May 7: History Hang: West Cambridge Walk

Text against a green background, text says History Hang West Cambridge Walk, Thursday, May 7

Join us for a casual walk in West Cambridge. We’ll stop at two beloved West Cambridge green spaces along the way and learn more about the history of the neighborhood together with community experts. Meet new and old friends and enjoy some time outdoors with History Cambridge! Dress for the weather. The walk lasts about…

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April 14-16: Tours of 159 Brattle Street

Photo of 159 Brattle Street house with text that says Open House with History Cambridge logo

Missed our previous open houses? Join us for a tour! History Cambridge is entering a bold new era. As we prepare to sell our long-time headquarters at the Hooper-Lee-Nichols House, we invite you to join us for a tour of this remarkable building. Built in 1685, 159 Brattle Street is the second-oldest house in Cambridge…

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April 30: Dialogue Dinner

Dialogue Dinner, a Different Kind of Dinner Party on April 30, white text on orange background, picture of dinner table with plate settings on a white tablecloth.

Dialogue Dinner: A Different Kind of Dinner Party Thursday, April 30, 20266-8 pm159 Brattle Street (History Cambridge headquarters)Registration requiredLimited space available! Join us for a unique and memorable evening where we foster deeper connections and build a sense of community around a shared theme. WHAT TO EXPECT This is not your typical dinner party. Inspired…

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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…

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March 26: Pricked and Painted: Tattooing in the 19th Century

The flyer features a faded, black-and-white historical photograph of Charles Longfellow, a man with extensive tattoos across his chest and arms, wearing a hat and necklace. Large red and black text overlaid on the image reads "PRICKED & PAINTED: Tattooing in the 19th Century." The event details note it takes place Thursday, March 26 at 6 pm at the Longfellow House, 105 Brattle Street. Logos for History Cambridge and the Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site appear at the bottom.

Thursday, March 26, 20266-7:30 pmLongfellow House – Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site105 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MAFreeSpace is limited; please register! Can’t make the event in person? Watch the livestream! Pricked and Painted: Tattooing in the 19th Century How prevalent were tattoos in the 1800s, how widespread were they, and who had them? Charles Longfellow, the…

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“Love Letter to Lowell School” is a Valentine to Culture and Community

he exterior entrance of the New School of Music, a yellow two-story wooden building with white trim. A short set of white wooden stairs leads to a covered porch with a triangular pediment. Two dark red doors sit beneath a small overhead light, and a white sign to the left of the stairs reads "New School of Music" with a small musical note.

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.…

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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…

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Outdoor Skating in Cambridge

Black and white photo of people in skates with hockey sticks

By Annette LaMond, 2026 Bring Back Outdoor Skating in Cambridge:Let’s Revive the Tradition of Skating in the Parks1 The winter of the 2024–25 was a classic for outdoor skating – cold temperatures with little snow. One-hundred years ago, even sixty years ago, such weather would have been enjoyed by skaters in parks across Cambridge. The…

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March 3: Love Letter to the Lowell School

Tuesday, Feb 24 Now Tuesday, March 3 6:30–8 pmConcert Room, New School of Music25 Lowell St, Cambridge, MA 02138Free; please register Event Details Step into history—and harmony—at 25 Lowell Street, Cambridge’s last remaining wooden schoolhouse. Built in 1883 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Lowell School has been home to the…

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