You don’t have to be a history student to appreciate the unique heritage of this world-renowned academic institution.
Harvard University, founded in 1636, is the oldest higher education institution in the USA and probably the best-known and most prestigious of the elite “Ivy League” universities. Its leafy campus occupies a 154-hectare site on the outskirts of Boston, which makes for a fascinating half-day excursion away from the bustle of “downtown”.John Harvard, in whose honour the university was named, was one of its earliest benefactors, bequeathing his extensive library and half his estate to one of the colleges. Visitors can find out more about Harvard and the fruits of his generous bequest on a historical tour led by one of the current students, departing regularly from the Information Centre in the Holyoke Centre Arcade. Alternatively, grab some brochures and a map and plan your own route around the lovely colleges, or visit one of the university’s world-class museums, such as the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology or the Harvard Museum of Natural History.Of the many alternative university entrances, perhaps the most impressive is the Johnson Gate, with its ornate decorations in the Georgian Revival style. The heart of the university is the iconic Harvard Yard, scene of many academic triumphs and disappointments, where you can follow in the famous footsteps of presidents, philosophers and Nobel prize-winners. Take a long, slow look around you and admire some of the campus’s most significant buildings, including the Wren Building, Sever Hall and University Hall. You can lose yourself happily among the three million books covering 92 kilometres of shelving in the breathtaking Widener Library – one of the finest examples of architecture from the Beaux Arts period.If all that learning has given you an appetite, satisfy your cravings among the student crowds in one of the lively cafes or bars around Harvard Square, before heading home to relive your brief but inspiring time in this iconic seat of learning.Harvard University is in Cambridge, around seven kilometres from the centre of Boston, accessible by subway, bus or car. There is pay parking on campus. The Harvard Information Centre is open every day except Sunday.
