The Perks of Living Close to Harvard
Posted: Aug 10, 2020
We’ve already talked about our proximity to MIT, but there’s another world-class academic powerhouse part of our neighborhood at Market Central: Harvard University! With Harvard Square located right up Massachusetts Avenue (or one stop away on the MBTA Red Line), it’s easy for Market Central residents who study or work at the university to reach campus quickly.
Even if you don’t have an affiliation with Harvard, there are still plenty of reasons to spend time in the area — see below for some of our recommendations:
Take a tour of the campus: There are a variety of walking tours offered at and around Harvard depending on what you’re looking for, but if you’d prefer not to make a reservation, we’d recommend Harvard’s Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour. With audio read by current Harvard students, it’s a convenient way to gather an overview of the area and visit some of the most iconic landmarks around Harvard Yard (including the John Harvard statue and Memorial Hall).
Visit the various museums: Harvard houses a number of museums on its Cambridge campus, covering a wide range of subject areas. Some of the most notable are:
Be sure to visit museum websites for updates on reopening due to Covid-19, as well as their virtual events and activities.
- Harvard Art Museums: A collection of art museums and research centers housing a collection of 250,000+ global works from antiquity to present day, including works from Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Botticelli.
- Harvard Museum of Natural History: As Harvard’s most visited museum, this one spreads an understanding of the natural world and features exhibitions including the world’s largest completed Kronosarus fossil and The Rockefeller Beetles collection.
- Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology: Connected to the Museum of Natural History, this museum is one of the world’s oldest archaeological and ethnographic museums and features a collection celebrating human cultural history, including Native American totem poles and Mayan sculptures.
Have a theatrical experience: Whether your interest is in cinema or the stage, the Harvard neighborhood can offer a top-tier theatre experience. The Brattle Theatre is the neighborhood’s arthouse cinema, with a well-curated offering of independent and international films. Meanwhile, the American Repertory Theatre (A.R.T.) is a nationally renowned not-for-profit theatre that seeks to expand the boundaries of theatre and has served as the launching pad for notable Broadway productions including Waitress and Jagged Little Pill.
Browse the neighborhood’s shops & restaurants: Harvard Square is home to many unique shops and restaurants that contribute to the area’s charm. Browse the aisles at the independent Harvard Book Store, check out the variety of fine cheese at Cardullo’s Gourmet Shoppe, or scope out the secret burger at Alden & Harlow.
Want to live near Harvard in one of Cambridge’s culture-rich neighborhoods? Schedule your virtual appointment or take a 360° virtual tour today to learn more about how you can become a resident of Market Central!
[Featured image credit: @emeelinaaa on Instagram]