The center of East Cambridge retains much of its early residential character with a vital focus on the Middlesex County courts. The community is located within easy walking of neighboring areas where construction activity booms—Kendall Square with its new offices and North Point where high-rise residences face the Charles River. In 1810, the wealthy investor Andrew Craigie envisioned a community on an island surrounded by salt marshes linked to the Charles River.

Connecting this island to Boston via a new toll bridge (present Science Park Dam), Craigie laid out a grid of streets and began attracting development to the area. The marshes were filled by railroads and industry. In the late 20th century, the riverfront was beautified; traffic was diverted onto new boulevards. Old industrial buildings were rebuilt as offices. Pedestrian routes linked residential, employment and recreation areas at the Charles River..

Click for “East Cambridge and Kendall Square Walking map” on Google Maps