Tufts University Campus Tour
Architecture, history & things to do near Tufts University (Tufts)
Why Walk Tufts University Campus
Tufts sits on Walnut Hill, straddling the Medford-Somerville border northwest of Boston. Ballou Hall, an 1854 Italianate building, is the oldest structure and houses the president's office. Goddard Chapel, a 1883 Romanesque brownstone chapel, anchors the upper campus. The Tisch Library, named for the same family as NYU's arts school, is the main academic library. The Aidekman Arts Center houses galleries, studios, and performance spaces for the School of Arts and Sciences. The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, the oldest graduate school of international affairs in the United States, occupies Cabot Hall. From the highest points of campus, you can see the Boston skyline, Bunker Hill Monument, and on clear days, mountains in New Hampshire.
About Tufts University
Founded
1852
Type
Private research university, originally chartered with Universalist Church backing; now nonsectarian.
Setting
Main campus sits on a hill straddling the Medford/Somerville line, about 5 miles northwest of downtown Boston. The MBTA Green Line Extension's Medford/Tufts station opened in December 2022 at the campus edge.
Enrollment
Roughly 13,000 students total, with about 6,700 undergraduates across the schools of Arts and Sciences and Engineering.
Mascot
Jumbo the elephant, named after P.T. Barnum's circus elephant. Barnum was an early Tufts trustee and benefactor.
Free Tufts University Campus Tour with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free Tufts University campus tour with audio narration. Explore Goddard Chapel, The Tufts campus overlook, Ballou Hall, plus hidden spots like The Jumbo statue and The Labyrinth, at your own pace without booking a group tour.
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Must-See Spots at Tufts University
- •Goddard Chapel — an 1883 Romanesque brownstone chapel with a warm interior, used for concerts, lectures, and interfaith services
- •The Tufts campus overlook — panoramic views of the Boston skyline, the Bunker Hill Monument, and the Blue Hills from the top of the hill
- •Ballou Hall — the 1854 Italianate original building with a cupola, housing administrative offices at the historic center of campus
- •Aidekman Arts Center — a performing arts and gallery complex hosting student and professional exhibitions, theater, and music
Signature Architecture
- •Ballou Hall — The first building on campus, completed in 1853. Named for Hosea Ballou II, the university's first president. It now houses central administration.
- •Goddard Chapel — Romanesque-style chapel completed in 1883, given by Mary Goddard in memory of her husband Thomas. Its tower is a recognizable landmark on the academic quad.
- •Tisch Library — The main undergraduate library on the academic quad; its roof deck offers a wide view toward the Boston skyline.
- •Aidekman Arts Center — Home to the Tufts University Art Galleries, with rotating exhibitions open to the public.
Hidden Corners of Tufts University
- •The Jumbo statue — a statue of P.T. Barnum's famous elephant Jumbo (the school mascot), reflecting Barnum's role as an early Tufts trustee and benefactor
- •The Labyrinth — a contemplative stone labyrinth near the Granoff Music Center, a meditative walk hidden among campus gardens
Notable Alumni
- •Pierre Omidyar, founder of eBay
- •Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase
- •Tracy Chapman, singer-songwriter
- •Hank Azaria, actor and voice actor
- •Meredith Vieira, broadcast journalist
- •William Hurt, actor
- •Daniel Patrick Moynihan, U.S. Senator and ambassador
Campus Traditions
- •Painting the Cannon: a campus cannon near the residential quad is repeatedly repainted overnight by student groups to advertise events or messages; tradition holds you must guard your paint job until sunrise.
- •The Naked Quad Run was a long-running end-of-fall-semester streaking tradition; the university officially ended it around 2011 on safety grounds.
- •Spring Fling, an annual outdoor concert and festival on the academic quad organized by the student programming board.
- •Tufts Mountain Club's Loj weekend trips to the club's lodge in New Hampshire, a decades-old outdoors tradition.
Where to Eat Near Campus
- •Davis Square in Somerville (a short walk down College Avenue) has the densest cluster of student spots, including burritos at Anna's Taqueria and bar food at The Burren and The Rosebud
- •Dave's Fresh Pasta in Davis Square for sandwiches and prepared food
- •Boston Burger Company in Davis Square for oversized burgers
- •Diesel Cafe in Davis Square, a longtime student coffee and study hangout
Did you know? The mascot's name traces to a literal taxidermied elephant: after the circus elephant Jumbo died in 1885, P.T. Barnum donated the preserved hide to Tufts, where it stood in a campus museum until a 1975 fire destroyed it. Students are said to have grabbed ashes in a peanut-butter jar, and that jar of ashes has been kept by the athletics department as a good-luck relic.
Visiting Tufts University
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions runs official information sessions and guided campus tours, typically led by current students; register in advance through the admissions website, as walk-in availability varies and tours fill during peak seasons. Self-guided visitors are welcome to walk the academic quad and Memorial Steps anytime. The simplest car-free route is the MBTA Green Line to Medford/Tufts station at the campus edge. Visitor parking is limited on the residential campus; use designated visitor lots or metered street parking in adjacent Medford and Somerville, and check posted permit-only restrictions on side streets.
Walking Tip
The campus is hilly — the climb from Davis Square (the nearest T stop on the Red Line) to campus is a 15-minute uphill walk. Start at Ballou Hall and walk the upper campus for views. The campus is compact once you reach the top.
Best Time to Visit
Fall for hilltop foliage and views. Spring for the campus greening up. Davis Square, a short walk downhill, has restaurants and nightlife. Commencement on the academic quad is a tradition with panoramic views.
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