Best John Harvard Statue Tours & Trips

Alternatively called the "Statue of Three Lies," the bronze John Harvard Statue rests in Harvard Yard. Visitors to the statue will hear of the Three Lifers of Harvard that surround this figure. First, this statue is not of John Harvard, but of Sherman Hoar who acted as the model for the statue after Harvard's death. Second, John Harvard did not found the University, but donated his entire library to it And, the final lie pertains to the founding date of Harvard, which the statue's inscription states it was in 1638, but it was actually founded in 1636. Despite these lies, the statue is still a favored spot on the campus to visit. While there, make sure to rub the left shoe for good luck!