It encompasses the historic campuses of three important 18th and 19th century academic institutions, which shaped not only town but the nation's educational systems.

The first, between about 1810 and 1830, resulted in the construction of Bulfinch Hall (1819, named for, but not designed by, Charles Bulfinch), Samaritan Hall (1824, at first an infirmary, but later used for other purposes), and the Stowe House (1828, remodeled by Harriet Beecher Stowe in the 1850s, and later used as an inn).

The second building phase was in the early decades of the 20th century, when Bell Tower, Morse Hall, and Addison Gallery were built.

[2] The campus of the Andover Theological Seminary (founded 1807) includes the oldest building in the district, Foxcroft Hall, which was built in 1808.

The latter two buildings underwent some changes, most notably being reduced from four to three stories to better fit the scale of the campus, in the 20th century.