Why visit / Interesting facts:
- National Historic Site
- Great representative of local history
Time required: 30 minutes
Phone: +1-617-876-4491
Web site: http://www.nps.gov/long/...
Opening hours:
| Time period | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| All year round: | Dawn - Dusk |
Admission:
| Ticket type | Charge |
|---|---|
| Grounds: | Free |
| House - Adults (16 and older): | 3 $ |
| House - Children (15 and under): | Free |
Public transport:
- Subway Red Line: Harvard Square
Address: 105 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA - USA
Photos: (see more photos)
Photo: bunkosquad
Things you need to know:
- The Longfellow National Historic Site is also known as the Vassall-Craigie-Longfellow House
- The house was built in 1759 for John Vassall, who fled at the beginning of the Revolutionary War because of his loyalty to Britain
- The house is a historic site on Brattle Street in Cambridge, famous for serving as the headquarters of George Washington during the Siege of Boston, and for being poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's home for almost fifty years
- Andrew Craigie, Washington's Apothecary General, also lived here. After he died in 1819, his wife took in boarders in order to support herself, including poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Longfellow owned the home in 1843, when his father-in-law Nathan Appleton bought it as a wedding gift. He lived in the home until his death in 1882
- The home represents the mid-Georgian architectural style, and contains many of the originally 19th-century furnishings, artwork, and over 10,000 books owned by Longfellow. Everything on display was owned by him and his family
- The historic site is also known for its garden on the northeast end of the property. Longfellow himself helped create the original garden, shaped as a lyre, right after his wedding
What to do there:
- Be sure to stop by and look when strolling historical Brattle Street - it's a standout even among a whole street of great homes
- Take a guided tour of the house if it opens to the public this season
- Tour the grounds any time of year
Tips & Insights:
- Tours of the house are offered seasonally. Be sure to check out the website before going, to be sure it will be open. You can visit the grounds regardless
- Special events, including reenactments, concerts, and poetry performances, are offered throughout the year. Check the website for upcoming events
- Again, include this stop in a tour of the whole street, starting on the edge of Harvard Square. Many of the homes have informational plaques in front, so you can learn more about them
