Longfellow House Tour Review

Use our realistic Longfellow House Tour Review to plan your next visit to this historic mansion.

The Longfellow House Washington’s Headquarters is one of the oldest house museums in the United States.

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Sights & Places of Interest

The Longfellow House and its grounds form a National Historic Site. The house is closed to public for most of the year. If you visit it outside of the tour season, you can only enjoy the grounds.

This Longfellow House Tour Review will focus on exploring the grounds and the house from the outside.

Historic Mansion

A majestic wooden mansion is the first thing you will see when you enter the site. Its yellow paint color looks a bit similar to the Winchester House in San Jose, CA.

But the Longfellow House is almost 150 years older than the West Coast mansion. The Longfellow House dates back to 1759.

The house had many residents throughout the history. Henry W. Longfellow and George Washington were the most famous of all. Even the site’s official name tries to commemorate them.

• The house was George Washington’s headquarters in 1775-1776. It played a role in the American Revolutionary War.
• Henry W. Longfellow was a famous poet of the 19th century. He lived in the house for nearly 40 years between 1843 and 1882.

The conditions of the house and its grounds are quite fragile. You will likely see many things that could benefit from restoration efforts.

Most visitors will not mind a small admission fee to keep the house in a better shape.

On the bright side, the nature surrounding the house is intact. Almost every plant will be blooming if you visit in the spring. You will see beautiful lilac bushes on both sides of the house.

There are different ways to explore the grounds. You can take a path to the right of the house. This side borders Lesley University. This private university has a scenic campus.

You will see the chestnut trees in full bloom during a spring visit.

This side also has some of the best views of the mansion. There is a beautiful terrace. It surrounds all sides of the house except for the one facing the Brattle Street.

Garden

The backyard has a large garden. It is in a spotless condition. You will find lots of fruit trees, flowers, and sculptures there.

The cherry trees in the garden bloom early in the spring. They will be growing drupes during late spring and early summer.

There is a few things to explore in the garden.

• Some plants have uncommon shapes and textures.
• A sculpture is the centerpiece of the garden.

It is best to visit the Longfellow House during the tour season. This way you could see blooming plants and the house.

The westernmost side of the garden brings you to the farmhouses. These buildings are home to the headquarters, amenities, and shop.

Continue with our Longfellow House Tour Review to learn more about ways to reach the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Longfellow House

The Longfellow House is at 105 Brattle Street in West Cambridge. You can get to the house from Harvard T station. This station connects Cambridge with other Boston sights.

The Longfellow House is a short walk from Harvard Yard. The area around the house has a few other landmarks. Stop by Lesley University and Henry Vassall House on your way to the Longfellow House.

Where to Stay near Longfellow House

Staying in Cambridge is a good decision. This way you could take advantage of the city’s walks. And you could reach the Longfellow House on foot.

But you should venture across the Charles River along the Red, Green, Orange, and Blue T lines. It will help you expand your reach and exploration.

You will have more places to stay. And you could visit other Boston sights, from Freedom Trail and Boston Library to Nichols and Gibson House Museums.

Check MBTA for long-term service disruptions before making a final decision on lodging.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

You can explore the grounds of the Longfellow House year round and free of charge. But you can only visit the house as part of a tour.

• The tour season is in the summer, between Memorial Day and Halloween.
• The tours only run from Friday to Monday.
• The regular tours are every day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the hour.
• The deep dive tours run once a week.
• Each tour takes between 30 minutes (express) and 50 minutes (full tour).
• Only 8 visitors can take a tour at the same time.
• You can only make a same day tour reservation via phone. Or take your chances with a walk-in.
• The tours are free.

Takeaways: Longfellow House

The Longfellow House is one of the oldest house museums in the United States. The house has had a rich history. It served as a headquarters for George Washington and a home for a famous poet.

The grounds are lively to visit at any time. But you can see everything they offer in less than 30 minutes. As a result, it is best to visit the site in the summer. You could take a free house tour and get even more from your visit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe realist travels!