Harvard Square has been the center of Cambridge life since 1630. Here's how a colonial crossroads became one of America's most storied public spaces.
The Oldest Square
Harvard Square has been the center of Cambridge since the town's founding in 1630 — predating Harvard College itself by six years. Originally called "the market place," the triangular intersection of Massachusetts Avenue, Brattle Street, and JFK Street has served as a gathering point, commercial hub, and cultural crossroads for nearly four centuries. Few public spaces in America can claim such continuous significance.
Key Eras
1630-1775: Colonial Crossroads
The square served as Cambridge's civic and commercial center. The area around the Common was the site of the colonial government, and Brattle Street's "Tory Row" housed some of the wealthiest Loyalist families in Massachusetts.
1775-1865: Revolutionary & Literary Cambridge
George Washington took command of the Continental Army on Cambridge Common. In the following century, the square became a literary hub as Longfellow, Emerson, and other writers made Cambridge home.
1865-1960: The University Town
Harvard's expansion transformed the square into a quintessential college town with bookshops, cafes, and intellectual life spilling out of the university and into the streets.
1960-2000: The Counterculture & Beyond
Harvard Square became a center of 1960s counterculture, folk music, and political activism. Club 47 launched Joan Baez's career. The square's bookstores, record shops, and street performers defined a generation.
2000-Present: Adaptation
Rising rents have changed the square's retail landscape, replacing some independents with chains. But Harvard Square retains its essential character — the Coop, the Brattle Theatre, and the Pit endure, and the square remains Cambridge's living room.
Harvard Square Today
Despite the changes, Harvard Square remains the most visited and most culturally significant public space in Cambridge. On any given day, you'll find street musicians, chess players, protesters, tourists, professors, and students all sharing the same few blocks. That mix is what makes the square irreplaceable.