Cambridge Innovation Walk at Harvard Yard to MIT with Guide

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4 hours 15 minutes (approximately)
Offered in: English and 1 more

Explore innovation in Cambridge on this unique walking tour from Harvard Yard to MIT and Kendall Square. Led by a seasoned Boston entrepreneur and innovation professor, this 2.5-hour journey covers 2.5 miles of fascinating history, revealing the stories behind early tech giants and groundbreaking research. Discover how this vibrant area transformed into a global hub for innovation, from wartime radar advancements to the evolution of social media and biotech. This is more than just a walk; it's an insightful narrative of how ideas evolve into impactful companies.

- 2.5-hour guided walking tour through Cambridge's innovation landscape
- Learn about the origins of companies like Facebook and Microsoft
- Discover the history of wartime radar research and its modern implications
- Experience an insider's perspective on entrepreneurship and innovation in Cambridge

What's Included

2.5-hour guided walking tour from Harvard Square to Kendall Square
Tips on museums, restaurants and places to visit after the tour
Stops at 10 locations, including Harvard Yard, MIT and the Stata Center
Live commentary from a local entrepreneur and innovation professor
Stories and insider knowledge about Harvard, MIT, Central Square and Kendall Square
Food and drinks, including coffee or snacks during the Central Square break (if you want)
Public transportation fares, such as the Red Line to the meeting point or back from Kendall Square
Optional costs only: coffee at the break, transit fares, and museum admission after the tour

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point
1350 Massachusetts Ave

The meeting point is outside the Smith Campus Center, 1350 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, across from the historic kiosk in Harvard Square. It’s steps from the Harvard Red Line station.

End point
Kendall/MIT

Kendall Square, near the Kendall/MIT Red Line station on Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142

Itinerary

Duration: 4 hours 15 minutes (approximately)
  • 1
    Harvard Square

    Meet your guide in this lively square, surrounded by cafés, bookstores and street life, for introductions and an overview of the tour.

    15 minutes • Admission ticket included
  • 2
    Harvard University

    Stroll through the historic heart of America’s oldest university and hear how centuries of research laid the groundwork for world-changing ideas.

    15 minutes • Admission ticket included
  • 3
    Harvard University

    Pass through Harvard Yard’s classic brick-and-iron main entrance and learn about the university’s early history.

    15 minutes • Admission ticket included
  • 4
    Harvard University

    Science Center: Hear the story of the Harvard Mark I, one of the earliest large-scale computers, and how computing grew out of academic research.

    20 minutes • Admission ticket included
  • 5

    Walk the innovation corridor linking Harvard and MIT, and learn how talent, ideas and investment flow between the two universities.

    20 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 6
    Central Square

    ake a coffee and restroom break in this vibrant neighborhood, and hear how innovation spread from the universities into the city.

    20 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 7
    Cambridge

    See the historic building where famous candies were once made, now converted into pharmaceutical research space, a symbol of Cambridge’s transformation.

    20 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 8
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

    Arrive at MIT’s main entrance and learn about its “mind and hand” culture of hands-on, applied research.

    20 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 9
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

    MIT Great Dome and Killian Court: Take in MIT’s most iconic view and hear how the institute became a powerhouse of invention.

    30 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 10
    Stata Center

    Explore the outside of this playful Frank Gehry building, on the site of the WWII Radiation Laboratory where radar research helped win the war. Today it’s home to computer science and AI research.

    15 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 11
    Kendall Square

    Kendall Square: End the walk in one of the world’s densest biotech and life sciences clusters, surrounded by research labs and startups.

    20 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 12
    Kendall Square

    Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC): See the building where thousands of startups got their start, and hear your guide’s personal story of launching his startup career here.

    20 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 13

    Broad Institute (exterior): View one of the world’s leading genomics and biomedical research centers and learn how its work connects to the biotech companies nearby.

    15 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Supplied by Massnex

Tags

Half-day Tours
Private and Luxury
Private Sightseeing Tours
Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Walking Tours
Additional fees
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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