Dear Friends,

The approach of the 250th anniversary of America’s independence inspires us to reflect on the history of the big handsome yellow house on Brattle Street, and how its stories help define who we are as a people.

In this house, George Washington and his generals planned the maneuvers that liberated Boston in 1776. On this estate, Anthony and Cuba Vassall worked to gain freedom for their children and themselves. And in his study, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote poems that defined American culture and encouraged his best friend, Senator Charles Sumner, in the fight for civil rights. In the rooms upstairs, Fanny Longfellow became part of the advance of medical science as the first American woman to give birth under anesthesia. Generations of Longfellow’s descendants made this house a center for art, education, and the preservation of history for all.

The Longfellow House–Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site is both a repository of history, preserving unique artifacts, and a vibrant center for the arts, hosting concerts, poetry readings, and lectures by top scholars. Just a short walk from Harvard Square, it is a place of peace and beauty.

We play a crucial role in safeguarding this American treasure. While the site is federal property, it still depends on public support. The Friends and our generous donors fund many of the musical and poetic offerings, garden plantings, art and archival research, and restoration projects. Given the recent and ongoing uncertainty of federal funding, our support and advocacy matters more than ever right now. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit volunteer organization, we rely on donations and grants for everything we do. That is why we turn to you once a year and ask you to contribute what you can.

If you are able to make a gift at this important time, you can also donate securely online in the form below. If you prefer to make a gift by check, please make it out to Friends of the Longfellow House–Washington’s Headquarters and mail it to: 105 Brattle Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.

Thank you for joining the Friends of the Longfellow House–Washington’s Headquarters in safeguarding this iconic place, and in celebrating 250 years of the American story.

Happy holidays from the Friends!