Porter Square facts for kids
Porter Square is a lively neighborhood found in Cambridge and Somerville, Massachusetts. It's located where two main roads, Massachusetts Avenue and Somerville Avenue, meet. You can find it between the well-known Harvard and Davis areas.
A big part of Lesley University is also in Porter Square. This area is easy to get to because the Porter Square station has both the MBTA Red Line subway and the Commuter Rail Fitchburg Line trains.
In the mid-2000s, the main intersection of Porter Square got a big makeover. Workers improved the roads for cars, sidewalks for walkers, and paths for bikes. They also fixed the drainage system. An artist named Toshihiro Katayama and a landscape designer named Cynthia Smith helped create a new look for the area. They used different colored concrete and stone walls to make it look special.
Contents
Discovering Porter Square
A Look Back: Porter Square's Past
Porter Square wasn't always called that! It used to be known as Union Square. In 1899, it was renamed after Porter's Hotel, which was run by a man named Zachariah B. Porter. He was also famous for a type of steak called the porterhouse. The hotel was taken down in 1909.
Long ago, in the late 1700s, Porter Square was a busy place for business and small factories. It was surrounded by cattle yards because trains used the Porter rail line to send beef all over the United States.
The Cattle Tunnel Mystery
To help move the cattle without blocking street traffic, a special tunnel was built in 1857. This tunnel was called the Walden Street Cattle Pass. It's still there today, hidden under the nearby Walden Street Bridge! It was even cleaned up and fixed between 2007 and 2008.
A big change happened in 1952 when the old Rand Estate was removed. This made space for the Porter Square Shopping Center that you see today.
In 1984, the Red Line subway was extended. It went from Harvard through Porter Square and Davis Square to its current end at Alewife. This project also brought Porter Square its most famous landmark: a 46-foot tall moving sculpture called Gift of the Wind. This amazing artwork was created by Susumu Shingu.
Learning and Art at Porter Square
Lesley University has grown a lot in the Porter Square area. Its College of Art and Design moved into the old North Prospect Church. A new building was also built where the church used to be, at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Roseland Street.
Besides these buildings, Lesley University also has offices and parking areas in Porter Square.
Fun Places to Visit and Eat
Porter Square is a great place to find shops and restaurants.
Porter Square Shopping Center
The Porter Square Shopping Center has two main buildings and a parking lot. Here you can find a big supermarket like Star Market, a craft store like Michaels, and a bookstore called Porter Square Books. There are also many places to grab a bite, like Dunkin' Donuts and Panera Bread. You can also find a pharmacy, a bank, and other useful stores.
Porter Square Galleria
Right next to the main shopping center is a smaller mall called the Porter Square Galleria. It's getting some new stores, including a Target! You can also find places to eat like Anna's Taqueria and other shops there.
A Taste of Japan
One of the most interesting parts of Porter Square is its connection to Boston's Japanese community. The area, especially around a building now called University Hall, has become a center for Japanese shops and restaurants.
University Hall, with its unique tower, used to be a Sears department store from 1928 to 1985. Later, Lesley University bought the building, and it now holds classrooms, offices, and their bookstore.
You can find many Japanese eateries and businesses in this area. Some are full restaurants, while others are in a food court style. You can try Yoshoku (Japanese-style Western food), sushi, udon noodles, and other delicious Japanese dishes. There are also stores selling Japanese cosmetics and other items.
Other Restaurants
Porter Square has many other kinds of restaurants too! You can find places with live music, French food, Cuban cuisine, Vietnamese food, and Thai cuisine. There are also popular spots for bagels, pizza, and coffee. If you like Ramen, there's a famous ramen shop called Yume Wo Katare.
