News
Take a look at what others said about our first century in Cambridge! Explore features, announcements, and general coverage of the Institute's spring-long celebration right here.
Have something you'd like to contribute? Members of the MIT community are invited to submit stories to MIT News with the tag Century in Cambridge.
News
One hundred years ago today, on June 14, 1916, MIT and the American Telephone and Telegraph Company attempted the largest transcontinental telephone circuit of the time. People were skeptical when MIT alumni proposed a gathering of 1,500 in Boston's Symphony Hall that would link alumni from around the country with a complicated telephone circuit, especially since phones were still a novel technology.
They arrived via water and over land, by raft and hydrofoil, on foot and in experimental vehicles. Some paddled. Some danced. Some walked alongside robots. In all, hundreds of members of the MIT community on Saturday celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Institute’s move from Boston into Cambridge, Massachusetts with a unique procession across the Charles River, fueled by humor and creativity.
“The Massachusetts Institute of Technology celebrated the 100th anniversary of the university’s move from Boston to Cambridge yesterday with a parade across the Charles River that featured wacky creations designed and built by MIT students, faculty, staff, researchers and alumni.”
“Crowds scrambled for photos and selfies Saturday afternoon, cheering “Smooooot!” as Oliver Smoot slowly made his way over the Harvard Bridge in a red 1941 Buick convertible, followed by a group of students bearing a “Smoot Brigade” banner.”
“MIT has always done things in its own gritty, smart, nerdy way; when other universities were erecting beautiful, individual brick buildings separated by grassy quads and pristine walkways, MIT left spires aside and built out infinite corridors, cramming people, departments, and buildings together closely in ungainly but very efficient ways.”