"The Past and Present here unite..."

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.

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      Duration:
      4 minutes, 54 seconds

      Explore the designed landscape, layered history, and rich museum collections of Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site.

      Visitors with backs to the camera, ranger facing camera in a Victorian parlor
      How to Visit Inside the House

      The Longfellow House is currently closed for the season. Start planning your visit in 2025!

      Artifacts in exhibit cases, including children's artwork
      Virtual Exhibit: A Longfellow Childhood

      The mid-19th century saw a boom in clothes, books, and other items designed specifically for children.

      Front facade of Longfellow House with small orange pumpkins in foreground
      2024-2025 Speaker Series

      This free series of hybrid talks takes place November-April, and explores the enduring resonance of this 265-year-old house.

      Three cell phones in front of bright yellow and orange concentric circles display different features
      Explore the Grounds

      Use the self-guided grounds tour in the NPS App to find stories of a changing landscape and immersive games for all ages.

      Yellow Georgian mansion with trees and American flag, with yellow logo for Longfellow America's 250
      America's 250th

      As the United States marks 250 years of independence in 2026, join us to examine this anniversary through the transformative power of words.

      Historical document reading Anthony Vassall / Coby Vassall
      The Early History of 105 Brattle Street

      Explore stories of 1700s-era slavery and freedom, wealth and politics, architecture, and a changing landscape.

      Historical map showing Boston Harbor and Dorchester Heights
      Washington's Cambridge Headquarters

      Explore revolutionary-era stories of nation-building, leadership, and the contradictions at the heart of America’s founding.

      black and white photograph of man seated at table covered in books
      Longfellow At Home and In Print

      Explore Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poetic legacy, along with the home, family, and events that shaped his life and work in the 1800s.

      Seated portrait of three white woman with dark hair.
      The Longfellows' Legacies

      Explore the history of the poet’s descendants and their family’s legacy of preservation, activism, and cultural change in the 1900s.

      Bust-length portrait of Henry Longfellow with white hair and beard
      Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

      The beloved American poet made Cambridge his home for more than 45 years.

      Full-length photograph of woman standing in floor-length dress
      Fanny Longfellow

      Henry Longfellow's wife was his domestic and literary partner and an astute observer of antebellum American society.

      Bust of George Washington
      George Washington

      In this house, General George Washington shaped the new Continental Army and grew as a leader, commander, and person.

      Last updated: February 7, 2025

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      Contact Info

      Mailing Address:

      105 Brattle Street
      Cambridge, MA 02138

      Phone:

      (617) 876-4491

      Contact Us

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