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.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
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 of heat and humidity. However, the house is air conditioned and heated for collection care and the comfort of the…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: Massachusetts. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
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.
Activities
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 DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Topics & Themes
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.
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…
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.
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
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