Larches, 22 Larch Road, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4278

    The Larches

  • Lechmere Point Corporation Houses 1

    Lechmere Point Corporation Houses

  • Arthur D Little Building

    Arthur D. Little, Inc. Building

  • CambridgeMA LittlefieldRobertsHouse

    Littlefield-Roberts House

  • Longfellow National Historic Site, Cambridge, Massachusetts

    Longfellow National Historic Site

  • Lovell Block, 1853 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4637

    Lovell Block

  • Joseph Lovering House in Cambridge Ma

    Joseph Lovering House

  • Lowell School - 25 Lowell Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4191

    Lowell School

  • The Lowell, 33 Lexington Avenue, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4290

    The Lowell

  • Cambridge MA Maple Avenue Historic District

    Maple Avenue Historic District

  • Josiah Mason Jr House

    Josiah Mason, Jr. House

  • W.A. Mason House

    W. A. Mason House

  • Harvard University Massachusetts Hall

    Massachusetts Hall, Harvard University

  • Isaac McLean House, 2218 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4388

    Isaac McLean House

  • Alpheus Mead House

    Alpheus Mead House

  • Isaac Melvin House - 19 Centre Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4108

    Isaac Melvin House

  • CambridgeMA MemorialDriveApartments 02

    Memorial Drive Apartments Historic District

  • Memorial Hall (Harvard University) - general view

    Memorial Hall, Harvard University

  • The Montrose, 1648 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4433

    The Montrose

  • Mount Auburn Cemeter - June 2005

    Mount Auburn Cemetery

  • CambridgeMA 583MountAuburnStreet

    Mount Auburn Cemetery Reception House (1870)

  • Necco factory water tower

    New England Confectionery Company Factory

  • Andrew Newman House

    Andrew Newman House

  • Norfolk Street Historic District 2

    Norfolk Street Historic District

  • Lesley University - Prospect Hall - IMG 1388

    North Avenue Congregational Church

  • J. A. Noyes House, 1 Highland Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4328

    J.A. Noyes House

  • Former Odd Fellows building, Cambridge, Massachusetts

    Odd Fellows Hall

  • Old Cambridge Baptist Church - 398 Harvard Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4088

    Old Cambridge Baptist Church

  • St. John's Chapel, Episcopal Divinity School, West Cambridge MA

    Old Cambridge Historic District

  • Old Cambridgport Historic District

    Old Cambridgeport Historic District

  • Opposition House - 2-4 Hancock Place, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4099

    Opposition House

  • Sarah Orne House, 10 Coolidge Hill Road, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4478

    Sarah Orne House

  • Peabody Court Apartments, 41-43 Linnaean Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4541

    Peabody Court Apartments

  • 1324 Massachusetts Ave Cambridge MA

    Porcellian Club

  • Dexter Pratt House in Cambridge MA

    Dexter Pratt House

  • Christ the king presbyterian church cambridge

    Prospect Congregational Church

  • Cheney Read House

    Cheney Read House

  • Edmund Reardon House

    Edmund Reardon House

  • Reversible Collar Company Building, Cambridge, MA - IMG 1313

    Reversible Collar Company Building

  • Theodore W. Richards House - 15 Follen Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4052

    Theodore W. Richards House

  • River Street Firehouse - 176 River Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 3907

    River Street Firehouse

  • Sacred Heart Church, Rectory, School, and Convent, 6th and Thorndike Streets, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4564

    Sacred Heart Church, Rectory, School and Convent

  • St. James Church, 1991 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge (Middlesex County, Massachusetts)

    St. James Episcopal Church

  • Cambridge MA St Johns Roman Catholic Church

    St. John's Roman Catholic Church

  • Salem-Auburn Streets Historic District

    Salem-Auburn Streets Historic District

  • Hiram Sands House, Cambridge, MA - IMG 5583

    Hiram Sands House

  • Ivory Sands House, 145 Elm Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4576

    Ivory Sands House

  • Mary Prentiss Inn, Cambridge MA

    William Saunders House

  • Sears Tower-Harvard Observatory - 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4028

    Sears Tower-Harvard Observatory

  • CambridgeMA SecondCambridgeSavingsBank

    Second Cambridge Savings Bank Building

  • Second Waterhouse House - 9 Follen Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4058

    Second Waterhouse House

  • Sever Hall (Harvard University) - east facade

    Sever Hall, Harvard University

  • CambridgeMA ShadyHillHD

    Shady Hill Historic District

  • Shell Oil Company Sign, Cambridge, MA

    Shell Oil Company "Spectacular" Sign

  • CambridgeMA 71BoltonStreet

    Patrick Slowey House

  • Lawrence Soule House, 11 Russell Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4650

    Lawrence Soule House

  • The Stanstead - 19 Ware Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4070

    The Stanstead

  • CambridgeMA StickneyShepardHouse

    Stickney-Shepard House

  • Mary Fiske Stoughton House, 90 Brattle Street, Cambridge (Middlesex County, Massachusetts)

    Mary Fisk Stoughton House

  • Taylor Square Firehouse - 113 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4064

    Taylor Square Firehouse

  • Treadwell-Sparks House in Cambridge Ma.jpg

    Treadwell-Sparks House

  • Union Railway Car Barn, 613-621 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4560

    Union Railway Car Barn

  • University Hall (Harvard University) - east facade

    University Hall, Harvard University

  • Harvard Museum of Natural History 050227

    University Museum

  • Cambridge MA Magazine and William Streets

    Upper Magazine Street Historic District

  • CambridgeMA 30 38 PearlStreet

    Urban Rowhouse (30-38 Pearl Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts)

  • CambridgeMA 40 48 PearlStreet

    Urban Rowhouse (40-48 Pearl Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts)

  • Urban Rowhouse 26-32 River St

    Urban Rowhouse (26-32 River Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts)

  • US Post Office-Central Square - 770 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA - IMG 3950

    US Post Office-Central Square

  • Valentine Soap Workers Cottage - 5-7 Cottage Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4155

    Valentine Soap Workers Cottage (5-7 Cottage Street)

  • Valentine Soap Workers Cottage - 101 Pearl Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4148

    Valentine Soap Workers Cottage (101 Pearl Street)

  • Albert Vinal House - 325 Harvard Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4096

    Albert Vinal House

  • Walden Street Cattle Pass, Cambridge, MA 06

    Walden Street Cattle Pass

  • Ware Hall - 383 Harvard Street, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4083

    Ware Hall

  • CambridgeMA LangfordHWarrenHouse

    Langford H. Warren House

  • Abraham Watson House

    Abraham Watson House

  • CambridgeMA StillmanWillisHouse

    Stillman Willis House

  • Cambridge MA Winter Street Historic District 1

    Winter Street Historic District

  • S. B. Withey House, 10 Appian Way, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4585

    S. B. Withey House

  • J A Wood House, Cambridge MA

    J. A. Wood House

  • Wyeth Brickyard Superintendent's House, 336 Rindge Avenue, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4658

    Wyeth Brickyard Superintendent's House

  • John Wyeth House, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4750

    John Wyeth House

  • Wyeth-Smith House, 152 Vassal Lane, Cambridge, MA - IMG 4314

    Wyeth-Smith House

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National Register of Historic Places listings in Cambridge, Massachusetts Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.