harvard tour

On Campus Information Sessions & Tours

Registration instructions.

• Registration for a campus visit is required .
• To sign up, please select an available date from the calendar below. Multiple events may pop up when you select an available date. Click on the event labeled "On-Campus Visit" at the time that works for you, and then complete the registration form on a new page.
• Once your registration is complete, we will be in touch via email with helpful information to plan your visit and visit reminders.
• If you arrive on campus without registering, a member of our visitor team will help you to determine your best options including providing information about a self-guided tour and helping you to register for an open tour date and time.
• Sign up for an online session here  - this is a 1 hour live session with an admissions officer. 
• Click here to do a self-paced virtual tour  of Harvard's campus. 
• If you are in the area, you may stop by our office at 5 James Street from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday (11am-5pm on Wednesdays) and pick up a self-guided tour map and ask questions of the Visitor Center staff. 

COVID-19 Precautions

Group visits/tours, important information for your visit.

• Special Accommodations - there will be space on the registration form to request special accommodations. Please note that we require 21 days advance notice in order to secure ASL interpreters. We cannot provide interpreters for other languages at this current time. Those requesting the use of a wheelchair must leave a current driver’s license or state ID with our Visitor Center personnel until the chair is returned. 
• Most buildings are closed to the public. Public restrooms will be available in the Elizabeth Cary Agassiz House before/after the information session, and at the end of the tour at Smith Campus Center.
• At this time, it is not possible to store luggage or other personal property during your visit. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, especially for families who have traveled long distances to join us.
• Your registration and attendance have no bearing on the admissions process should you decide to apply.
• Guests are not permitted to record any part of the information session and/or tour. 

On-Campus Visit Calendar & Registration

Can I take a tour of the Harvard campus?

Apr 15, 2024 • knowledge.

The Harvard University Visitor Center offers in-person tours daily. Additional tour offerings include the self-guided historical tour on the Visit Harvard mobile app, available to download on  iOS  and  Android  devices. During business hours you may purchase a Self-Guided Tour Map for $3 available in multiple languages.

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Where can i find a tour of harvard’s campus.

A tour is a great way to get to know the campus! Harvard Information Center, located in the Smith Campus Center, offers free student-led walking tours through Harvard Yard. Tours are one hour and provide a general overview of the main Cambridge camps and University history. The Information Center also has maps for self-guided walking tours. For details and schedule, as well as links to tour information at the graduate schools go here . The Admissions Office offers separate tours for prospective students.

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Harvard Campus Tour: 15 Best Places to Visit at Harvard

From lofty libraries to picturesque walks, from Harvard Square to Charles River, here are the 15 best places to include on your Harvard campus tour!

Whether you’re a new Harvard student starting your school year, or visiting Harvard University on a campus tour, there is so much to discover. My lovely university is a heaven for students, tourists and photographers alike. During my time at Harvard, I got plenty of visitors, both friends and family. And for everyone, it was an overwhelming experience taking in all the beauty of our breathtaking campus.

Harvard University is one of the most visited places in Boston, and even all of East Coast. A Harvard University tour is a memorable experience, since every visitor has seen parts of the campus either in movies, pictures or places that have been inspired by Harvard architecture.

Harvard Campus Tour – Where to Go

Harvard University is full of new and old buildings, beautiful architecture and iconic spots to take your pictures. Of course, some of the best places at Harvard are reserved for the students, so if you aren’t one, it’s best to visit with a student or during the Open House.

But whether you have a Harvard ID or not, Harvard University will have a lot to offer you if you’re visiting. From hallowed libraries to historic dining halls, busy dorms to picturesque riverside walks, here is my list of the 15 best places to visit at Harvard.

Harvard Square and the Coop

Harvard Square may not be the most iconic place at Harvard if you’re just googling images of the university. But for every student and visitor, this is where the tour starts. Harvard has a whole T station (metro, subway or underground) dedicated to it, called Harvard Square, which can be the starting point of your Harvard university tour. It’s also the meeting point if you ever lose your tour partners!

Located at the junction of John F. Kennedy Street and Massachusetts Avenue is the building of Cambridge Savings Bank, which has become something of a landmark over the years. Along with this building, other structures and shops such as bookstores, toy stores, and a Bank of America also surround Harvard Square.

Harvard Square is unmissable, central and is the congregation point, where students run into old friends, meet new acquaintances and grab a bite to eat. The most popular and central spot is Starbucks, below the Cambridge Savings Bank, which is right at the corner of Mass Ave, and opened while I was a student at Harvard. Right outside is the Cambridge Visitor’s Information Center booth.

Some other popular spots next to it are the Au Bon Pain, next to Starbucks, and The Coop, across the road, where you can buy all possible books and official Harvard merchandise.

Harvard Yard & John Harvard statue

The green space between undergraduate dormitories is called Harvard Yard, which is enclosed by iron fences, walls and gates. Harvard Yard is the most iconic place at Harvard University, and is a must on any Harvard campus tour.

It is one of the oldest areas that became a part of Harvard University in the late 1600s, housing Harvard College dorms. Now it is also home to the famous John Harvard Statue, where you can see throngs of tourists taking pictures every time, everyday, touching his shoe to take pictures.

However, Harvard students would never touch it, because we all know that urinating on John Harvard’s shoe is one of three traditional deeds some Harvard College students strive to complete. It still remains the most touched spots of Harvard University. Sigh.

Harvard Yard is spread over 25 acres (10 ha) and it’s boundaries have 25 gates, opening at Mass Ave, Science Center. The yard is also home to libraries and memorial church, where the Harvard graduation ceremony takes place annually.

The Yard is the best place to soak the sun and read, be around College students. If you’re traveling in the fall season, it’s a beautiful place to take pictures. Here, you can see the New England fall colors in their full glory.

Widener Library

This is right in the part of Harvard Yard that is behind the John Harvard statue (called Tercentenary Theater). Widener library is the oldest one at Harvard University. And it’s the largest private and university-owned library in the United States. It is home to 3.5 million books, countless stacks and all types of reading spaces.

The library is named after Harvard College alumus and book collector Harry Elkins Widener, who died in the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912.

Although Harvard has many beautiful libraries, Widener is my favorite one. With high ceilings, chandeliers and royal chairs, it’s easy to forget Widener can also have so many hidden low-lit spots in its depths too. I used to spend all my free time there as much as possible, discovering new reading spots and books. My favorites were the comfy high-backed chairs that face the tall windows opening into Harvard Yard.

Memorial Church

Situated right across Widener Library, this is another iconic building in Harvard University and one of the best parts of Harvard. Most Harvard students see and pass by it daily, whether on their way to their dorms, dining halls or classes. And of course, almost all Harvard students graduate here, although not every student has been inside it!

The interiors themselves are often used for ceremonies, commemoration, etc. For example, the only time I ever went inside was for a candlelight vigil for Japan’s 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Although every year, the Church is home to bittersweet memories for everyone. The area in front of Memorial Church, the central green of Harvard Yard, is known as Tercentenary Theater. This is where the Harvard commencement ceremony takes place every year. Many celebrities and famous Harvard alumni have delivered graduation speeches on its porch, such as Steven Spielberg, Mark Zuckerberg, J.K. Rowling and John F. Kennedy.

Memorial Hall & Sanders Theater

Memorial Hall is yet another iconic building in Harvard University. The building is located near the Yard, at the junction of Cambridge, Kirkland, and Quincy Streets. It has high Victorian Gothic architectural style. Constructed in 1878, the building has many stained glass windows, ribbed vaults, spires and pointed arches.

Also called Mem Hall or just ‘Mem’, the building used to be the background of the John Harvard Statue in the early 1920s and before. Mem Hall houses three parts: Sanders Theater, Annenberg Hall and Memorial Transept.

Memorial Transept is a vault that anyone can enter, and is serves as the congregation space for Sanders Theater. It has a high vaulted ceiling and large stained-glass windows above the entrance on either side. Great place to take pictures, if only it were better lit. Either way, it’s an important one to include in your Harvard campus tour.

The Sanders Theater is Harvard University’s largest indoor space. Used for lectures, concerts and most notably, the annual graduation ceremony for Harvard College students. Sanders is where they receive their diplomas.

Even Harvard students aren’t allowed inside, unless it’s for a mandatory lecture or they have a pass for a particular lecture or ceremony. Most lectures that take place in Sanders are by celebrities or famous alumni, such as Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Theodore Roosevelt have spoken there. One of the times I have attended a lecture there was when Bill Gates came to speak.

Although if you are accompanied by a Harvard student and you request, they may allow you to take a peek inside when the theater is not in use.

Annenberg Hall

Located inside the Memorial Hall, Annenberg Hall serves as the dining hall for freshmen of Harvard College. When it was constructed in 1874, people from all over the country came to visit, since it was one of the largest indoor meeting spaces ever constructed in the US.

It is also breathtakingly beautiful, and serves a large selection of food (yum!). With its large expansive, unobstructed space, Annenberg Hall is designed in Gothic style. It has stained glass windows, wooden trusses and vaulted ceiling. The hall is decorated with large hanging candelabras. Its walls have paintings of benefactors and presidents and its ceiling is so high I’m not even sure it exists!

Originally meant to be a place for alumni meetings, Annenberg was soon converted to a dining commons. Now it is used for the freshmen students only. And as a grad student, I only got the opportunity to eat there during the days my own dining hall was closed. (Of course, then my dorm mates and I loved it, because we were treated to their desserts, ice-cream and beautiful entrées.)

It is also used for dances, banquets, examinations and more. Also, Annenberg is what inspired the Great Hall in Harry Potter movies. Only Annenberg Hall is more beautiful.

Read more: Annenberg Hall & Harvard Memorial Hall: All You Need to Know

Science Center

Located north of Harvard Yard, Science Center is home to the computer labs, classrooms and science library for undergraduates. The first floor also houses a nice cafe where I frequently lunched.

To someone expecting the classic Harvard style of architecture, Science Center is not much to look at. In fact, not even many Harvard students find it pretty. That’s because it was constructed in the ’70s, amid the modernist movement, when designers sought to do something different than the existing antiquated Georgian architectural style.

The plaza in front of the Science Center is home to the beautiful Tanner fountain, where kids are often found playing and water-splashing! Students often put up Yard sales, College club events and protest rallies there. Oftentimes, you can also find food-trucks, farmers’ markets and even Quidditch practices there.

Harvard Graduate School of Design

Graduate School of Design or GSD is my alma mater, which is mainly located on 48 Quincy Street in a building named Gund Hall. The Gund is also constructed in glass, steel and concrete (just like the Science Center) and is different from the iconic Harvard architectural style.

Gund Hall has a stepped design, where different studios form the levels, called trays. The building has a lot of clear glass, allowing natural lights into the trays, where students have their drawing boards or desks.

GSD also has a yard where student works are often exhibited, including those using 3D printing, robotic machines, CNC machines, etc.

The area near the entrance at the first floor of GSD is used to exhibit student work throughout the year. These exhibitions are specifically designed to give a new “interior look” to the space with each exhibit, often theme-based or interactive. This space also houses temporary events, student performances and the spillage from the events happening in cafeteria called Chauhaus and the Piper Auditorium.

Harvard Law School & HLS Library

Harvard Law School (HLS) is located near the northwest of the Harvard Yard. The HLS library is a beautiful old building with a big yard in front of it. Named Langdell Hall, it is immediately recognizable with its large windows, columns and Harvardian architecture style.

HLS library has a large, high-ceilinged chandelier-lit reading space with countless stacks filled with law-books. But they serve free hot-chocolate at night, so it’s a good place for non-law-students to study, too. You can get in with a Harvard ID, and discover their chessboard coffee tables, too! HLS library is my second favorite library after Widener, and was also my first workplace after my Harvard graduation, where I worked for a whole year to create digital learning spaces.

Wassterstein Hall Harvard Law School

Take a secret underground passage from the HLS library and it takes you to the newly built Wasserstein Hall. (You can also get to it from above the ground, tho, but where’s the fun in that?) It is one of the newest and most beautiful buildings in all of Harvard University, and was opened when I was a student.

The Wassterstein houses a large fireplace-lit study space with the coziest high-backed chairs, two cafeterias and a bar, pool table and the most gorgeous toilets you can find on-campus. Even balconies and a grand semi-circular staircase. What more reason could there be to include it in your Harvard campus tour? I used to lunch here everyday when I was an employee at the HLS library, and the first-floor cafe is great for an evening snack (they have great fries).

Natural History Museum

Located north of the Science Center and near the graduate dorms, the Natural History Museum is a great place where many students don’t even go throughout their time at Harvard! Although admission is open only to Harvard community.

It is such a hidden gem within the university, especially to go if you’re visiting harvard with kids. In fact, the only time I went here was when I was showing my parents around the campus the day before my graduation ceremony (they loved it!).

The museum is home to many permanent and temporary exhibits that any student will love. These include a paleontology exhibit, which has the fossils of Kronosaurus, a 42-foot-long prehistoric marine reptile. Also, there’s exhibits of birds, wildlife microbes and a famous glass-flower exhibition.

Radcliffe Quad

Located north of the Harvard campus, the Radcliffe Quad, or just “Quad”, is not much of a touristy spot, but is a great place to visit if you’re a Harvard graduate student and looking to explore the campus. The Radcliffe Quadrangle houses the Quad green and undergraduate dormitories, including the oft-photographed Cabot house and Pforzheimer house.

The walk from Cambridge Commons to Radcliffe Quadrangle is a beautiful one, and depending on the season, you’ll see brilliant tulips or fall colors.

Malkin Athletic Center & Harvard Stadium

Harvard stadium.

The Malkin Athletic Center (MAC) and the Harvard Stadium are located at completely different parts of the campus, but I have to include them together here.

The Harvard Stadium is south of the campus, across from HBS. The world-renowned stadium was built in 1903, and is a National Historic Landmark. It’s an essential part of any Harvard campus tour.

The Stadium is primarily a College football stadium, but they also use it for music festivals and other sports. It’s next to the humongous Blodgett Pool (one one that you see Robert Langdon swimming in in the Da Vinci Code movie).

Malkin Athletic Center (MAC)

The MAC is my favorite gymnasium at Harvard and is the perf spot for all Harvard students to work out. The gym is located south of the Harvard square, and is a large five story facility.

In the center is a large pool, and the upper floors have the cardio rooms with a view of the pool. Actually, I find the group exercise mezannine space overlooking the pool even prettier! This is where I discovered my passion for Zumba (miss it!). The building also houses many weight rooms, strength training equipment, basketball court and what not.

Charles River

The Charles river is an iconic body that divides the main Harvard campus. The north part of the campus on the north of Charles is the Cambridge campus, that borders at Memorial Drive. And the southern one is Allston campus, that starts at Soldiers Field Road. These two are connected by the Anderson Memorial Bridge, which is the perfect spot to take pictures and view both sides. It’s a must-see spot when visiting Harvard and MIT.

The space next to Memorial Drive is where you’ll see the bike path, students lounging around after classes, and skateboarders. The John F. Kennedy Memorial Park is right next to it, featuring a fountain. And while you’re here, also walk around to discover tiny lanes, tree-lined avenues. If you’re on a self-guided harvard tour, walk west, and enjoy a quiet cappuccino at Darwin’s, or go up north to have a cup of tea at Pete’s Cafe.

Harvard Business School

Harvard Business School is the top-pick for MBA tourists or student-visitors who like business management. Located in Allston, the HBS campus is a bit separated from the main campus by the Charles River. However, it’s a beautiful campus that all students and visitors should check out on their Harvard campus tour.

Right from across the river, you’ll see the iconic Baker Library, a world-famous building. It has the best place to take a picture at Harvard – in the HBS yard, with Baker Library forming the backdrop. And if you want one with the Harvard sign, check out the HBS sign at the back entrance.

The next spot to check out is Spangler Center, which is the student center. A relatively new building, Spangler has the same Georgian architecture style that the old Harvard buildings have. Inside is a massive student lounge that’s actually the last place I can concentrate in, because it seems a bit daunting.

The HBS cafeteria is inside too, which is rather nice and serves different cuisines everyday. The dining hall is gorgeous with large tables and chandeliers (although nobody joins you if you’re eating alone). Step underground to their bar and also check out their underground passages while you’re at it. (It leads to the library).

– Experience the Harvard Student Life with Me: How is Life at Harvard – Is Harvard Worth It? Analyzing Costs to Benefits for a Degree – What Kinds of Students Get into Harvard?

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• Harvard Public Art & Culture Tour: Allston

Named after Washington Allston—a visionary painter and 1800 Harvard graduate—the neighborhood of Allston features vibrant, eclectic art that reflects its creativity and diversity. On this self-guided tour, you'll discover "can't-miss" public art installations along Western Avenue (and beyond!) and learn the stories behind them and their artists. Follow along to explore hand-painted murals, sky-high sculptures, 25-cent art prints, and more!

• What You'll See & Learn
• Recommended Routes

Frequently Asked Questions

Discover public art.

Take this free, self-guided tour by downloading the Visit Harvard mobile app, available on iOS and Android devices.

Download on the Apple App Store     Download on Google Play

What you'll see:.

Pictured: Hand-painted murals featured on the Walls on Western garage at Zone 3.

10 Sculptures

Pictured: the bronze sculpture, 'quest eternal' as seen near the entrance of smithfield playground in allston..

Pictured: Mural 'Interconnected' by Sophy Tuttle reflected in the windows of the Harvard Science and Engineering Complex.

What you'll learn:.

Stories behind the art

Pictured: presence by mary frank, 1985–86, bronze. hbs art and artifacts collection.

Artist inspirations

Pictured: the artist, imagine (aka sneha shrestha), posing in front of the mural 'saya patri (one with a hundred petals)'.

Local history

Pictured: 'interconnected' by sophy tuttle, painted on the facade of the old new england deposit library, choose your own path:.

Whether you only have 30 minutes or you're on your way to/from Cambridge, we've compiled a list of recommended routes for you to take in order to get the best tour experience! Find previews below and learn more by downloading the Visit Harvard app!

Playground Path

Going to the Smith Field Playground? This route features stops between Zone 3 and Trader Joe's—with plenty of time to take a ride down a slide!

Short On Time

Are you strapped for time? Need a new dog walking route? Take a quick and easy stroll along Western Avenue for beautiful murals by local artists. Route highlight: Get your quarter out for your own copy of Art in Print!

Coffee & Greenspace

Stop in one of several bakeries or cafes for a coffee (and a sweet treat!) before making your way towards the Harvard Business School campus, featuring sky-high sculptures and innovative art installations.

Crossing the Bridge

Are you coming from or heading to Cambridge? Check out the art installations closest to this commute and learn about Harvard's cultural initiatives along the way. Route Highlight: Take a peek into Harvard's 15,856 sq ft ceramics studio!

Campus Loop

Hit all the tour stops located around Harvard's Allston campus, including the ArtLab, Harvard Business School, Harvard's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Complex, and the Harvard Ed Portal.

What is the Visit Harvard mobile app?

Visit Harvard is a free mobile app by the Harvard Visitor Center that features a collection of self-guided tours centered around the Harvard University experience. The Visit Harvard mobile app can be downloaded by anyone with a smartphone, tablet, or desktop, to be enjoyed from wherever you might be visiting, whether it’s in-person or from the comfort of your own home.

What is the Harvard Public Art & Culture Tour?

The Harvard Public Art & Culture Tour is a self-guided tour collection that highlights the local art that surrounds—and beautifies— the Harvard community, from hand-painted murals to sky-high sculptures. The first released tour in the collection focuses on the Allston neighborhood, specifically along the Western Avenue corridor and into the Harvard Business School campus. Not only will you be guided to view these artworks in-person, you'll also learn the history behind each piece as well as the artist who created them. The tour features guided mapping, photos, and audio tracks for convenience and accessibility.

In the near future, we will release the next tour in the collection which focuses on the public art throughout Harvard's Cambridge campus.

How long is the mobile tour?

This self-guided tour takes place across 27 mapped stops along Western Avenue, including several stops on Harvard Business School's campus. At a standard walking pace, it will take up to 1 hour to complete the 2 mile long tour.

Note that we have also included information about several shorter tour routes in the app. Some of these routes include options that will only take 30 minutes to complete. You can view this information by downloading the Visit Harvard app, navigating to "Harvard Public Art & Culture Tour," and selecting "Allston."

Where does the mobile tour begin?

The official tour route begins at the tour stop Evo, located at 395 Western Avenue, Allston, MA 02134. In the app, we've suggested several other routes that begin at other locations, including the Harvard Business School or Barry's Corner.

What is the terrain like for people who use mobility aids, like wheelchairs or canes?

This self-guided tour takes place on flat terrain (easy grade urban sidewalks) and is mobility-friendly, wheelchair accessible, and stroller-friendly. The self-guided tour also has additional in-app accessibility options for visitors who are visually or hearing impaired, including voiceover and image descriptions.

Can I take the mobile tour in-person or virtually?

This mobile tour is designed to be accessed in-person throughout the Western Avenue corridor in Allston. It can also be viewed from the comfort of your own home. Simply download Visit Harvard in the app store, navigate to "Harvard Public Art & Culture Tour," select "Allston," and begin your journey!

Where can I download the Visit Harvard mobile app?

You can download the Visit Harvard mobile app on the Apple App Store and Google Play .

Who should I contact if I have further questions?

For any questions about the Visit Harvard mobile app, you can contact the Harvard Visitor Center .

Continue your art adventure in Cambridge! Take a customizable self-guided tour of public art in & around Harvard and discover a new side to the University's iconic campus

The Harvard Public Art & Culture Tour is part of a collection of self-guided tours featured on the Visit Harvard app by the Harvard Visitor Center. For more information about Visit Harvard or other tour offerings (including in person student-guided tours), please visit the Harvard Visitor Center's official website .

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Everything about tourist attractions

Harvard Tours – tickets, prices, discounts, what to expect

If you couldn’t make it to Harvard University, then worry not! You can still explore the campus – just book a  through Harvard Campus Tour. 

A Harvard tour gives you insights into campus life and tells you why it is the best institute in the world. 

The tour revolves around exploring Harvard History, Harvard Culture, and Famous Harvardians.

This article covers everything you must know before booking tickets for the Harvard Campus Tour.

Top Harvard Tours

#  70-minute group tour

Table of contents

What to expect, where to book tickets, how do online tickets work, harvard tour ticket prices, harvard tour tickets, where do harvard tours start from, how long does the harvard tour last, is a tour of harvard worth it, sites you will see on the harvard tour, what to bring on the tour, things to know before starting a tour, faqs about the harvard walking tour.

The Harvard tours introduce you to the dynamic Harvard History, Harvard Culture, and Famous Harvardians. 

Harvard campus tour covers many landmarks such as Harvard Square, Harvard Yard, the John Harvard Statue (the university founder), Harvard Lampoon, and many more. 

All the tour guides are Harvard students who are charismatic, engaging, and enthusiastic. 

These guides make Harvard tours more like a show or a theatre filled with non-stop fun and entertainment. 

With the students’ guides by your side, you get to learn interesting facts about the university, its hidden secrets, and stories of popular Harvardians like Mark Zuckerberg, Barack Obama, Conan O’Brien, and many more. 

Harvard tours are designed to entertain both adults and children. AAA Magazine called them “great for families!” The tour guides cater to guests of all ages and families. 

Tickets for the Harvard tour are available to be purchased at the attraction or online in advance.

Online ticket prices tend to be cheaper than tickets at the attraction.

When you buy online, you can avoid standing in long queues and wasting time.

When you book early, you also get your preferred time slot.

Because some attractions sell a limited number of tickets, they may sell out during peak days. Booking online also helps avoid last-minute disappointment and delays.

Go to the Harvard tour booking page , select your preferred date and time and the number of tickets, and buy the tickets right away.

After the purchase, you will receive the tickets via email.

You don’t need to carry printouts.

Show the smartphone tickets at the meeting point on the day of your visit and begin your adventure.

Adult tickets for the Harvard Tour are available for US$23 for visitors aged between 18 and 64 years.

For children between four and 17 years of age, tickets are available for US$21.

Senior Citizens aged 65 and above can get the tickets for US$22.

Infants up to three years of age do not require a ticket.

Experience Harvard University like never before with a guided walking tour.

Explore the campus while learning about the oldest university in the USA and its notable landmarks.

The tour will be led by a student guide who will share interesting anecdotes about life at Harvard.

In addition, the ticket also includes an illustrated map of Harvard Square.

The tour route covers a distance of less than one mile.

Ticket Prices

Adult ticket (18 to 64 years): US$23 Senior ticket (65+ years): US$22 Child ticket (4 to 17 years): US$21 Infant tickets (up to 3 years): Free

Along with their Harvard Campus Tour, some tourists prefer to book a group tour of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology .

The Harvard campus tour starts from Harvard Square. 

Located at the junction of Massachusetts Avenue, Brattle Street, and John F. Kennedy Street, Harvard Square is thronged by visitors, students, and artists daily. 

You’ll find your tour guides outside the Harvard Red Line Subway Station next to the Out of Town News Kiosk. Get Directions

The closest street address is 1380 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138.

The 70-minute Harvard Tour is available throughout the week.

Visitors can choose between tour slots starting at 10 am and continuing every half hour till 4.30 pm. 

The Harvard walking tour lasts for about 70 minutes. 

There are umpteen stops on the 1-mile (1.6 km) long tour.

The tour guides will tell you the stories and significance of various landmarks you pass by.  

Established in 1636, Harvard is America’s oldest university and perhaps the most famous institution of higher education on the planet. Harvard is very much worth visiting.

This prestigious university contains tall buildings, libraries packed with books, and iconic sites that are breathtaking. 

Whether you’re a student or not, the campus has much to please your mind and soul. 

Since the students will walk you through the campus, you get an insider perspective about the university. 

All of this makes the Harvard Tour worth your money and time.

You’ll walk through the university gates, around the yard, and past some historic buildings with Harvard Tour guides. 

The major sites covered under Harvard Tours are:

Harvard Square

It is a commercial center in Cambridge with streets lined with cafes, restaurants, retail stores, cinemas, and bookstores. 

Johnston Gate

This majestic gate takes you to the world of knowledge and wisdom. It is one of the many doorways to Harvard Yard.

Harvard Yard

It is the heart of Harvard University, enclosed by wrought iron fences, walls, and a thick canopy of trees. The John Harvard Statue is situated in this beautiful yard. 

Science Center

It is a place for science and math buffs who experiment and do research.

Memorial Hall

The cornerstone of the building was laid in 1870 in memory of those who laid down their lives during the Civil War. 

New College Theatre

It hosts several theatrical and musical performances of Harvard students every year. NCT is also open to the general public to enjoy the performances of Harvard-affiliated groups and performers. 

The Harvard Lampoon

Sometimes referred to as “Lampoon Castle,” this sturdy castle consists of an office, library, dining hall, and a lounge. It is famous for publishing comic and humor magazines. 

Lowell Bell Tower

This blue-capped bell tower is in proximity to Harvard Yard and Harvard Square. It houses the iconic Russian bells.

It is better to come prepared for the weather to avoid surprises.

When coming for the tour, you can bring along the following items-

• Comfortable shoes

Before starting the campus tour, keep in mind the following points-

• The tour will go on despite rain or sunshine.
• Reach the tour’s starting point (Harvard Square) at least 10-15 minutes before the scheduled time. 

The tour does not take you inside any of the buildings.

Here are some questions visitors usually ask before taking the Harvard Walking Tour.

The tour includes a guided walk through Harvard Yard and visits to various historic buildings on campus.

Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended.

Yes, it is best to buy tickets in advance to ensure availability and have a hassle-free experience.

The tours last approximately 70 minutes.

Yes, the tours are wheelchair accessible.

Yes, you can bring a backpack or bag on the tour, but it will be subject to security screening.

Yes, there is a gift shop at the Harvard University Information Center where you can purchase souvenirs and other items related to Harvard University.

No, pets are not allowed on the tour.

Yes, cameras are allowed, and visitors are free to take photographs.

Yes, restrooms are available at the Harvard University Information Center.

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Harvard’s Taylor Swift Scholars Have Thoughts on ‘Tortured Poets’

The students taking Harvard University’s class on the singer are studying up. Their final papers are due at the end of the month.

• Share full article

By Madison Malone Kircher

Fans of Taylor Swift often study up for a new album, revisiting the singer’s older works to prepare to analyze lyrics and song titles for secret messages and meanings .

“The Tortured Poets Department” is getting much the same treatment, and perhaps no group of listeners was better prepared than the students at Harvard University currently studying Ms. Swift’s works in an English class devoted entirely to the artist . The undergraduate course, “Taylor Swift and Her World,” is taught by Stephanie Burt, who has her students comparing Ms. Swift’s songs to works by poets and writers including Willa Cather, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth.

On Thursday night, about 50 students from the class gathered in a lecture hall on campus to listen to Ms. Swift’s new album. Mary Pankowski, a 22-year-old senior studying history of art and architecture, wore a cream sweatshirt she bought at Ms. Swift’s Eras tour last year. The group made beaded friendship bracelets to celebrate the new album, she said.

When the clock struck midnight, the classroom erupted into applause, and the analysis began. First, the group listened through the album once without discussing, just taking it all in.

Certain lines, however, immediately caused a stir, said Samantha Wilhoit, a junior studying government — like a reference to the singer Charlie Puth and the scathing lyrics to the song “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived,” Ms. Wilhoit, 21, said.

A line from the song “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” in which Ms. Swift sings, “I cry a lot but I am so productive,” also seemed to resonate, Ms. Wilhoit said, laughing.

A smaller group of students, including Ms. Pankowski, stuck it out until the early hours of the morning waiting to see if Ms. Swift would drop additional music. At 2 a.m., they were rewarded with an additional “volume” of 15 tracks called “The Anthology.” Ms. Pankowski said she didn’t go to sleep until hours later.

Speaking with The New York Times together on a video call Friday morning, several students from the class discussed their thoughts on the 31 new songs and brainstormed their final papers, which are due at the end of the month.

“The song ‘Clara Bow’ reminded me of ‘The Song of the Lark,’” Makenna Walko, 19, said, citing the Willa Cather novel that follows the career of an aspiring opera singer, Thea Kronborg. “She’s talking about a girl trying to make it out of her small town and trying to get to Manhattan, and what it’s like to have these big, musical dreams and try to pursue them,” she continued. “That’s a narrative that has shown up a lot in Taylor’s own life, over the course of her own career. In a lot of ways, it’s Taylor’s story, too.”

Lola DeAscentiis, a sophomore, zeroed in on the song “But Daddy I Love Him,” comparing it to the Sylvia Plath poem “Daddy.” She plans to explore the link in her final paper.

“I hesitate to say that the song was anywhere near the genius of Sylvia Plath — no offense to Taylor Swift — but I can definitely see some similarities in the themes, like sadness, depression and mental health,” Ms. DeAscentiis, 20, said. (Ms. DeAscentiis also drew a distinction between being a fan of Ms. Swift and being a devoted Swiftie. She said she identified as the former.)

“The way that Taylor overlays her relationship with the significant other that she’s talking about in the song with the relationship that she has with her father — I think that was very Plath,” she added.

Another student, Ana Paulina Serrano, echoed Ms. DeAscentiis, noting that the class had learned about the genre of confessional poetry. “Is Taylor considered a confessional poet?” Ms. Serrano, a 21-year-old junior majoring in neuroscience, asked the group on the call. In support of her own position, she offered as evidence Ms. Swift’s song “Mastermind,” a track off “Midnights,” in which Ms. Swift reveals herself to have calculated and plotted the outcome of a relationship.

“Sometimes she’s confessing things that we, like, already knew or assumed, but she often seems to feel this need to explicitly tell us,” Ms. Serrano added.

Isabel Levin, a 23-year-old senior studying integrative biology, said she thought Ms. Swift’s delivery on several tracks had a spoken-word quality. She wondered if maybe some of the lyrics had initially begun not as songs but as more traditional poems.

Ms. Swift has said she categorizes her songs by the type of pen she imagines using to write each. A “frivolous, carefree, bouncy” song is a glitter gel pen song, while a fountain pen song might be more “brutally honest,” according to Ms. Swift . Quill pen songs are “all old-fashioned, like you’re a 19th-century poet crafting your next sonnet by candlelight,” she explained during her acceptance speech as songwriter-artist of the decade at the Nashville Songwriter Awards in 2022.

And with what implement might Ms. Swift have written “Tortured Poets?”

Quill pen, for sure, Ms. Walko said.

Madison Malone Kircher is a Times reporter covering internet culture. More about Madison Malone Kircher

Inside the World of Taylor Swift

A Triumph at the Grammys: Taylor Swift made history  by winning her fourth album of the year at the 2024 edition of the awards, an event that saw women take many of the top awards .

‘The T ortured Poets Department’: Poets reacted to Swift’s new album name , weighing in on the pertinent question: What do the tortured poets think ?  

In the Public Eye: The budding romance between Swift and the football player Travis Kelce created a monocultural vortex that reached its apex  at the Super Bowl in Las Vegas. Ahead of kickoff, we revisited some key moments in their relationship .

Politics (Taylor’s Version): After months of anticipation, Swift made her first foray into the 2024 election for Super Tuesday with a bipartisan message on Instagram . The singer, who some believe has enough influence  to affect the result of the election , has yet to endorse a presidential candidate.

Conspiracy Theories: In recent months, conspiracy theories about Swift and her relationship with Kelce have proliferated , largely driven by supporters of former President Donald Trump . The pop star's fans are shaking them off .

Watch CBS News

Taylor Swift college course seeks to inspire students to emulate her business acumen

By Jo Ling Kent

April 18, 2024 / 9:06 PM EDT / CBS News

Berkeley, California — You might not expect a business school course to begin with students belting out Taylor Swift's "Cruel Summer," but at the University of California, Berkeley, Swift is not just a " tortured poet ," she's a case study in how to build an empire.

"Taylor Swift is a phenomenon," UC Berkeley senior Sejal Krishnan, a chemical engineering major, told CBS News. " Her tour has essentially revitalized so much of the economy and boosted the local economy everywhere she goes."

Undergrads Sofia Lendahl and Miaad Bushala teach Artistry and Entrepreneurship: Taylor's Version to 44 fellow students.

"Taylor is so strategic in all the things that she does," Bushala said. "When you think of a brand, that's all they ever want. They want loyal customers. And that's what Taylor has."

"There's a reason top institutions are studying that," Krishnan added. "They know it's a trend."

Along with UC Berkeley, several universities nationwide — including Harvard and Stanford — are offering classes on the so-called "Swift Effect" in departments ranging from English to political science and gender studies.

Swift's successes and failures, including the battle to  regain control  of her master recordings, are part of the syllabus at UC Berkeley.

"We've also learned about some of the implications she's had on legal issues, such as artist rights and ticketing legislation, which has been really impactful as well, because that's not something you see every day," said student Will Grischo, who is majoring in media studies and art history.

When asked how their families reacted to them taking a course on Taylor Swift?

"My parents were super thrilled," Krishnan said. "My mom took me to the 1989 concert."    

"They (my parents) were like, 'You have to take this class, if it's not now, never,'" said student Jessica Revolorio, a sociology major who is the first in her family to attend college in the U.S.

And Swift now has some students thinking even bigger.

"She's incredibly fearless in the ways in which she doesn't mind taking creative risks," said student Angelique Zoile, who is studying business. "To me it's like, climb the corporate ladder...I'll end up as a manager in five years or so." 

Zoile said she is more ready to take career risks because of this Swift-inspired class. 

• Taylor Swift
• UC Berkeley

Jo Ling Kent is a senior business and technology correspondent for CBS News.

More from CBS News

American tourist facing prison in Turks and Caicos over ammo in luggage

Pro-Palestinian protests leave American college campuses on edge

Why Swifties have descended upon a small pub in London

Palestinians thank U.S. students for support as Netanyahu condemns them

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LIVE UPDATES: Day 2 of Harvard Yard Encampment

The encampment in Harvard Yard mounted by pro-Palestine student organizers entered its second day on Thursday, as dozens of activists bore the cold to sleep overnight in more than 30 tents pitched in front of the John Harvard statue.

Though Harvard officials remained mostly silent on Wednesday as organizers began the demonstration, it is unclear how much longer the University’s administration, led by interim Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76, can afford to lay low as students remain in the Yard.

Dean of Students Thomas Dunne publicly addressed the protests in an email to students on Thursday afternoon — the first College administrator to do so — warning protesters that the encampment violated Harvard’s rules against erecting tents or tables in the Yard, which has been closed to non-Harvard affiliates since Sunday.

“Interference with the academic mission or business functions of the University will not be tolerated,” Dunne wrote, adding that violations could lead to disciplinary action.

Just past 4 p.m., Dunne and other administrators arrived at the encampment, where they began photographing the Harvard IDs of demonstrators.

Organizers said Wednesday that they intend to remain in the encampment until Harvard meets their demands, which include the University disclosing and divesting from its institutional and financial ties to Israel’s settlements in the West Bank and the war in Gaza. Harvard has repeatedly rebuffed calls to boycott Israel.

Organizers also demanded that Harvard commit to dropping disciplinary measures against students engaged in pro-Palestine activism following the College’s decision to suspend the Palestine Solidarity Committee on Monday.

The encampment at Harvard comes amid a surge of similar demonstrations at college campuses nationwide, with many leading to widespread arrests of students. Though the demonstrations Wednesday remained peaceful, Garber said he would not rule out calling in police if campus protests threatened to become violent in a Monday interview.

The ongoing demonstration poses an unprecedented challenge for Garber, who remains under close scrutiny amid allegations of antisemitism on Harvard’s campus.

National ire has largely focused on Columbia University President Nemat “Minouche” Shafik, who has faced calls to resign over her handling of an encampment at Columbia resulting in the arrests of over 100 students last week. Still, Garber — who was subpoenaed by House Republicans in February amid the ongoing congressional investigation into Harvard — could easily be thrust back into congressional crosshairs for any perceived misstep.

Harvard spokesperson Jason A. Newton wrote that the University is “closely monitoring the situation and are prioritizing the safety and security of the campus community” in a Wednesday statement.

Campers Prepare for Nightfall — 7:50 p.m.

As night falls and temperatures drop, organizers begin stringing tarps in between tents in the encampment, often stapling them to a rope hung between trees.

Organizers asked campers to move their tents if they want to and began getting supplies, including blankets, ready for the night. Tempreatures are forecasted to drop to 34 degrees Farhreinheit at the lowest.

While organizers prepare the camp, they called protesters over to a mental health workshop in the Yard.

Sun Sets on Day 2 of Harvard Encampment — 6:35 p.m.

As the sun sets, the encampment looks like a celebration.

In another patch of grass near the camps, protesters began working on “liberation crafts”, including a large painting to observe the period of the counting of the Omer, a Jewish holiday of self reflection.

Organizers for the protest asked participants to imagine significant numbers — including those related to the death toll in Gaza and the money invested by Harvard into Israeli-tied organizations — and to paint that number in shapes and lines in the colors of Palestine, conveying the magnitude of the numbers.

Around the encampment, more students and faculty continue to join, bringing their children in strollers.

Pressley Urges ‘No Academic Repercussions’ for Pro-Palestine Protesters — 6:27 p.m.

In a statement issued Thursday evening, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) urged “university administrators to ensure that there are no academic repercussions for peaceful student protestors,” hours after administrators began photographing protester IDs in Harvard Yard and police confronted demonstrators across the Boston area.

“I am grateful to students nationwide and across the Massachusetts 7th — at Emerson, Northeastern, MIT, Tufts, Boston University, Harvard, and more — who are raising their voices,” Pressley wrote. “We cannot lose sight of the horrific injustices that Palestinians in Gaza are facing and I am proud to stand in solidarity with peaceful protestors.”

Pressley’s statement comes in the wake of uncertainty around ongoing protests. At Harvard, Dean of Students Tom Dunne warned that ongoing encampments could result in “disciplinary actions,” while students at Emerson, Yale, and Columbia have faced arrests.

‘Come Take Our IDs’ — 4:51 p.m.

Protesters began rallying near University Hall at the front of the encampment, following the arrival of administrators to check and photograph Harvard University IDs.

“You want to Ad Board us now? Come take our IDs,” one organizer shouted.

“The dean of students come on up. You can take all of our IDs,” they said.

Demonstrators rallied near University Hall, holding up their IDs in act that appeared to mock the administrators that had just left the encampment.

“Thank you for coming out. We’ll be here all the fucking time,” another organizer shouted.

The chanting and brief rallying comes after a Thursday afternoon email hours before from Dunne, who warned of “disciplinary consequences” for protesters at the encampment.

Protesters then gathered for a group keffiyeh photo in front of the encampment, chanting “shut it down.”

More Harvard Faculty Members Arrive — 4:43 p.m.

More Harvard faculty members have arrived at the encampment, including Harvard Government professor Steven Levitsky, Harvard Chan School of Public Health Professor Mary Basset, and History professors Alison Frank Johnson, Vincent Brown, and Arunabh Ghosh.

Harvard Kennedy School Professor Khalil G. Muhammad — a HKS professor of history, race, and public policy — visited the encampment to see the protests for himself.

“Given the exaggerated and denigrating national remarks about student protests here at Harvard and elsewhere, I wanted to make sure that I could see for myself precisely the peaceful nature of the students who are protesting an unjust war happening in Gaza right now,” he said.

So far, he has found the student protests “inspiring.”

It is “inspiring to see young people standing up for their principles to participate in the oldest traditions that are at the heart of liberal democracy, which is the right of assembly and freedom of speech.” Muhammad said.

“This is exactly what we hope to encourage students when we ask them to be responsible stewards in the world we live in,” he added.

Following the abrupt arrival of administrators 20 minutes earlier, protesters continue to rally and chant with drums in the encampment.

City Hall Protest Canceled — 4:26 p.m.

A planned Thursday afternoon protest at Cambridge City Hall in support of pro-Palestinian encampments at universities in the Boston area was cancelled at the last minute, as organizers instructed supporters to move into Boston itself.

While an Instagram post by the Boston branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, a leftist group, originally instructed protesters to move to Northeastern, organizers at City Hall told those present to instead go to police precincts where students arrested at Emerson are being detained.

Still, approximately 30 protesters have congregated in front of Cambridge City Hall, where chants have started. Some protestors are also holding up signs facing cars on Mass. Ave.

“This wasn’t a wasted event. We saw the community support,” said Jean-Luc Pierite, a visiting scholar at MIT who helped direct those who arrived at City Hall. “The local situation is that the support has spread.”

“Everyone is willing to show up for Palestine,” he added.

Administrators Begin Photographing Harvard IDs — 4:10 p.m.

At least five Harvard administrators, including Dunne, arrived at the encampment Thursday afternoon and began checking and photographing participants’ Harvard University IDs.

Dunne, who spoke with two administrators and a security marshal, declined to comment on administrators’ presence at the encampment.

Shortly after, protesters began encircling the encampment site, chanting “Garber, Garber, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide” and “Shut it down” to drums.

The decision to take down students’ IDs is an indication that the College might proceed with disciplinary action against the students in camping out in Harvard Yard.

Press Denied Access To Harvard Yard — 3:55 p.m.

A handful of news reporters and photographers — including those from Al Jazeera, the National Press, the Middle East Forum, and Viory Video News Agency — have congregated outside the Johnston Gates after being denied entrance into Harvard Yard, which is only open to ID holders until Friday.

Several photographers were seen taking photos of the encampment through the bars of the gates, and reporters from publications interviewed HOOP’s media liaisons and Harvard affiliates outside. None of the three AJA interviews at Harvard were livestreamed, according to the AJA correspondent.

Dexter Van Zile, an editor for the Middle East Forum, said he was at Harvard both Wednesday and Thursday to “get a sense of what’s going on at the encampment.”

“While I am unhappy that I can’t get into Harvard Yard, I think the Corporation is fully within its rights to limit access to the property because they own the property,” he said.

Van Zile added that while he had not been able to talk to any protesters, he wanted to investigate where the funding for the encampment came from.

Security officers briefly opened the door to let a FedEx truck into the yard, clearing groups of dozens of tourists and reporters.

Palestine Teach-In Begins — 3:17 p.m.

An organizer on a megaphone announced the first official programming of the day, a “Palestine 101” teach-in in the Yard.

Around 30 protesters gathered for the teach-in — led by Nasir Almasri, a fellow at the Kennedy School and a PhD student at MIT — to the side of the encampment.

HKS Human Rights Caucus Demands PSC Reinstatement— 3:10 p.m.

The Human Rights Caucus at the Harvard Kennedy School called on Harvard to reinstate the Palestine Solidarity Committee in a statement posted to Medium on Thursday afternoon.

“The University’s decision fundamentally disregards its own purported commitment to freedom of speech,” the organization wrote. “We affirm student activists’ right to engage in civil disobedience.”

The Human Rights Caucus praised the PSC’s role in the ongoing encampment, writing that “their peaceful and principled activism in and around Harvard Yard is deserving of both praise and protection.”

The organization alleged that Harvard deliberately changed university rules to prevent “students from exercising their voice on Palestine,” and demanded that the University prevent police from “taking action” against protesters.

In a statement sent to Harvard affiliates Thursday, Dean of Students Thomas Dunne said that “disruption or interference that hinders members of our community from performing their normal duties” would lead to disciplinary consequences.

Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine Issue Statement in Solidarity With Harvard Encampment — 2:47 p.m.

Harvard Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine issued a statement Thursday afternoon detailing 30 faculty members’ participation and support of the encampment activities.

On Wednesday, Vijay Iyer, professor of Music and African and African American Studies, read a statement from HFSJP praising the encampment and alleging the University has attempted to “silence, punish, and threaten students, faculty, and staff who have dared to protest.”

Malak Rafla, assistant professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, also called on Harvard to disclose its investments and accompanied campers Wednesday night.

“Why won’t Harvard Management Company disclose its investments?” he said. “Why is there a double standard when it comes to protecting Palestinian lives?”

Jim Recht, a lecturer on psychiatry at HMS, said that “students are the teachers today.”

“Encampments across the country teach us how to hold power to account as University administrators and elected officials fail to follow the will of the public, to value all lives equally,” he added.

Counter-Protester Who Pushed Young Child Identified as University Employee — 2:33 p.m.

Nick Tonelli, a financial analyst at the Harvard Office of the Controller, pushed a young child at the encampment and the child fell to the ground, according to the child’s mother and several encampment protesters present during the altercation.

The incident marks the first reported physical confrontation at the encampment since it was erected Wednesday afternoon. Tonelli, however, left around 1:50 p.m., and tensions seem to have subsided since.

Tonelli allegedly told the mother that “it’s disgusting what they do to their kids.”

Tonneli was joined by Tom Halevy, a senior financial analyst at the OC. Tonelli allegedly also called the protestors “a bunch of spoiled children.”

This marked the first verbal incident since the encampment began.

In a video obtained by The Crimson, Tonelli is seen bumping an older security marshal at the perimeter of the encampment.

Tonneli did not immediately respond to a phone call Thursday afternoon.

Security marshals held up keffiyehs — traditional Palestinian scarves — to obstruct Tonelli, who encircled the encampment for 45 minutes.

Dean Dunne Says Encampment Could Lead To ‘Disciplinary Consequences’ — 2:16 p.m.

Dean of Students Tom Dunne addressed the establishment of encampments on college campuses across the country, including in Harvard Yard, in an email to Harvard College affiliates Thursday afternoon.

“On our own campus, yesterday, a group of affiliates gathered in the Yard to protest and to set up tents,” Dunne wrote. “As posted on the gates to the Yard, erecting structures, tents, and tables without authorization is a violation of rules.”

Dunne also wrote that protests that interfere with “the academic mission or business functions of the University will not be tolerated.”

“Disruption or interference that hinder members of our community from performing their normal duties and activities will be regarded as an unacceptable obstruction of the essential processes of the University and will lead to disciplinary consequences as outlined in existing policies and procedures,” Dunne added.

Counter-Protester Pushes Child at Encampment — 1:30 p.m.

Two individuals carrying an American flag and Israeli shirt lapel attempted to film the encampment and pushed against volunteers along the perimeter. A Harvard affiliate standing at the perimeter of the encampment alleged that one of the counter-protesters approached her child and told her that “it’s disgusting what they do to their kids.”

The counter-protester also pushed the young child, who fell to the ground, according to members of the encampment.

One of the agitators called the protesters “a bunch of spoiled children.”

Security marshals held up keffiyehs — traditional Palestinian scarves — to obstruct the agitator who has been encircling the encampment for 20 minutes.

Tents Move To Avoid Sprinklers — 1:05 p.m.

Protestors have begun moving tents to adjacent patches of grass closer to Harvard Hall for logistical reasons, presumably to avoid the sprinklers that sprayed the encampment last night. Volunteers arrived carrying additional tenting supplies and have begun to set up more tents in the two patches of grass now occupied by the encampment.

Meetings End and Chants Resume — 12:40 p.m.

Protestors dispersed from their meeting that began more than an hour ago. Protestors resumed pro-Palestinian chants shortly after.

Dean Khurana briefly stopped at the encampment to talk to organizers nearby before leaving the Yard through Johnston Gate.

Throughout the morning, several volunteers have stopped by to donate food and other supplies, including a folding table.

Morning Meetings — 11:14 a.m.

Around 11 a.m. in the morning, an organizer announced that the group would hold morning meetings to discuss the day ahead.

Protesters at the encampment briefly rallied in a small group for the first time since quiet hours — which lasted from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. last night — chanting “free, free Palestine,” and “from the river to the sea.”

They then gathered to discuss plans to move the tents away from the sprinklers. The sprinkler system in Harvard Yard went off intermittently early Thursday morning, and the Palestine Solidarity Committee said some tents had been flooded in an Instagram post Thursday. Organizers said an arts installation further down the Yard was not flooded overnight.

John Harvard Draped in Palestinian Flag — 10:32 a.m.

A protester climbed the John Harvard statue and laid a Palestinian flag across the statue to cheers from the encampment.

Breakfast Begins — 9:30 a.m.

Protesters have slowly begun to emerge from tents, conversing around a table laid with a breakfast spread, including Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and clementines. The encampment and Harvard Yard at large remain quiet as students head into the first day of Reading Period ahead of finals period.

Earlier, people were let into Harvard Yard to attend prayers at Memorial Church, even if they did not have a Harvard University ID, per multiple attendees. The University has restricted access to the Yard to only HUID holders since Sunday in anticipation of a protest or encampment like the one currently stationed before the John Harvard statue.

HUPD officers and maintenance staff at Massachusetts Hall — where several top University officials work — declined to comment on or said they did not know whether interim Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76 was inside.

Supplies Replenished — 8:15 a.m.

Monitors on the next shift have arrived and traded off yellow and pink vests. They have been watching over the encampment all night, alongside multiple Harvard University Police cars.

Wake-ups across the encampment have been slow. More organizers from outside Harvard Yard have arrived on site with hot coffee and more Amazon packages of supplies in preparation for the day ahead.

Khurana Speaks With Organizers — 7:58 a.m.

As sunlight crept over more tents, Harvard College Dean Rakesh Khurana came out from his office in University Hall to walk the perimeter of the encampment.

Khurana, who also made an appearance earlier Thursday morning, has spoken with Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine organizers, Harvard police officers, and other University staff.

He declined to comment on whether the College was in talks with organizers about leaving Harvard Yard.

Raising the Flag — 7:07 a.m.

Outside University Hall, University facilities staff raised the American flag over a keffiyeh-draped John Harvard.

Protesters Begin to Wake — 6:35 a.m.

It’s been a quiet and cold night in the Yard. At least four Harvard University Police cars have spent the night patrolling. Gates to the Yard remain closed to non-affiliates. Protesters have abided by Dean of Students Thomas Dunne’s request to honor quiet hours from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

After the sunrise, the campus is seeing more signs of life. Harvard staff have begun arriving through Johnston Gate, and the first protesters to wake up have left their tents for the start of day two of the encampment.

—Staff writers Michelle N. Amponsah, Xinni (Sunshine) Chen, Sally E. Edwards, Elyse C. Goncalves, Miles J. Herszenhorn, S. Mac Healey, Matan H. Josephy, Joyce E. Kim, Cam E. Kettles, Asusa M. Lippit, William C. Mao, Madeline E. Proctor, Tilly R. Robinson, Emily T. Schwartz, Elias J. Schisgall, Dhruv T. Patel, Tilly R. Robinson, Saketh Sundar, Cam N. Srivastava, Aran Sonnad-Joshi, Claire Yuan, and Sheerea X. Yu contributed reporting.

Private tour group providers

This information is for private tour providers not associated with Harvard University. If you are an individual looking for a tour, please visit our Tours page.

At this time, Cambridge and Boston tour companies who wish to lead tours of visitors through Harvard Yard are required to register with the Harvard University Visitor Center.

For further inquiry, please contact: [email protected]

Registration process

Apply to be a registered Harvard Yard Tour Provider

To register:

• Fill out the application.
• Submit a copy of a business license (in Cambridge or Boston) and proof of insurance.
• Allow up two weeks for the authorization process.

Once approved:

• The Harvard University Visitor Center will provide a physical “Welcome Packet” to the tour company.
• Sign the Harvard Yard Use Agreement.
• The tour company will be directed to the online payment system, where tour passes must be purchased at least three days in advance for the desired tour date (currently through the end of the semester).

Before the tour:

• Prior to coming to campus, the tour company must review the Harvard Yard Guidelines and go to Visit Harvard for any updated campus information.
• The tour company will use Touchnet, the online payment system, to purchases passes for the current semester at least three days in advance of the desired tour date.
• A Harvard Yard Tour Pass purchase requires a non-refundable payment of $1.50 per tour attendee.
• The tour company will receive a PDF file of the Harvard Yard Tour Pass within three business days.
• The tour company must print the Harvard Yard Tour Pass in color and it must be visibly worn on the tour group leader at all times while in Harvard Yard. Lanyards and other tour materials may be found in the “Welcome Packet.”

Keep in mind:

• Occasionally the Yard closes for University activities. If this conflicts with a tour you have sign up for, your payment will be refunded.
• Tour groups can include up to 35 people.
• The tour company may offer up to one tour per day in Harvard Yard, as space is available.
• The tour company may offer tours in Harvard Yard between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
• The tour company must remain in good standing in order to annually renew the Harvard Yard Use Agreement.

Frequently asked questions

Who has to register to provide tours in harvard yard.

At this time, Cambridge and Boston Tour Companies who wish to lead tours of visitors through Harvard Yard are required to register with the Harvard University Visitor Center.

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For hundreds of millions of years, the oceans have teemed with single-celled organisms called foraminifera, hard-shelled, microscopic creatures at the bottom of the food chain. The fossil record of these primordial specks offers clues into future changes in global biodiversity, related to our warming climate.

Using a high-resolution global dataset of planktonic foraminifera fossils that’s among the richest biological archives available to science, researchers have found that environmental events leading to mass extinctions are reliably preceded by subtle changes in how a biological community is composed, acting as an early warning signal.

The results are in Nature , in a study co-led by Anshuman Swain , a Junior Fellow in the Harvard Society of Fellows, researcher in the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology , and affiliate of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. A physicist by training who applies networks to biological and paleontological data, Swain teamed with co-first author Adam Woodhouse at the University of Bristol to probe the global community structure of ancient marine plankton that could serve as an early warning system for future extinction of ocean life.  

“Can we leverage the past to understand what might happen in the future, in the context of global change?” said Swain, who previously co-authored a study about the formation of polar ice caps driving changes in marine plankton communities over the last 15 million years. “Our work offers new insight into how biodiversity responds spatially to global changes in climate, especially during intervals of global warmth, which are relevant to future warming projections.”

Anshuman Swain with fossil specimens.

File photo by Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer

The researchers used the Triton database, developed by Woodhouse, to ascertain how the composition of foraminifera communities changed over millions of years — orders of magnitude longer time spans than are typically studied at this scale. They focused on the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum, the last major period of sustained high global temperatures since the dinosaurs, analogous to worst-case global warming scenarios.

They found that before an extinction pulse 34 million years ago, marine communities became highly specialized everywhere but in the southern high latitudes, implying that these micro-plankton migrated en masse to higher latitudes and away from the tropics. This finding indicates that community-scale changes like the ones seen in these migration patterns are evident in fossil records long before actual extinctions and losses in biodiversity occur. 

The researchers thus think it’s important to place emphasis on monitoring the structure of biological communities to predict future extinctions.

According to Swain, the results from the foraminifera studies open avenues of inquiry into other organismal groups, including other marine life, sharks, and insects. Such studies may spark a revolution in an emerging field called paleoinformatics, or using large spatiotemporally resolved databases of fossil records to glean new insights into the future Earth.

The researchers’ study was made possible by a longstanding National Science Foundation field study aboard the JOIDES Resolution research vessel, which over the last 55 years has conducted ocean drilling around the world. The project is set to expire this year.

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