Among Tourists in the Yard
Across Harvard Yard, Memorial Church resonates with voices in French, Spanish, and Mandarin as tour guides escort groups past students buried in their Stat 110 notes. A faint tang in the air mixes with morning sunshine as visitors crowd around the John Harvard statue, eager to touch its shining foot for luck.
Turning toward University Hall, the steps of Widener Library overflow with students trying to enjoy their $8 oatmilk-matcha lattes and vintage copies of “Hamlet” while dodging tourist cameras. For many students, the constant flow of visitors is simply a part of daily life — a mild disruption, a sort of obstacle course en route to class.
Yet listening to the tourists themselves reveals another perspective — one filled with admiration and nostalgia. On the steps of University Hall, Thomas described Harvard as:
“Iconic,” citing the massive old trees canvassing the campus.
Thomas mentioned visiting two decades earlier for a wedding at Memorial Church, recalling how the campus still felt timeless. Nearby, Quintana, a Cambridge resident of eight years, reflected warmly on her own impressions of Harvard:
“There’s such peace walking through the Yard. It feels like a place deeply loved.”
The affection these visitors carry for Harvard reaches beyond the brick buildings and leafy quads — it’s about the sense of history and reverence that defines the University.
Author’s Summary
Tourists in Harvard Yard view the campus with wonder and nostalgia, reminding students of the enduring beauty and legacy interwoven into everyday academic life.