Boston Things to Do Tips by BorneoGrrl

Harvard University is one of the ivy league universities in America and where many politicians & famous personalities earned their degrees, including seven Presidents of the United States and fifty Nobel prize winners. It is also the oldest university in America having started in 1636 by the Massachusetts Legislature.

Visitors can visit the university grounds for free

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Address: Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA
Website: http://www.harvard.edu/

John Harvard was a clergyman and the principal donor of Harvard University. His statue was erected in front of the University Hall but in actual fact, this is not John Harvard's likeness which is partly why the statue is also referred to the "Statue of Three Lies".

Despite what the plaque says, "John Harvard, Founder, 1638",
1) John Harvard wasn't the founder but the the colonial government
2) The school started in 1636, not in 1638
3) There was no portrait of John Harvard so the statue was modeled after a Harvard student

Tourist will touch the statue's feet for good luck but rumor has it that some students have urinated on it!

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Address: Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA
Website: http://www.harvard.edu/

Built in 1932, the Memorial Church is dedicated to the Harvard soldiers who died in the World Wars I & II. Names of graduates who died in the Korea & Vietnam wars are also written in marble within the church.

The church stands in Harvard Yard opposite Widener Library.

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Address: Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA
Website: http://www.memorialchurch.harvard.edu/

The Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library or The Widener Library is the main library in Harvard University. The library was named after Harry Elkins Widener who was a graduate, whose mother donated $3.5 million to built a library under his name after he died in the Titanic disaster.

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Address: Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA
Directions: The Widener Library is located opposite the Memorial Church
Website: http://hcl.harvard.edu/libraries/

Harvard Square is actually on a triangle area and is a major MBTA subway stop & bus transfer station. It is also a commercial center and a popular hangout for locals. There is an old subway kiosk which houses Out of Town News that has newspapers from around the world.

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Address: Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA
Directions: At the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue, Brattle Street, and John F. Kennedy Street.
Website: http://www.harvardsquare.com/