This summer, Eliot House will begin to undergo a major transformation, forcing all of us proud residents to relocate to overflow housing for the next couple of years. While the community and people will still be here (thankfully), it’s hard not to feel a little sentimental about leaving the building itself behind. Eliot is more than just its creaky doors and old windows (which are finally getting the upgrade they deserve)—it’s been the backdrop to countless weird and wonderful memories. As a rising junior, I will never return to living in the house. Here are some of the things I’ll miss most about it:
The Dining Hall
Eliot’s iconic dining hall is stunning, especially when the sun shines through the windows during golden hour. As someone who lives in the I-entryway, I’m even more attached to the d-hall since it is just two floors below me—no jacket or snow boots are needed to get food during the cold winter months. I’ve easily spent entire days camped out at a table doing homework between meals. And of course, Eliot enhanced dinner—truly the only time HUDS goes all out. I’ll never forget the baked brie.
Backswipe Privilege
Eliot’s five-minute walk to diving practice meant I never had to wake up as early as some of my teammates who trekked across campus. Even better, I could completely avoid the chaos of JFK Street—especially during rush hour—which was a true lifesaver
Courtyard Culture
Rotting, tanning, gossiping, eating, working—there’s something about wasting a whole afternoon lying in the Eliot courtyard that’s been one of the best parts of college life, especially on nice weather days. Whether it is reading for class or just people-watching with an iced coffee, the courtyard always delivers.
Fête
Speaking of the courtyard: Fête, Eliot’s annual spring formal and long-time house tradition, won’t be the same. Unlike other house formals, Fête is open only to Eliot residents and their invited plus ones. Running back to your room mid-Fête to pee or grab more drinks is an underrated luxury. We’ll still hold Fête at another venue during the construction, but it won’t capture the magic of celebrating in Eliot’s iconic courtyard.
Close to Class, Closer to Coffee
Eliot’s location is one of its quiet advantages—just a short walk to class and practice, but more importantly, right next to essentials like Dunkin’, Nine Tastes, and Black Sheep. And being just steps from the river? It’s something you take for granted—until you no longer can.
The Library
I guess I’ll even miss the library. I’m not going to pretend I enjoyed writing papers or cranking out p-sets, but at least the Eliot library was a nice place to suffer through it all.
Tunnel Season
The tunnels under Eliot were one of the most elite parts of the building, especially in the winter. No snow boots, no frozen hair—just a peaceful walk from your entryway to the dining hall to the laundry room to the library, all without ever stepping outside.
The Tunnel Murals
And while we’re talking about tunnels, I have to mention the tunnel murals. There’s something so weird and chaotic and wonderful about seeing all the random murals students have painted over the years. Overflow housing might have newer, cleaner walls, but I’ll miss reading “Drake won” every time I go down to do laundry.
The Grille
Honestly, I think the Grille is kind of gross. The floors are weirdly sticky, the tables are always a little greasy, and the grungy lighting is harsh. But when it’s late, you’re starving, and the mozzarella sticks and curly fries are hitting? Nothing else compares. And shoutout to Stein, Eliot’s bi-weekly pub night held in the Grille, which somehow manages to feel both underwhelming and comforting. Whether you’re grabbing a sad sangria or late-night fries, it’s one of those low-effort, high-vibe parts of Eliot that we’ll inevitably miss more than we expect to.
The Architecture
Of course, the architecture deserves some love, too. No offense to the Prescotts or Ridgley, two of our new temporary homes, but they can’t compare to Eliot’s fancy-looking gates, the brick, or the archways. I’m even going to miss the random tourists taking photos of Eliot like it’s a national monument.
The View from the Tower (Even If I Only Went Up Once)
Sure, I only made the climb once—but that one time, standing at the top and taking in the full view of the river, courtyard, and campus spread out before me, was a true peak Harvard moment.
At the end of the day, it’s not just the building that makes Eliot what it is—it’s the people, the energy, and the community. While the next couple of years will look a little different, the heart of Eliot isn’t going anywhere (I’ll still be mourning my five-minute walk to morning practice).
Christina Shi ’27 (christinashi@college.harvard.edu) is definitely looking forward to eating at the Inn next year…