We use history to catalyze the connections that make Cambridge, Massachusetts more vibrant and cohesive.
June 21: No Recombination Without Representation
Central Square Theater and the MIT Museum present: NO RECOMBINATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATIONby Patrick GabridgeDirected by Debra WiseJune 13, 14, & 21 at Cambridge City HallFree; tickets required History Cambridge is excited to be a community partner on this exciting new play. Grab your free tickets today, and we’ll see you there! Science, Democracy and Existential…
Leaving June 30: “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- June 30, 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…
July 8: Cambridge Through Time Course
July 8, 15, and 223-5 pmCambridge Center for Adult Ed 42 Brattle StreetRegistration required Join us for a summer course! Cambridge is a collection of rich and diverse neighborhoods, each with its own distinct history and flavor. Over the course of three Wednesday this July we will explore three of these neighborhoods – North Cambridge,…
July 14 + 18: Monuments and Memorials Guided Tour
Details Monuments and Memorials in Cambridge: A Guided TourTuesday, July 14, 5:30-7:00 p.m.Saturday, July 18, 10:00-11:30 a.m.Registration required$15 Whose Story is Told? Cambridge is a city filled with monuments. Statues, plaques, and memorials across the city commemorate people and events from its nearly four hundred years of settlement. But who decides what is worthy of…
“A Friend to Cambridge”: Barney Frank’s Life and Legacy
By Beth Folsom, 2026 Although the 4th Massachusetts Congressional District does not include Cambridge, Representative Barney Frank spent a considerable amount of time addressing the city’s concerns as part of his broader legislative aims. Born and raised in New Jersey, Frank had come to Cambridge to attend Harvard University, earning his undergraduate degree in 1962…
“The Greatest Curiosity of Cambridge”: Chinese Comes to Harvard
By Beth Folsom, 2026 An August 1879 article in the Cambridge Chronicle announced that “there was a written agreement dated Shanghai, 26th of May, ‘79, between [Francis] Knight, on behalf of the President and Fellows of Harvard College, and Ko Kum Huo, to teach the Chinese language at Harvard College for three years, at a…
“Saving Dana Park” Melds Gaming, AI, and Local History
By Beth Folsom, 2026 Tucked into a Cambridgeport block off of Magazine Street sits Dana Park, part of the city’s landscape since the mid-1800s. How did the park come to be, and what might happen if it were to be taken from the Cambridge public and placed into private hands? These are some of the…
West Cambridge History Hub
2026 is our year of West Cambridge! Check out our upcoming events A Brief History of West Cambridge 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…
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
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 as from Boston. The rich oyster beds contained there served as an important…
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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