Wellesley College, Private women's college in Wellesley, United States
Wellesley College is a higher education institution for women in the town of Wellesley, Massachusetts. The campus covers about 500 acres along the shore of Lake Waban and includes red brick colonial revival buildings, an art museum, and several botanical gardens with maintained walking paths.
Henry Durant founded the institution in 1870 as a seminary for women, and it later became one of the Seven Sisters colleges in New England. During the early 20th century, the college evolved into a full academic institution with science departments and research facilities.
The campus hosts an annual Hoop Rolling race where graduating students wear their academic robes and roll wooden hoops across the lawn. Participants often create handmade costumes and celebrate together on the grass after the race finishes.
The campus is open for walking around the lake and through the gardens year-round, with spring and fall offering the best conditions for visits. The art museum welcomes visitors during set hours that can be checked online.
The campus operates a working observatory with a telescope that students use for night sky observations. The botanical garden contains plant species from different climate zones that are cultivated in greenhouses and used for research purposes.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
