We use history to catalyze the connections that make Cambridge, Massachusetts more vibrant and cohesive.
Cambridge 400: Community Planning Survey
The year 2030 marks a significant milestone in our collective journey as we approach the 400th anniversary of the place we know as Cambridge. We have a profound opportunity to reflect on our complex past and envision our shared future. History Cambridge is honored to lead this yearlong commemoration that will be as inventive and…
March 30: Washington in American Memory Speaker Series
Washington in American Memory Speaker Series To mark the 250th anniversaries of the American Revolution and the founding of the United States, History Cambridge is proud to partner with a coalition of local non-profits and government agencies to present “Washington in American Memory,” a seven-part speaker series running from November 2025 through April 2026. This…
On view now: “The Rebirth of the Forgotten Souls of Tory Row” art installation
The Rebirth of the Forgotten Souls of Tory Row & the Emergence of Echoes in Blue Outdoor Installation on the grounds of History Cambridge, 159 Brattle StreetOpen from dawn to duskFreeJanuary 1- February 28, 2026 The Rebirth of the Forgotten Souls of Tory Row is an outdoor installation co-created by installation artist Gail Bos and interdisciplinary artist Pam Goncalves, presented on…
History Hang: West Cambridge Walk
Join us for a casual unscripted walk around West Cambridge. We’ll stop along the way and learn more about the history of the neighborhood. Meet new and old friends and enjoy some time outdoors with History Cambridge. Dress for the weather. The walk lasts about 75 minutes. Walk route:Beginning at 159 Brattle Street, we’ll take…
15,000 Years of Gossip: History of Gold Star Road, Part I
By Haakon L. Chevalier, 2026 Introduction Over forty years ago, I moved to Gold Star Road, a tiny street in North Cambridge off Massachusetts Avenue. For most of that time, I knew almost nothing about its history, and figured it couldn’t be very interesting. How wrong I was! There were so many questions: Who lived…
Metacom’s Resistance: Marking 350 Years of Conflict, Coexistence, and Indigenous Presence
by Beth Folsom, 2026 There is much ado about marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence this July, but this year also marks 350 years since the conflict that many of us know as King Philip’s War. Alternately called Metacom’s War or Metacom’s Resistance, this three-year conflict between groups of Indigenous New Englanders…
“Love Letter to Lowell School” is a Valentine to Culture and Community
By Beth Folsom, 2026 This year the New School of Music will celebrate its 50th year providing instrumental and vocal music lessons and performance opportunities to students of all ages in the Cambridge community. For 46 of those years, NSM has been located at the former Lowell School, at 25 Lowell Street in West Cambridge.…
West Cambridge History Hub
As defined by the City of Cambridge’s Community Development Department, the neighborhood of West Cambridge is bounded on the west by Fresh Pond, on the north by Concord Avenue, on the south by the Charles River and the Mount Auburn and Cambridge Cemeteries, and on the east by John F. Kennedy Street. It is an…
American Revolution in Cambridge
Introduction Cambridge has been part of America’s Revolutionary story from its beginnings, even before the outbreak of the war for independence. On Sept. 1, 1774, Cambridge residents responded to the news that Gen. Thomas Gage, royal governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, had ordered the removal of gunpowder from a magazine (a powder storage…
East Cambridge History Hub
2025 is our year of East Cambridge See what events we’ve got planned! A Brief History of East Cambridge The area that we now know as East Cambridge was for many centuries largely salt marshes and mud flats which, at low tide, virtually cut the area off from other parts of the city, as well…
LGBTQ+ History Hub
This hub is a work in progress. Have some resources to add? Let us know! In This Hub Introduction Cambridge is a well-known leader in LGBTQ+ rights. The city was first in Massachusetts to perform gender-affirming surgery in 1972, and in 2004 it became first in the country to grant same-sex marriage licenses. City government…
North Cambridge History Hub
North Cambridge History Hub
Fort Washington History Hub
Fort Washington Park is the last remaining fortification from the Revolutionary War in Cambridge, but the park and neighborhood hold rich histories beyond the Revolutionary era. This History Hub contains materials that details the eras of the park
Cambridgeport History Hub
History Hub for all things Cambridgeport
Culinary History Hub
Culinary History of Cambridge By Rain Robertson, and revised by Deb Mandel, 2022 Cambridge holds a rich and distinctive culinary history. It gave America ice, the Porterhouse steak, Peking ravioli, its first star chef in Julia Child, and a hankering for Indian food. This is a survey of 20th century markets, delis, cafeterias, and local…
Indigenous Peoples History Hub
Curious about the Indigenous history of this place? Start learning here.
Inner Belt Hub
Cambridge had a major role in battling one highway for decades and eventually sparking a process that created a powerful coalition that led officials to remake transportation policy for the Boston area inside Route 128
Curious About Forgotten Souls of Tory Row?
In 2022, History Cambridge was awarded an Arts for Social Justice grant from Cambridge Arts. We selected the artist collaborative Black Coral, Inc. for the project and installation began in May 2022, with the art on view from June 1st 2022 through April 7th 2023. “Forgotten Souls of Tory Row: Remembering the Enslaved People of Brattle Street” honors the enslaved adults and children who lived and worked on this land as well as those whose labor on Caribbean plantations helped finance the grand homes of white Tory Row elites.
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Find original research by History Cambridge staff, interns, volunteers, and community members, including articles, oral histories, and online exhibitions. Search results also include our finding aids, which describe archival materials you can make an appointment to view in person.
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