Harvard Square in Cambridge in Middlesex County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

Waterhouse House

Photographed by R.J. O’Hara, June 6, 2026

1. Waterhouse House Marker

Inscription. Waterhouse House
Built by Patriot Gideon Frost
Home of Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse
1st Harvard Professor of Medicine
Introducer of Smallpox Vaccine
1753

Erected by Cambridge Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1753.

Location. 42° 22.664′ N, 71° 7.303′ W. Marker is in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in Middlesex County. It is in Harvard Square. It is on Waterhouse Street close to Concord Avenue, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7 Waterhouse Street, Cambridge MA 02138, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Boston.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Revolutionary Barracks (within shouting distance of this marker); John Bridge 1578–1665 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gen. Henry Knox Trail (about 400 feet away); Old Charlestown – Watertown Path (about 400 feet away); Prince Hall Memorial (about 500 feet away); Washington Elm (about 500 feet away); Washington’s General Orders (about 500 feet away); These Cannon Were Abandoned (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cambridge.

More about this marker

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. Located across the street from the northern border of the Cambridge Common.

Also see . . . Benjamin Waterhouse (Wikipedia).

Benjamin Waterhouse was a medical doctor, co-founder and professor of Harvard Medical School. He is most well known for being the first doctor to test the smallpox vaccine in the United States, which he carried out on his own family.

(Submitted on June 14, 2026, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)

The Waterhouse House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by R.J. O’Hara, June 6, 2026

2. The Waterhouse House

Credits. This page was last revised on June 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 10, 2026, by R.J. O’Hara of Fitchburg, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 10, 2026, by R.J. O’Hara of Fitchburg, Massachusetts. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.