3 ms·

If you ever have the chance, you absolutely should visit the libraries and museums on campus. It's a treat. I especially loved walking around Widener Library a

If you ever have the chance, you absolutely should visit the libraries and museums on campus. It's a treat. I especially loved walking around Widener Library and marveling at the murals and that original Guteberg Bible

soperj 1y ago
I tried going in, but couldn't without a student id.
- alephnerd 1y ago
  Ah yea, security has gotten much tougher now. There are a couple open-access museums though like the Art Museum, the Near East Museum, the Scientific Instruments one in the Science Building, and a couple others. All in all, loved the museums and history, but detested Harvard. I would have been a better fit at a more middle class college like Cal, Stanford, or MIT.
- qingcharles 1y ago
  Can a student take you in as a +1?
  - soperj 1y ago
    Nope, that's what I tried. This was just over a decade ago.
- throwaway2037 1y ago
  I am surprised that a Harvard student ID was required. A long time ago, in the US, all university libraries were open the public. It was a requirement to receive federal funding. Perhaps this has changed, or Harvard forgoes federal funding for certain libraries in order to keep them more restricted. (Does anyone know the full story in 2025?) I found a visitor access page here: https://library.harvard.edu/visitor-access https://library.harvard.edu/visitor-access If you want to see something special, like the Magna Carta, I am sure you can send an email to the special collections supervisor. They would probably be more than happy to grant you one day entry. Related: Digitising the Magna Carta: https://hls.harvard.edu/today/magna-carta-making-history-available-to-the-world/ https://hls.harvard.edu/today/magna-carta-making-history-ava... Collection of manuscript Magna Cartas and early English statutes, ca. 1300-1577: https://listview.lib.harvard.edu/lists/hollis-014294028 https://listview.lib.harvard.edu/lists/hollis-014294028 Magna Carta, approximately 1300. Manuscript. HLS MS 172, Harvard Law School Library: https://iiif.lib.harvard.edu/manifests/view/drs:49364859$1i https://iiif.lib.harvard.edu/manifests/view/drs:49364859$1i
  - xhkkffbf 1y ago
    The real issue often is local high schoolers and middle schoolers. Several college librarians told me that they hated to keep them out, but they were loud and not really interested in studying. They were getting away from their parents.
burnt-resistor 1y ago
If you're willing to brave the American customs gulag, Stanford's free Cantor museum has very historically and artistically significant bits. No ID needed there, of all places.
- alephnerd 1y ago
  > Cantor museum has very historically and artistically significant bits Amen to that. Love Stanford. Cal has a ton of great stuff too. > the American customs gulag What does that mean? I've been to Cantor multiple times and nothing seemed out of the ordinary security wise.
  - rswail 1y ago
    I think the poster meant for international travellers to get through the border.
    - alephnerd 1y ago
      Seems a bit irrelevant but "you do you" to OP I guess.
      - mmooss 1y ago
        A large portion of HN would have to cross an international border.
        alephnerd 1y ago
        Maybe, but this was a convo during "American" hours and largely in the American context. Late afternoon PST/EST tends to be when Asian and European HN is sleeping. Asian HN seems to start up around 10-11pm PST, European HN seems to peak around 3am-7am PST, and "Global" HN seems to be around 7am-10am PST.
        mmooss 1y ago

soperj 1y ago

I tried going in, but couldn't without a student id.

alephnerd 1y ago
Ah yea, security has gotten much tougher now. There are a couple open-access museums though like the Art Museum, the Near East Museum, the Scientific Instruments one in the Science Building, and a couple others. All in all, loved the museums and history, but detested Harvard. I would have been a better fit at a more middle class college like Cal, Stanford, or MIT.
qingcharles 1y ago
Can a student take you in as a +1?
- soperj 1y ago
  Nope, that's what I tried. This was just over a decade ago.
throwaway2037 1y ago
I am surprised that a Harvard student ID was required. A long time ago, in the US, all university libraries were open the public. It was a requirement to receive federal funding. Perhaps this has changed, or Harvard forgoes federal funding for certain libraries in order to keep them more restricted. (Does anyone know the full story in 2025?) I found a visitor access page here: https://library.harvard.edu/visitor-access https://library.harvard.edu/visitor-access If you want to see something special, like the Magna Carta, I am sure you can send an email to the special collections supervisor. They would probably be more than happy to grant you one day entry. Related: Digitising the Magna Carta: https://hls.harvard.edu/today/magna-carta-making-history-available-to-the-world/ https://hls.harvard.edu/today/magna-carta-making-history-ava... Collection of manuscript Magna Cartas and early English statutes, ca. 1300-1577: https://listview.lib.harvard.edu/lists/hollis-014294028 https://listview.lib.harvard.edu/lists/hollis-014294028 Magna Carta, approximately 1300. Manuscript. HLS MS 172, Harvard Law School Library: https://iiif.lib.harvard.edu/manifests/view/drs:49364859$1i https://iiif.lib.harvard.edu/manifests/view/drs:49364859$1i
- xhkkffbf 1y ago
  The real issue often is local high schoolers and middle schoolers. Several college librarians told me that they hated to keep them out, but they were loud and not really interested in studying. They were getting away from their parents.

burnt-resistor 1y ago

If you're willing to brave the American customs gulag, Stanford's free Cantor museum has very historically and artistically significant bits. No ID needed there, of all places.

alephnerd 1y ago
> Cantor museum has very historically and artistically significant bits Amen to that. Love Stanford. Cal has a ton of great stuff too. > the American customs gulag What does that mean? I've been to Cantor multiple times and nothing seemed out of the ordinary security wise.
- rswail 1y ago
  I think the poster meant for international travellers to get through the border.
  - alephnerd 1y ago
    Seems a bit irrelevant but "you do you" to OP I guess.
    - mmooss 1y ago
      A large portion of HN would have to cross an international border.
      - alephnerd 1y ago
        Maybe, but this was a convo during "American" hours and largely in the American context. Late afternoon PST/EST tends to be when Asian and European HN is sleeping. Asian HN seems to start up around 10-11pm PST, European HN seems to peak around 3am-7am PST, and "Global" HN seems to be around 7am-10am PST.
        mmooss 1y ago