The centerpiece of Harvard Yard is this sculpture by Daniel Chester French, known as the `statue of three lies'. John Harvard was the university's first benefactor, who donated his library in 1638, but he was not the founder of the university, nor was it founded in 1638, as indicated on the statue's base. Finally, the statue doesn't even depict Harvard, since there was no image of him to copy. Instead, it's a random student who will forever be misidentified.

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Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

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1. Harvard Yard

0.04 MILES

Harvard University was originally founded here in 1636, and Harvard Yard remains the historic and geographic heart of the university campus. Flanked by…

2. Harvard University

0.05 MILES

America's oldest college, Harvard University is one of the country's most prestigious universities. It was originally founded in Harvard Yard in 1636 by…

3. Harvard Hall

0.06 MILES

On the north side of Johnston Gate, Harvard Hall is one of the two oldest buildings on campus, dating to 1766. (The other is Massachusetts Hall, directly…

4. Massachusetts Hall

0.06 MILES

On the south side of Johnston Gate, Massachusetts Hall is the oldest building on the Harvard campus, dating from 1720. Originally it was a dormitory…

6. Smith Campus Center

0.15 MILES

After a massive overhaul, the Smith Campus Center has been transformed into a fabulous 'living room' for students and visitors to congregate, study,…

7. Harvard Art Museums

0.16 MILES

The 2014 renovation and expansion of Harvard's art museums allowed the university's massive 250,000-piece collection to come together under one very…

8. Christ Church

0.18 MILES

Cambridge’s oldest church was designed in 1761 by America’s first formally trained architect, Peter Harrison (who also designed King’s Chapel in Boston)…

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