Consider this: a satirical castle standing proudly at 44 Bow Street. This is the Harvard Lampoon Building. It is home to the Harvard Lampoon humor magazine. It is also known for its unusual design.
The Harvard Lampoon Building has a rich history. It was completed in 1909. Edmund M. Wheelwright designed it. He was a Harvard alum and Lampoon founder. The building’s architecture is unique. It was inspired by a church in Jamestown, Virginia. Flemish Renaissance details also played a role. Some say it resembles a face wearing a Prussian war helmet.
Wheelwright traveled to Europe during construction. He acquired leaded windows from Belgium. He also got an Elizabethan mantelpiece from England. The building boasts 17th-century Delft tiles. These came from the Netherlands. Blue, white, and aubergine tiles adorn a room. It features an open ceiling, plain furniture, and timbers.
The ground floor includes a small entrance. There is also a round library for meetings. A secret chamber lies beneath the library. It is used for “secret” events.
A copper ibis sits atop the dome. This is the symbol of the Lampoon. The statue weighs about 70 pounds. It has been stolen and returned many times. Once, The Harvard Crimson stole it. They gifted it to the Russian delegation to the UN. The delegation later returned it.
Constructing the Harvard Lampoon Building cost about $40,000. It was the most expensive college newspaper headquarters then. Initially, a small store operated on the ground floor. Starr Books, a used book shop, was there for years.
The Harvard Lampoon Building has faced criticism. Cambridge Mayor Alfred Vellucci called it ugly. He even proposed turning it into a public restroom. Instead, he planted a tree to block the view. The tree was vandalized and eventually felled.
The Harvard Lampoon Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Many famous people have visited the Harvard Lampoon Building. Robin Williams, Robert De Niro, and Henry Kissinger walked these floors. The Harvard Lampoon has produced comedic talents. Conan O’Brien and John Updike are alumni. Lampoon writers have contributed to Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons.
In 2023, a major restoration occurred. A second fire escape was added. Structural repairs were made. Ludowici tile returned to the roof.
The Harvard Lampoon Building continues to inspire humor. It is a landmark in Cambridge. Its satirical spirit lives on. The Harvard Lampoon Building remains a testament to comedic ingenuity.