Harvard Yard

The yard has a historic center and modern crossroads and contains most of the freshman dormitories, Harvard's most important libraries, Memorial Church, several classroom and departmental buildings, and the offices of senior university officials, including the President of Harvard University.

The original Harvard Hall in the Old Yard housed the College library, including the books donated by John Harvard—​all but one of which were destroyed when the building burned in 1764.

Across the Old Yard from Johnston Gate is University Hall (1815), whose white-granite facade was the first to challenge the red-brick Georgian style until then ascendant;[6] between its twin west staircases stands the John Harvard statue.

The Harvard Bixi, a Chinese stele with inscribed text, is located near Widener.

Lehman Hall, at the southwestern corner of the Yard, provides administrative services for students who live off-campus.

Harvard Yard and environs, from the southeast. The Yard's most prominent buildings bound Tercentenary Theatre: Widener Library (center left), Memorial Church (opposite Widener), University Hall (just beyond Widener, white with white chimneys), and Sever Hall (red roof, opposite University Hall). The Old Yard is the treed area beyond University Hall.