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Contact: Chris Beagan, 617-876-4491
Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site was among twelve National Park Service sites that set annual visitation records in 2022. Last year, the site broke its previous visitation record, set in 2018.
In 2022, 60,558 people visited Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site to discover rich history and museum collections, enjoy live poetry and music, conduct archival research, and explore the historic garden. This news was included in the National Park Service 2022 Visitation Report released this week, showing that visitation to America’s national parks continues to rebound after a two year decline.
“We’re thrilled to see so many people finding their way – or their way back – to Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site. This site holds deep significance to both the history of greater Cambridge and to our nation,” said Site Manager Chris Beagan. “Many visitors told us that the Longfellow House grounds were a sanctuary for them during the peak of Covid. As more people find connections to the site, we’ll continue to make it a vibrant, creative, and welcoming place.”
Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site is a historic house museum and cultural institution, one of 424 areas managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Last year marked its 50th anniversary and the return of robust visitor services. The Cambridge community and partners celebrated the return of the Longfellow House Summer Arts Festival, featuring local poets and musicians and the site’s first annual Juneteenth Gathering. Dedicated volunteers help care for the historic gardens. New historical researchers were attracted to the site’s remarkable archival and museum collections, with a particular focus on Black history and LGBTQ+ history.
The site will reopen for public tours on Friday, May 26, 2023. Free tours run Friday through Monday until October 30, 2023. These include: hourly programs; deep dive tours that explore the site’s fine art collection, history of slavery and freedom, LGBTQ+ history, and George Washington’s time in Cambridge; and short programs for families with young children. Visitors can also look forward to a new temporary exhibit on the site’s Japanese art collection when site reopens on May 26, 2023.
Over the past 264 years, the residents of 105 Brattle Street shaped our nation through their words and actions. At least seven people were enslaved by the home’s first owner during the colonial period, including Cuba Vassall and her family. In 1774, the Vassalls seized their freedom, sowing a legacy of activism. From 1775-1776 General George Washington used the house as his first long-term command headquarters of the American Revolution. Here, Washington honed his leadership skills and took the national stage. Henry Longfellow, the famous poet who lived in the house with his family 60 years after Washington, embraced global literature and languages as he shaped a new American literary tradition.
Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site is just steps from Cambridge’s historic Harvard Square, a vibrant commercial district that is home to many cultural institutions, including the Harvard museums. The Longfellow House is also located within a rich network of National Park Service sites in the greater Boston area, which together tell a complex story of our nation’s founding and the development of American identity. Use the National Park Service app to start planning your visits and finding Your Park Story!
Last updated: March 1, 2023