Quick answer (October 15, 2026): Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site at 105 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA, is free to visit. The garden and grounds open daily from dawn to dusk. Interior access is by free ranger-led tour only, with the 2026 season scheduled for May 22-October 31. Public tours run Friday through Monday, subject to staff availability. General visitor parking is not available on-site; take the MBTA Red Line to Harvard Square and walk about 7-10 minutes.
Longfellow House 2026 visitor facts
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Entrance price | Free; no park pass needed. |
| Tour season | May 22-October 31, 2026. |
| Indoor open days | Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, generally 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. |
| Standard tour | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. hourly, about 55 minutes. |
| Express tour | 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., about 30 minutes. |
| Special 250th-anniversary tour | 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., about 55 minutes. |
| Tickets | Same-day requests by phone from 9:30 a.m.; walk-ins may join if room remains. No advance public-tour reservations. |
| Grounds | Open year-round, daily from dawn to dusk. |
These details come from the National Park Service’s 2026 tour schedule. Call 617-876-4491 before setting out: staffing or special events can affect an individual departure.
How to get an indoor tour
- Choose a date between May 22 and October 31 that falls on Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday.
- Call from 9:30 a.m. on the day or ask the visitor center for available walk-in places.
- Choose a 55-minute full tour, a 30-minute first-floor Express Tour, or the 250th Deep Dive tour about the Revolutionary War.
- Arrive ahead of your start and place bags, food and drinks in the free visitor-center lockers.
NPS currently limits regular tours to 12 people. The longer tours typically include about six rooms; Express covers four rooms on the first floor. You cannot roam the historic rooms alone. Still photography is allowed without flash, but video and touching original objects are restricted.
What if the house is closed?
You can still visit the lawn and restored formal garden during daylight hours. The grounds are distinct from the indoor house-tour schedule, making this a useful short stop even on a Tuesday or Thursday. Henry Longfellow’s daughter Alice commissioned early-1900s landscape work by Martha Brookes Hutcheson and Ellen Biddle Shipman. The garden is a restored Colonial Revival landscape, not an untouched 1800s planting scheme.
Allow around 20-40 minutes outdoors if you are not joining a tour; that is a practical suggestion, not an official required visit length. The regular 2026 house-tour season ends October 31. Check the park schedule separately for later special events.
Parking, public transit and accessibility
From Harvard Square on the MBTA Red Line, follow Church Street to Brattle Street and walk to number 105. NPS estimates 7-10 minutes. If driving, do not count on an on-site parking lot: only spaces for eligible accessible parking permit holders are offered. Much nearby street parking is residents-only; check meter signs or consider a Harvard Square garage.
The grounds, visitor center and first floor have accessible routes, including a lift to the main floor of the house. The second floor requires historic stairs. Assistive listening devices, portable stools and alternative-format resources may be available; request ASL interpretation in advance. Ask staff which of the tour routes works for your needs.
Why it matters
The house was built in 1759 for John Vassall Jr. During the 1775-1776 Siege of Boston, George Washington used it as an important headquarters. Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow began renting rooms here in 1837 and later lived with his family in the house. Its interpretation also examines the lives of workers, enslaved and free people, and later preservation advocates, not just the two names that appear on the sign.
Frequently asked questions
Is admission free?
Yes. The grounds, garden and standard ranger-led tours have no admission charge.
Can I book weeks ahead?
No. Ordinary public house tours accept same-day requests only; walk-ins depend on available places.
Are tours available on Thursday?
Not under the usual 2026 public tour schedule, which runs Friday through Monday. Special programs may differ.
Can I visit in November?
Outdoor areas remain open during daylight, but indoor regular tours are seasonal. Check for exceptions.
For comparisons with other preserved historic homes, see AVARIXO’s Clara Barton site guide and Charles Pinckney site guide. Verify your date on the NPS operating-hours and directions pages.
