Join us for this annual program in Story Chapel, co-sponsored by the Longfellow House – Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site. Following a talk about Longfellow’s lasting legacy, we’ll enjoy birthday cake and then walk to the Longfellow Lot on Indian Ridge Path for a wreath-laying ceremony.

Shortly after taking control of his and his wife’s new home, Henry Longfellow recorded in his journal that, “He who undertaketh a great house underaketh a great care!” The love of their home and the surrounding neighborhood was a constant for three generations of Longfellows for more than 130 years and directly contributed to its preservation as part of the National Park Service.

In celebration of Henry Longfellow’s 211th birthday, we invite you for a lecture by Susan Maycock and Charles Sullivan. Susan E. Maycock is an architectural historian and Survey Director of the Cambridge Historical Commission. Charles M. Sullivan, a city planner, has been Executive Director of the Cambridge Historical Commission since 1974. They will discuss their recently published book on our neighborhood, Building Old Cambridge, with a special focus on the Longfellows’ home.  Books will be available for purchase.

Funding for programs has been provided in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.