Cambridge Public Library
Why it's listed
Cambridge Public Library, at 449 Broadway, was completed in 1888 and remains in use as the city's library. Designed by Van Brunt & Howe in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, it is built of rough stone with brown stone trim, a red tile roof with copper trim, and a conical tower. A major addition was made in 1968. The building was the first of four public buildings that Frederick H. Rindge gave to the City of Cambridge. Rindge selected the Van Brunt & Howe design from a competition among five architectural firms, including Peabody & Stearns, McKim, Mead & White, Chamberlin & Whidden, and William Wentworth. The design blends motifs from H. H. Richardson's work and draws heavily on his earlier libraries at Woburn, Quincy and North Easton, reflecting the popularity of his buildings at the time. It was listed for its architecture, its role as a public institution, and its association with Rindge.
Significance in brief: The library was the first of four public buildings given to the City of Cambridge by Frederick H. Rindge. Rindge chose the Van Brunt & Howe design from a field of five architectural firms. The design combines Richardsonian motifs and draws on earlier Richardson libraries at Woburn, Quincy and North Easton. A reviewer cited its significance as a public institution and for its association with the donor.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82001931, listed April 13, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 449 Broadway St., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 13, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001931 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Van Brunt & Howe |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is library; a major addition was made in 1968. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.37421, -71.11088 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82001931.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5025501
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.