I'd like to... Select One Download an application View project plans Purchase a book Know if a property is "historic" Schedule a research appointment Talk to a CHC staff member Link to Chris Hail's buildings database
Learn about... Select One Cambridge buildings, industries, and people Preservation Grants Upcoming agenda items Available genealogy resources Frequently Asked Questions Cambridge History Inner Belt Highway resources
Choose a District... Select One Avon Hill NCD Fort Washington HD Half Crown-Marsh NCD Harvard Square CD Mid Cambridge NCD Old Cambridge HD
Charles M. Sullivan
831 Massachusetts Ave., 2nd Floor
Mon: 8:30 AM-8:00 PM
Tue - Thu: 8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Fri: 8:30 AM-12:00 PM
Research Hours
Mon: 4:00-7:00 PM
Tue: 2:00-4:00 PM
Wed - Thu: 9:30-11:30 AM & 2:00-4:00 PM
Fri: Closed to researchers
Contact the Historical Commission
Cambridge Historical Commission on Facebook Cambridge Historical Commission on Flickr Cambridge Historical Commission on Instagram
Cambridge Historical Commission >
Districts & Historic Properties >
Fort Washington Historic District
Welcome to the home page for the Fort Washington Historic District in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
If you have any questions about the Fort Washington Historic District, please e-mail Sarah Burks or call the office at 617/349-4683 or TTY at 617/349-6112.
Boundaries: The Fort Washington Historic District is located on Waverly Street in Cambridgeport. This small district protects the remains of a Revolutionary War earthwork fortification erected by soldiers of the Continental Army under the direction of George Washington. (Read more about Fort Washington on the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.
Administration: The district is regulated by the Cambridge Historical Commission, a group of Cambridge citizens appointed by the City Manager. Administration of district business is provided by staff members of the Historical Commission, a department of the city government.
Frequently Downloaded Files:
Application Form (Regular PDF) or (Edit-On-Screen PDF)
Meeting Dates & Deadlines
Current Meeting Notice (Legal Ad)
Historic District Brochure
General CHC Review Procedures:
Historic districts are areas in which historic buildings and their settings are protected by public review. Historic district ordinances are local laws that are adopted by communities using powers granted by the state. Historic districts comprise the city's significant historic and architectural resources. Inclusion in a historic district signifies that a property contributes to an ensemble that is worth protecting by virtue of its historic importance or architectural quality. Historic districts deserve special protection because they enhance our shared quality of life.
The Cambridge Historical Commission is empowered to regulate changes that affect the publicly-visible features of properties within a historic district. Before an applicant can undertake any work on a property in a historic district, the Commission must first issue a Certificate of Appropriateness, Hardship, or Non-Applicability. In Cambridge, all exterior changes to historic district properties are reviewed, regardless of whether a building permit is required. This includes paint and roof color, signs and structures, walls, fences, driveways, storm doors and windows, gutters, and window air conditioners. However, the Commission does not require a hearing for storm windows and storm doors that match the underlying window or door in shape, configuration, and color.
The Commission meets monthly. All projects are reviewed at public meetings, which provide an open forum for discussion. The Historical Commission considers each application individually to determine what sorts of changes are appropriate. The historic development patterns, architectural characteristics, and visual qualities of the district form the basis of the Commission's decision on what constitutes an appropriate change.
All of the Commission's regulatory approvals have a life of six months. This means that the owner of the property has six months, from the date a certificate is issued, to obtain a building permit. Upon written request, the chair of the Commission may issue a six-month extension. If an extension is not issued, the owner must resubmit the Application for Certificate for the Commission's review.
Districts & Historic Properties
Districts Map
Painting Historic Exteriors
Avon Hill Neighborhood Conservation District
East Cambridge NCD Study
FW Historic District Map
CHC Minutes
Half Crown-Marsh Neighborhood Conservation District
Harvard Square Conservation District
Mid Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District
Old Cambridge Historic District
Reservoir Hill Study
Demolition Delay
Preservation Easements
CHC blog
Ordinance & Laws
Historic Paint Colors
Brief History of Cambridge
Historic Site Markers
Little Known Facts