The Cambridge Historical Society engages with our city to explore how the past influences the present in order to shape a better future. We exist to help our community understand how and why we got here and use that perspective to explore and better understand contemporary issues. We aim to increase empathy in the city through conversational program formats and question-raising. Our vision is to bring the history of Cambridge “forward,” making it an integral part of our present and future. We enable our community to better recognize, understand, and appreciate how the threads of yesterday, today, and tomorrow connect us. We’re not your typical historical society. Yes, we were founded in 1905, but our method for understanding and learning from the history of our city is anything but old. Instead of a passive “look and learn” approach, we inspire citizens to use their curiosity to inform discussion and debate about issues in our city today. Understanding where we came from and how we got here can help us make today’s Cambridge the best it can be.
159 Brattle Street
Cambridge, MA 02138