Widener Library, Cambridge, MA, Guide du visiteur et quoi faire à proximité

Widener Library is the main library of Harvard University, standing on the edge of Harvard Yard in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was built as a memorial to Harry Elkins Widener, a young Harvard graduate and book lover who died on the Titanic, and it is one of the largest university library collections in the world.

The story behind it

Harry Elkins Widener, of the Harvard Class of 1907, was a passionate collector of rare books. He died in the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, along with his father, while his mother, Eleanor Elkins Widener, survived. His book collection was left to Harvard, and Eleanor gave the university the funds to build a library in his memory.

Harvard needed the space. Its previous main library, Gore Hall, had run out of room for a growing collection. Widener opened in 1915 with tens of miles of shelves, and it has been the heart of the Harvard library system ever since. It was designed by the architecture firm of Horace Trumbauer. A long renovation between 1999 and 2004 worked to protect the collections, improve security and add more space for readers.

What to look for

• The broad flight of steps leading up to the entrance, which makes a natural stage for graduation photos and for people-watching in Harvard Yard.
• The row of tall columns across the front, which give the building the look of a classical temple dedicated to books.
• The sheer scale of the facade, which is easiest to take in from the middle of the Yard looking back at the entrance.
• The student life around the steps, since this is a working library and the Yard often feels busiest here between classes.

Tips for your visit

• Plan 15 to 20 minutes for the exterior and the surrounding Yard, longer if you want to sit and watch campus life.
• Access inside is generally limited to Harvard affiliates, so check current access rules and any public tours before you go.
• Soft morning light and quieter paths make the early part of the day a good time for photos, especially outside term time.
• Harvard Square is a short walk away, with bookshops, cafes and other university buildings to fold into the same outing.

See it on a quest

Harvard Undercover: The Porcellian Files passes Widener as one stop on a longer walk through the Harvard area. You reach each place on foot, the app tells you about it as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

Unlock the Secrets of Harvard Square, A Magical Puzzle Hunt is a puzzle-hunt style route around Harvard Square that also takes in Widener. The app gives you the background on each stop as you reach it, and you work out a puzzle on the spot. You can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join, and one ticket covers everyone playing.