Old Harvard Yard
Also known as Massachusetts
Many listed buildings are private homes. Please enjoy them from the street.
About the district
Old Harvard Yard, at Massachusetts Ave. and Cambridge St., was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Feb 6, 1973. It was among the first 12 of Cambridge’s 209 listings. The Register lists it for its education and architecture, at the national level. The district takes in 17 historic buildings. It also stands in the Cambridge Common Historic District, listed in 1973. The listing covers 10 acres. 16 more Register listings are within a quarter mile.
What it isTree-filled historic center of Harvard University in Cambridge, MA adjacent to Harvard Square. From Wikidata (CC0). Read about it on Wikipedia ↗
PDFRead the original nominationThe form that put it on the Register, with its history, photos and a map · 17 MB · National Archives↗1973 to today
- 1973Added to the National Register of Historic Places
- 1973The Cambridge Common Historic District is listed around it
- 2026On the Register for 53 years
Make it a walk: 5 landmarks in about 10 minutes
Massachusetts Ave. and Cambridge St., Cambridge · about 0.4 miles on foot, as the crow flies
56 more Register listings within half a mile
★ National Historic Landmark · D district · B building · S site. Each opens its own page.
Show the other 38
Memories of Old Harvard Yard
The record says what it is. Neighbors know what it means.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Questions about Old Harvard Yard
Is Old Harvard Yard on the National Register of Historic Places?
Yes. It was added on Feb 6, 1973 (Register number 73000287).
Is Old Harvard Yard a National Historic Landmark?
No. It is on the National Register; Massachusetts has 189 National Historic Landmarks. The nearest is Mary Fisk Stoughton House, 0 miles away.
Can you visit Old Harvard Yard?
Our record doesn’t say whether it is open to visitors. Many listed buildings are private, so it may only be seen from the street.
Is Old Harvard Yard in a historic district?
Yes, the Cambridge Common Historic District, added to the Register in 1973.
Where can I read the history of Old Harvard Yard?
In its National Register nomination, the form that put it on the Register: a 17 MB PDF at the National Archives, linked on this page.
Sources: National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places (05/22/2026) · National Archives catalog record 63795903 · Wikidata. Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.