26 Oct revisting william robert ware and henry van brunt’s high victorian gothic style memorial hall in fall of 2026

fall 2026 detail photographic survey of william robert ware and henry van brunt’s high victorian gothic style memorial hall (1870-78), located at 45 quincy street in cambridge, massachusetts.

distinguished by towers, turrets, gargoyles, mansard roofs, patterned shingles, multicolored masonry, and elaborate brickwork, the building is among the nation’s finest examples of high victorian gothic architecture.

it commemorates harvard men who defended the union during the civil war. designed by william robert ware and henry van brunt, it was built between 1870 and 1877; the cornerstone was laid on october 6, 1870.

its tower—modified in 1897 with four large clock faces—was destroyed by fire in 1956 and reconstructed to its original 1877 appearance in 1996.

images courtesy of eric john nordstrom and the bldg. 51 archive. all rights reserved. 2026.