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All tours are offered Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (including holidays).
Day-of reservations can be made by phone starting at 9:30 am on tour days, and walk-in visitors are welcome.
Tour Name
Time
Duration
Description
Standard Tour Begins May 23
Hourly, 10:00 am-4:00 pm*
55 mins
What does this house reveal about our shared past? Here, history was made, and history was written. Highlighting the house and its remarkable collections (original to the Longfellow period), this conversational tour will explore links between:
Short on time? Tour the first-floor collections on this informal exploration of American history, culture, and identity.
Deep Dive: Headquarters of a Revolution Begins July 4
11:30 am, 2:30 pm
55 mins
Explore General George Washington’s first headquarters of the American Revolution, which marks its 250th anniversary this summer. Headquarters was a testing ground for many of the ideals, institutions, and questions that still define our nation. This conversational tour explores Cambridge Headquarters as a hub of revolutionary activity, where generals, enslaved people, paid laborers, poets, Indigenous diplomats, politicians, and soldiers shaped history - and how later generations would shape its memory.
*On Sundays, the 4:00 pm tour is an Express Tour due to the Summer Arts Festival.
A park ranger opens the front door to the Visitor Center.
What to Expect
Our staff are eager to help you have a comfortable, engaging visit. While you’re here, please ask questions, and help us preserve this 266-year-old house and its remarkable collection of original objects!
During your tour, your guide will take you through approximately six rooms of the house (four on the Express Tour). In each room, you’ll be surrounded by furnishings and artwork original to the Longfellow family’s residence in the 1800s and early 1900s. Visitors will learn about the history associated with the space and have the opportunity to ask questions and share insights. Each tour concludes with a self-paced visit to this season’s special exhibit, “Washington’s Headquarters and the Memory of the American Revolution.”
Reservations: Day-of reservations can be made by phone starting at 9:30 am on tour days, and walk-in visitors are welcome. Due to limited tour capacity, groups of six or more visitors are encouraged to make a group tour reservation (Thursdays only) by emailing us in advance.
Bags, food, and drink: Before entering the house, you will be required to store all food and beverages (including water), bags, backpacks, and other bulky items in a locked closet in the Visitor Center.
Tour capacity: All tours are capped at a maximum of twelve visitors. Due to the nature of the historic interiors, visitors will be in close proximity to each other at many points during the tour.
Seating: If you would like to sit during your tour, folding stools are available in the visitor center and will be offered by your guide.
Accessibility: Detailed information on Physical Accessibility, Deaf/Hearing Loss Accessibility, Blind/Low Vision Accessibility, Service Animals, and Quiet Spaces & Times can be found on our Accessibility webpage. The Visitor Center and first floor of the house are ADA accessible.
Ages: People of all ages are welcome on every tour. We provide seating, activity booklets, and fidget toys to anyone who would like them. All visitors must stay on a pathway marked by white lines on the floor, which may be challenging for some younger visitors.
Tour route: Standard and Deep Dive Tours visit the first and second floors of the house. Express Tours visit the first floor only. All visitors must stay on a pathway marked by white lines.
Protect history: Please don’t touch, sit, or lean on any objects in the house.
Photography: Please take pictures! We only ask that you keep the flash and video functions off.
Leaving your tour: If you need to leave your tour early for any reason, please let your guide know and a staff member will be happy to escort you back to the visitor center.
Group Tour Reservations
Group tour reservations are available on Thursdays from May 29 to October 23, 2025. Tours are available on a variety of topics to meet your group's interests. Please email us to inquire about arranging a group tour in advance.
