The competition for 'most important American University' only stretches about two miles. Harvard may be the most recognized name brand in the world besides Coca Cola, but MIT students jokingly call it "Crimson Community College.

"All is in jest, as the two universities work together often. These are the smartest people on the planet, busily inventing the future. From better government policy to spaceships to robots to genome editing to Rock Band and Guitar Hero, the Nobel Prizes and spin-off companies are countless.

​Mischief, invention, extreme wealth, celebrities, pranks, war heroics, and tragedy feature in the stories on this tour. Great for families exploring the possibility of attending these schools, tourists with a curiosity for the history of these stories institutions, or locals looking to swell with pride in what our area has offered the national zeitgeist.