Longfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site

Yellow three-story mansion with symmetrical facade. Steps and large lawn in foreground. Framed by br

Elm trees frame the front facade of the Vassall-Craigie-Longfellow House.

Special events create fun for all ages.

View of a study with a round center table cluttered with books and writing implements.

The Longfellow study table is cluttered with books and writing implements. The black "Chestnut Tree Chair" was a gift to Henry Longfellow in honor of his poem, "The Village Blacksmith."

A staircase with white balusters and green carpet. A bust of Washington sits at the turn of stairs.

The Longfellows' iconic front entry features a bust of Washington at the turn of the stairs

mansion highlighted by the changing colors of fall

Thousands tour the historic headquarters of George Washington and home of Henry Longfellow each summer.

The Longfellow Family Garden provides a peaceful getaway in the heart of Cambridge.

large crowd on the east lawn listening to singers perfom

Each year is highlighted by the Summer Festival on the house's east lawn.

New fallen snow blankets the historic mansion.

Vibrant colors abound throughout the year in the Longfellow Family Garden.

Photos: National Park Service

About Longfellow House Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site

Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site preserves a remarkable Georgian house whose occupants shaped our nation. It was a site of colonial enslavement and community activism, George Washington’s first long-term headquarters of the American Revolution, and the place where Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote his canon of 19th-century American literature.

Quick Facts

State Massachusetts

Designation National Historic Site

State Code MA

Weather New England weather is highly variable. Temperatures in the winter can be very cold with high snowfall. Fall and spring are generally pleasant. Summer temperatures are generally mild, with periods…

Location & Map

Longfellow House Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site is located in Massachusetts.

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Operating Hours

Hours for the visitor center and house at Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site vary by season. The grounds are open year-round, dawn to dusk. In the summer, the site is open Friday to Monday. During the winter season, the house is closed to the public, with tours available by appointment only.

Wednesday Closed

Monday 9:30AM - 5:00PM

Thursday Closed

Sunday 9:30AM - 5:00PM

Tuesday Closed

Friday 9:30AM - 5:00PM

Saturday 9:30AM - 5:00PM

Activities

Arts and Culture Live Music Guided Tours Hands-On Arts and Crafts Junior Ranger Program Museum Exhibits Shopping Bookstore and Park Store

Getting There

Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters NHS is located in a residential section of Cambridge, MA. There is very little public parking in the area and onsite parking is limited to vehicles with handicapped parking permits. However, the site is a short walk from Harvard Square, where there are paid parking lots and a station for the MBTA Red Line and numerous bus routes. The use of public transportation to the site is highly recommended. Follow the link for detailed instructions.

View Official Directions

Contact & Address

Address 105 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138

Phone (617) 876-4491

Email long_info@nps.gov

Topics & Themes

Architecture and Building African American Heritage American Revolution Arts Painting Photography Poetry and Literature Sculpture Enslavement Industry Laborer and Worker LGB American Heritage Landscape Design Military Infantry and Militia US Army Native American Heritage Presidents Religion and Spirituality Schools and Education Social Movements Abolition Movement Wars and Conflicts Colonial/European Contact Conflicts French and Indian War American Revolutionary War Civil War Spanish-American War World War I Cold War Women's History

Things To Do

Guided Tour of the Vassall-Craigie-Longfellow House

Join a ranger in exploring the layers of history and significance in the Vassall-Craigie-Longfellow House.

Join a park ranger for an interactive exploration of this home's layered history. For more information and to pick your…

Watch "The Past and Present Here Unite"

"The Past and Present Here Unite," the park film for Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, explores the house's deep…

Explore Temporary Exhibits in the Longfellow House

Temporary exhibits in a gallery inside the historic house use the rich museum collections at the site, including objects usually…

Summer Festival

The Longfellow Summer Arts Festival brings music, poetry, and community to the East Lawn of the Longfellow House on Sunday…

Enjoy live music, poetry, and other community events on Sunday afternoons from June to September.

Art in the Landscape

The landscape around Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters has inspired artists for generations. Bring your own preferred materials to paint or draw…

Visitor Centers

Visitor Center

Visitor center and bookstore at the rear of the historic house. All house tours enter through this main entrance.

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