History Cambridge

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History Cambridge We use history to catalyze the connections that make Cambridge, Massachusetts more vibrant and cohesive.

We're excited to visit this new temporary exhibition at MIT: "Howe, Manning & Almy: Boston’s First All-Woman Firm and th...
10/15/2026

We're excited to visit this new temporary exhibition at MIT: "Howe, Manning & Almy: Boston’s First All-Woman Firm and the Changing Face of Architecture."

Lois Lilley Howe was an active member of our organization into her 80s, and we have a whole History Hub about her on our website: https://buff.ly/J4IH00S

Learn more about her and Eleanor Manning and Mary Almy at a free open house in the Maihaugen Gallery (14N-130) on Wednesday, October 21.

More here: https://buff.ly/THCK7m9

Images courtesy MIT Distinctive Collections

We will be at the Kendall/MIT Open Space this Saturday for their annual Fall Party! Stop by for live music, hands-on art...
10/13/2026

We will be at the Kendall/MIT Open Space this Saturday for their annual Fall Party! Stop by for live music, hands-on art activities, free cotton candy and popcorn, face painting, and more autumn fun. History Cambridge will have historical objects, Cambridge-themed candy, and volunteers eager to chat with you about local history.

We’re just a week away from stepping into one of Cambridge’s most significant—yet often overlooked—historic spaces.For m...
10/12/2026

We’re just a week away from stepping into one of Cambridge’s most significant—yet often overlooked—historic spaces.

For more than 200 years, Lewisville in West Cambridge stood as a testament to the perseverance of the city’s Black community. Established after the Revolutionary War by free-born and self-emancipated individuals, it became a crucial space for equality and resource sharing in a rapidly changing world.

History Cambridge is excited to lead this special walking tour on October 20th and 24th and we’d love for you to join us!

🎟️ Don’t miss out—reserve your spot today: https://buff.ly/mSi8Ls8

In 1907, a group of visionaries proposed creating a brand-new artificial island in the middle of the Charles River to se...
10/07/2026

In 1907, a group of visionaries proposed creating a brand-new artificial island in the middle of the Charles River to serve as a shared civic center for Boston and Cambridge. Complete with grand Beaux-Arts architecture, high stone embankments, and space for a unified metropolitan government, St. Botolph’s Island promised to fundamentally reshape the local urban landscape.

While the ambitious project was ultimately shelved after two decades of changing plans, its story offers a fascinating look into the history of local urban planning, regional governance, and the power dynamics of public space.

Kaliyah Macaraig explores the rise, evolution, and legacy of this unbuilt metropolis in her latest article on our blog. Read the full piece to discover how a hundred-year-old architectural vision still raises essential questions about who our cities are truly built for today.

https://buff.ly/eOzZbeD

Happy Birthday to pioneering cyclist Kittie Knox! 🥳
10/07/2026

Happy Birthday to pioneering cyclist Kittie Knox! 🥳

Join History Cambridge for our next Dialogue Dinner on Thursday, November 12 at the Pisani Center in The Port.Dialogue D...
10/05/2026

Join History Cambridge for our next Dialogue Dinner on Thursday, November 12 at the Pisani Center in The Port.

Dialogue Dinners bring residents together over a free, delicious meal to share personal stories, reflect on neighborhood history, and connect across generations and backgrounds. Whether you’ve lived in Cambridge for decades or just moved in, your perspective belongs at the table.

Good food. Honest conversation. Great neighbors.

Pisani Center (131 Washington St, Cambridge)
Thursday, November 12 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Free! (Dinner included)

Space is kept small so everyone has a chance to share and listen. Reserve your spot online: https://buff.ly/RgbKKQ1

Although many in Cambridge have never heard of Lewisville, this area of West Cambridge has been a vibrant and enduring p...
10/03/2026

Although many in Cambridge have never heard of Lewisville, this area of West Cambridge has been a vibrant and enduring part of our city’s history for over two centuries.

Roughly bounded by Concord Avenue, Garden Street, and Shepard Street, Lewisville was built largely by Black residents—a community of free-born individuals and those who had been born into slavery and either received their freedom or self-emancipated during the Revolutionary War.

Join History Cambridge on a guided tour as we explore the rich history of Lewisville. We’ll highlight the perseverance of the city’s Black community and its efforts to carve out a space of equality and resource sharing in the post-Revolutionary era and beyond.

Discover the stories, homes, and legacy of this historic neighborhood with us!

Reserve your spot: https://buff.ly/mSi8Ls8

Happy birthday New School of Music! We were excited to celebrate with you last weekend by showcasing some historic games...
10/02/2026

Happy birthday New School of Music! We were excited to celebrate with you last weekend by showcasing some historic games.

Do you know how to play jack straws, table top ninepins, snail, or five stones? You might! These games evolved into contemporary games you might play, like pickup sticks or candlepin bowling.

Learn more about the history of the school on our website: https://historycambridge.org/articles/lowell-school/

Address

159 Brattle Street
Cambridge, MA
02138

Telephone

(617) 547-4252

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