Harvard University Herbaria

Harvard University Herbaria is a research center at Harvard University in Cambridge that houses millions of dried plant specimens collected over centuries. The collections span plants from different continents and periods, organized in preserved form for botanical research and study.

The herbarium was founded in 1842 by botanist Asa Gray and grew from a modest collection into one of the world's largest university-based plant collections. Over the following decades, specimens from scientific expeditions enriched the collection and deepened understanding of plant diversity globally.

The herbarium serves researchers and students who come to examine pressed plant specimens and understand plant diversity across regions and time periods. Walking through the collection areas reveals how carefully each specimen has been preserved and organized for ongoing scientific work.

The collections are generally accessible to visitors by prior request, so it is best to contact the staff ahead of your visit. As a working research facility, visiting opportunities are limited and depend on current institutional activities and research schedules.

The herbarium holds plants collected by early naturalists from remote regions of North America, providing historical records of ecosystems that have since vanished or transformed. These specimens serve today as reference material for understanding environmental change and tracking shifts in plant distribution.

Location: Cambridge

Inception: 1842

Founders: Asa Gray

Part of: Harvard University

GPS coordinates: 42.37880,-71.11460

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:55