We use history to catalyze the connections that make Cambridge, Massachusetts more vibrant and cohesive.
May 16-19: All Ages Community Exhibition
Share Your Story in Our Pop-Up Exhibition! Do you have a special object that tells a unique story about North Cambridge’s past? We’re inviting people of all ages to participate in a fun and engaging community pop-up exhibition. We’re looking for objects of all kinds that shed light on North Cambridge’s history. This could be…
Block Party Summer
Turn Up the History at Your Block Party This Summer! Looking for some historical context to your summer gathering? Get in touch and we will bring our History Kit—a trove of interactive fun that will engage all the senses. This is history you can touch, see, smell, taste, and most importantly, enjoy together. This is…
May 30: Neighborhood History Center Pop-up Closing party
Thanks for welcoming us to the neighborhood! Our two-month long pop-up is coming to an end on May 31. Thanks to all for such a warm welcome to the neighborhood this year. We’ve enjoyed hearing from folks about what they know and what they want to learn more about. Join us for more conversation and…
June 16: Juneteenth Gathering at Longfellow House
Gather for Juneteenth to honor the lives and legacies of those who endured slavery and seized freedom on Brattle Street and beyond. This free event will feature a community gathering with Juneteenth #Pop-Up Poetry, A Denise Plays Hard Event; speeches by living descendants, music; all-ages activities; and refreshments. Free and open to all. Rain location:…
Industrial Age Cambridge supported bicycling, but with the genders and races together? Egads!
It seems there’s always been reasons for bicycling to be controversial in Cambridge, starting in the late 19th century when cycling gained popularity in Cambridge – and the nation as a whole – as a form of exercise and opportunity for social connection.
The Mystery Plaque
By Edward Tabor, 2024 My parents were visiting me at Harvard College on October 16, 1965, a day when I was scheduled to row in a major boat race. It was the first occurrence of Boston’s now-famous “Head of the Charles” race. They stood on Anderson Bridge to watch my boat leave Newell Boathouse and…
Celebrations of Washington’s Birthday reflect tangled legacies of immigration, integration
Honoring Washington as a beloved president came to include minstrel shows in the early 1900s. That these performances were by prisoners in prisons playing the role of Washington’s enslaved people adds yet another layer of complexity.
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
Black History in Cambridge: Online Resources Hub
Above Image: Saundra Graham speaks into a megaphone during the occupation of 319th Harvard Commencement June 11, 1970 (Courtesy Cambridge Historical Commission) Delve into these online resources that explore Black history in Cambridge. More programs and events about Cambridge’s Black history are being planned. To be notified, sign up for our monthly enewsletter. Articles Self-Guided…
Early Black Cambridge Resource Hub
Are you interested in learning more about the history of race, slavery, and African American life in the Cambridge area? This guide highlights many of the resources available that touch on these topics, including primary, secondary, and public-facing sources (such as self-guided tours and websites). While this hub is focused on material related to the 1700s, it also offers relevant material from later periods in Cambridge history.
Women’s History Hub
Profiles included: Barbara Ackermann | Maria Baldwin | Ann Bookman | Sara Chapman Bull | Joyce Chen | Helen Lee Franklin | Suzanne R. Green | Lois Lilley Howe | Edith Lesley | Eva Neer | Mercy Scollay | Elizabeth Sullivan | Phyllis Wallace Our 2020 theme was Who Are Cambridge Women? But why spend…
Businesses Well Lived
As part of our ongoing work to capture Cambridge history, we partnered with Cambridge Local First to reach out to local small business owners and find out how the pandemic has affected their livelihood.
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.
Search Our Site
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.
Shed light on untold stories and silenced voices.
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