In their recent book, Born in Cambridge: 400 Years of Ideas and Innovators, authors Karen Weintraub and Michael Kuchta argue that “[t]he story of Cambridge reflects the story of America….Major events and trends that affected the nation left fingerprints here, too.” But although the same outside forces have acted on Cambridge as on the rest of the country, the way the city and its residents have reacted to those forces has made for a unique and compelling story of invention, reinvention, and adaptation spanning four centuries. The city’s rich and storied history of innovation in a wide variety of realms has made Cambridge “revolutionary” both before and after the War for Independence, and provides historical perspective on how we are continuing to live into our Revolutionary ideals.
In this series of neighborhood tours, Weintraub and Kuchta will explore some of the people, places, and events featured in their book and discuss how this small city became a thriving center for creativity in many sectors. What is Cambridge’s “secret sauce”—that special combination of factors that has allowed a relatively small city to play such a prominent role in the development of new ideas? Weintraub and Kuchta cited Cambridge’s rich history as a center of higher learning, the density and diversity of its population, a commitment to the common good, a diversified economic base, and visionary leadership, as some of the key factors that have allowed Cambridge to continually reinvent itself, successfully adapt to change, and create contributions that have enriched the wider world.
Rain date: April 27
