Our students at Fisher College are encouraged to visit universities on official Open Days and bespoke Campus Tours, but whenever possible we also take students on shorter excursions to local universities. Harvard just happens to be a short ride on the T!
So we take students often on half-day excursions similar to the one described below.
Students took a tour of the Harvard Yard and the surrounding area. Starting at Harvard Square, where the students exited the train station, students walked to nearby dormitory buildings for upperclassmen. These buildings are called houses (Kirkland House, Winthrop House, and Lowell House, for examples). Then they passed the Malkin Athletic Center, a sports complex at Harvard University.
As students got closer to Harvard Yard, they took a look at The Harvard Lampoon Building, home of The Harvard Lampoon, a humor publication with famous former members. Then they passed Adams House, a dormitory named after John Adams, the second president of the United States, and John Quincy Adams, the sixth president.
The final place they passed before reaching Harvard Yard was The Harvard Crimson building, the headquarters of Harvard University's student newspaper.
Finally, the students reached Harvard Yard after passing under Wigglesworth Hall (through a tunnel that runs through the building). Pictured are Shitao, Caio, Erika, and Gabriela posing on the stairs of The Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library, housed inside the walls of Harvard Yard. This library has six floors above ground and four floors below. There are fifty-seven miles of bookshelves in the whole building. Named after a graduate of Harvard who died in the sinking of the Titanic, this building was funded by the graduate's mother, who wished to honor her deceased son.
The students headed to the opposite side of Harvard Yard, where they saw the John Harvard Statue, with its three lies. Then they learned about Harvard Yard serving as a refuge for soldiers during the American Revolutionary War. The students also got to pass through Johnston Gate, the gate that all graduates of the university pass through after graduation.
As the tour wrapped up, students enjoyed perusing the clothes and books in the Harvard COOP, the university's official campus store, where students and tourists alike can purchase apparel, literature, and memorabilia.
