Memorial Hall Tower in Cambridge — Live Webcam Online
Peregrine Falcons on the Memorial Hall Tower
At one of the highest points of Harvard University live some of the fastest predators on the planet. Peregrine falcons have chosen the Memorial Hall tower for nesting, and now their lives can be observed through an online camera in real time. This webcam opens a window into the wild amid the urban development of Cambridge — a wooden nesting box is mounted on the facade of the historic building, and inside it the falcons incubate eggs and raise their chicks.
Peregrine falcons began nesting on the Memorial Hall tower at Harvard University in 2021, and the nest box is located on the eastern side of the tower. This is not the first time these birds have taken a liking to the building — the connection between peregrine falcons and Harvard stretches back decades.
History of Memorial Hall
Memorial Hall is one of the most significant buildings in the architectural landscape of Cambridge. It was designed by architects Henry Van Brunt and William Robert Ware and built in 1870 as a memorial to 136 Harvard affiliates who died in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The building was originally conceived as a place for solemn ceremonies and commemorative events, and since then it has remained a central element of the campus.
Memorial Hall is an outstanding example of Victorian Gothic (Ruskinian Gothic) and has held the status of a National Historic Landmark since 1970. The building has survived fires and extensive restorations but has preserved its historical appearance and architectural value.
Tower Architecture
The Memorial Hall tower is the dominant feature of the building and one of the most noticeable verticals in Cambridge. Its height is 190–195 feet (about 58–59 meters), which made it the 9th tallest building in Cambridge as of 2012. The dimensions of the building itself are impressive: 305 by 113 feet (about 93 by 34 meters).
It is this height and the architectural features of the tower — niches, cornices, vertical panels — that make it attractive to peregrine falcons. For these birds of prey, tall buildings serve as a substitute for the natural rocky cliffs where they nest in the wild.
Peregrine Falcons and Harvard: A Long-Standing Connection
The history of peregrine falcons on Harvard's territory began long before the camera was installed. The famous biologist Edward O. Wilson observed peregrine falcons nesting on the Memorial Hall tower as early as 1955, when he was a graduate student at Harvard. This means the birds have inhabited the building for at least 70 years, albeit with interruptions.
For a long time, observing the peregrine falcons remained the domain of ornithologists and bird enthusiasts. The situation changed in 2021, when a pair of peregrine falcons settled on the tower again, and the university decided to support this natural phenomenon.
The FalconCam Project
The camera for observing peregrine falcons (FalconCam) was installed in June 2025 on the Memorial Hall tower. The implementation of the project was preceded by a visit from FAS Dean Hopi Hoekstra to Memorial Hall, which became the catalyst for installing the equipment.
The live stream is available on YouTube and allows real-time observation of the peregrine falcons' lives. The online camera is aimed at the nest box installed on the building's facade and captures everything happening inside — from incubating eggs to the first flights of the chicks.
The Peregrine Falcon — The Fastest Bird in the World
The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is a bird of prey known for its record-breaking speeds. In a diving flight, it can reach speeds exceeding 320 km/h (200 mph), making it the fastest animal on Earth. The dark gray plumage of the back, contrasting with the lighter speckled belly, yellow eyes, and yellow legs are distinctive features of the adult bird that can be observed on the stream.
In urban environments, peregrine falcons hunt primarily pigeons, starlings, and other medium-sized birds. Tall buildings like the Memorial Hall tower provide them with ideal vantage points for hunting and safe nesting sites.
Cambridge, Massachusetts — City of Science and History
Cambridge is a city in Massachusetts, located on the other side of the Charles River from Boston. It is known worldwide primarily as the home of Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Cambridge has a population of about 120,000 people and is one of the most educated cities in the United States.
The architectural character of Cambridge is a blend of colonial buildings, Victorian Gothic, and modern structures. Memorial Hall with its tower is one of the architectural symbols of the city, visible from afar and recognizable among other campus buildings.
What You Can See on the Camera
The online camera is aimed at a wooden nest box installed on the building's facade with vertical panels. Inside the box sits a peregrine falcon — a bird of prey with dark gray plumage, yellow eyes, and yellow legs. At the bottom of the box, a layer of fine gravel and crushed stone is visible, characteristic of peregrine falcon nests. The background is the wall of Memorial Hall.
The stream allows you to observe the behavior of peregrine falcons in the urban environment of Cambridge, including nesting, incubating eggs, and raising chicks. The real-time webcam shows the lives of these amazing birds without embellishment — from calm incubation to active feeding and the first attempts of chicks to take wing.
