Campus & Community Why we love the Charles “It’s a cute way of interacting with people,” said Harvard Graduate School of Education student Evelyn Huang as she waved to kayakers and rowers from her favorite river nook.Photos by Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer Stephanie Mitchell Harvard Staff Photographer October 1, 2026 6 min read Some go to the river to move; others to write, relax, reflect, or just people-watch If asked to imagine the heart of Harvard’s campus, most people would probably picture the Yard. But one could argue the center is the Charles River, which runs through Harvard’s Cambridge and Allston sides. From dawn to dusk the river is thronged with joggers, rowers, c...