From Swampy Wilderness to Small College Town to Noisy Industrial City to Today.

Thomas Graves builds East Cambridge home.

1629

Gov. John Winthrop settles on Cambridge as a good place for the colonial government.

1630

Gov. John Winthrop changes his mind.

1631

State appropriates money for the construction of a college in Newtowne,

1636

Anne Hutchinson tried for sedition, banished.

1637

Village grants College 2 2/3 acres of choice land. John Harvard bequeaths half his fortune, his library and his name to the same institution. The first printing press in the colonies arrives.

1638

Andrew Belcher opens the Blue Anchor Tavern.

1671

Smallpox breaks out.

1721

Harvard Hall burns down, destroying John Harvard's library--save one book.

1764

The Revolutionary War Cambridge approves, participates.

1775

Massachusetts constitutional convention meets at Cambridge meeting house.

1779

Andrew Craigie builds Canal Bridge in East Cambridge.

1807

Coeducation begins in Cambridge public schools.

1845

City charter adopted.

1846

Railroad line opens through the city.

1850

Saloons close.

1886

Frederick Rindge begins donating buildings to the city. Before he finishes, Cambridge has a new city hall, industrial training school and library.

1887

First trolley line opens.

1889

Subway to Harvard Square opens--promising "Park St. in eight minutes."

1912

Massachusetts Institute of Technology settles in Cambridge.

1916

First zoning law enacted.

1924

Saloons reopen.

1933

Harvard celebrates its tricentennial.

1936

Plan E adopted.

1940

Pogo riot.

1952

New student revolution.

1967

350th celebration

1980