Cambridge Common is a 16-acre City of Cambridge park and National Historic Landmark outside Harvard Square. Its lawns, paths and historic monuments offer a glimpse into the area's past, and the park fits naturally into a Harvard-area walk.
- Location: Outside Harvard Square, bounded by Massachusetts Avenue, Garden Street and Waterhouse Street.
- Park features: Lawns, pathways, monuments, a playing field and the Alexander W. Kemp Playground.
- Nearby transit: Harvard Station is on the MBTA Red Line.
Where Cambridge Common sits
Cambridge Common sits just beyond Harvard Square, between Massachusetts Avenue, Garden Street and Waterhouse Street. The City of Cambridge describes it as a 16-acre park, with open lawns and paths alongside a playing field, historic monuments and the Alexander W. Kemp Playground.
The Common is about a 24-minute walk from A Cambridge House Inn. Its position beside Harvard Square makes it easy to include during a neighborhood stroll; for nearby shops and other local stops, see this guide to Harvard Square.
A short history of the Common
Cambridge Common served as a drill and encampment ground for the Continental Army during the Boston Campaign, according to the National Park Service. Its historic landscape includes memorials and markers connected with the Revolution, the Civil War and the Irish Famine.
The Washington Elm story needs a little care: the National Park Service says there is no historical evidence that George Washington took command of the army beneath the tree. The elm fell from disease in the 1920s, and a plaque now marks its former site.
Monuments and features along the paths
Cambridge Common's paths connect lawns and monuments, including the Soldiers Monument, the park's focal point. Designed by Cyrus and Darius Cobb with assistance from Thomas W. Silloway, it dates to 1869.
Other features identified by the National Park Service include three cannons dedicated to Tadeusz Kościuszko, Henry Knox and George Washington, a Civil War monument and a memorial to victims of the Irish Famine. The plaque at the former Washington Elm site adds context to the area's Revolutionary history.
The Common also has a playing field and the Alexander W. Kemp Playground. Together, these features give the park both commemorative landmarks and open space for everyday use.
Access, hours and nearby transit
Harvard Station on the MBTA Red Line is the subway stop for Harvard Square. Bus connections are available underground near the trains and along Massachusetts Avenue beside Harvard Yard and Cambridge Common, according to the City.
The supplied park information does not give opening hours or admission details. For current access information, check the official site before you go: the City of Cambridge park page.
If you plan to drive to the Harvard Square area, parking is limited. Harvard University says metered spaces are usually quite full and that garages are privately run, with Broadway Garage the exception.
Combining the park with Harvard Square
Harvard Square and Cambridge Common sit next to each other, so you can pair a park walk with time around the square without planning a separate trip across town. One practical order is to start with the Common's paths and monuments, then continue toward Harvard Square and its transit connections.
For a museum stop nearby, use this guide to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. If you are mapping a broader day around the city, this one-day Cambridge itinerary offers another way to connect local stops.
For lodging information, see A Cambridge House Inn.
FAQs
Where is Cambridge Common?
It is outside Harvard Square, bounded by Massachusetts Avenue, Garden Street and Waterhouse Street.
What can you see at Cambridge Common?
The park has lawns, paths, a playing field, a playground and historic monuments, including the Soldiers Monument and a memorial to victims of the Irish Famine.
Is Cambridge Common connected to the Revolutionary War?
Yes. The Continental Army used the Common for drill and encampment during the Boston Campaign. The National Park Service says the claim that Washington took command beneath the Washington Elm is not supported by historical evidence.
How do you get to Cambridge Common by subway?
Take the MBTA Red Line to Harvard Station for Harvard Square; bus links are also available near the station and along Massachusetts Avenue beside the Common.