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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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…

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Headquarters of a Revolution: The 250th Anniversary of Washington’s Arrival in Cambridge

An event poster with a blue background and white text. The text reads: "HEADQUARTERS OF A REVOLUTION: THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF WASHINGTON'S ARRIVAL IN CAMBRIDGE SATURDAY JULY 5, 2025 10:00 AM-3:00 PM" At the bottom left, it says "Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site." In the background, faded and partially obscured by the blue overlay, there appears to be historical document text. To the right of the text, there is a yellow outline illustration of the Longfellow House.

Saturday, July 5, 2025Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site105 Brattle Street10 am-3 pmFree Join History Cambridge for this special National Park Service event! We are excited to participate in this special event at one of Cambridge’s most historic spaces. Explore the people, ideas, and questions that shaped General George Washington’s first revolutionary headquarters 250 years…

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June 21: Pioneering Poets of Cambridge: A Guided Tour

Saturday, June 21, 20252-3:30 pmFree; registration requiredLimited space availableWeather date: Sunday, June 22 at 2 pm About the tour Join authors Karen Weintraub and Michael Kuchta for a series of free tours exploring Cambridge’s legacy of innovation, adaptation, and revolutionary ideas. Based on their book Born in Cambridge: 400 Years of Ideas and Innovators, these…

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May 17: Born in North Cambridge: A Guided Tour

Born in North Cambridge: A Guided Tour over a 1903 Bromley map

Saturday, May 17, 20252-3:30 pmFree; registration requiredLimited space availableWeather date: Sunday, May 18 at 2 pm As of Friday, May 16, this event is taking place rain or shine! About the tour Join authors Karen Weintraub and Michael Kuchta for a series of free tours exploring Cambridge’s legacy of innovation, adaptation, and revolutionary ideas. Based…

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Now April 27!: Ideas, Invention, and Imagination: A Guided Tour of Cambridgeport

"Ideas, Invention, and Imagination. A Guided tour of Cambridgeport" text over an 1894 Bromley map of Cambridgeport

Switching to the rain date! This tour is now Sunday, April 27 at 2 pm Saturday, April 26, 20252-3:30 pmFree; registration requiredLimited space availableWeather date: Sunday, April 27 at 2 pm About the tour Join authors Karen Weintraub and Michael Kuchta for a series of free tours exploring Cambridge’s legacy of innovation, adaptation, and revolutionary…

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Feb 5: An Evening with Cambridge’s Lisa McManus: A Fundraiser for History Cambridge

"An Evening with Cambridge's Lisa McManus" surrounded by various cooking materials

Wednesday, February 5 6-8 pm At the home of Cliff Lasser and Liz Adams Lasser26 Hubbard Park RdCambridge, MA 02138-4731$100/person$175/couple Join us for an intimate gathering with renowned gadget expert Lisa McManus, Executive Editor ATK Reviews, and longtime Cambridge resident. Gain valuable insights from Lisa as she shares her expertise on cooking, Cambridge, gadgets, and…

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March 12: History Hang at Paddy’s Lunch

History Hang March 12 at Paddy's 260 Walden Street

Wednesday, March 126-8 pmPaddy’s Lunch260 Walden StreetFree! Didn’t make it to our holiday party last December? Or maybe you just love hanging out at Cambridge’s oldest women-owned bar? Join us at Paddy’s for a casual get-together before the St. Patrick’s Day crowds arrive. We’ll be chatting with owner Ruth Allen about her experiences as a…

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