Photographic views of Lowell House

Lowell House, built in 1930, was constructed as one of the first houses in Harvard University's House system. It was named for the Lowell family, which had maintained connections with Harvard since John Lowell graduated in 1721. Also part of the Lowell family was Harvard University President Abbott Lawrence Lowell, who established the House system. The Georgian Revival dormitory was designed by the architectural firm Coolidge, Shepley, Bulfinch and Abbot and was constructed at a cost of $3,620,000. The firm was awarded the Harleston Parker Medal from the Boston Society of Architects in 1938 for the design of Lowell House.

The House system was established in 1930 by President Lowell with the goal of supplementing the students' education with intellectually, culturally, and socially stimulating living environments, as well as creating a sense of community among students. The Houses accommodate between 350 and 500 students, and at the end of their first year, students are assigned to a House, and they live there through the end of their undergraduate career. Each House typically has a dining hall, common rooms, a library, and recreational spaces.

Lowell House is known for having several traditions upheld for over 85 years, including events such as High Table and Thursday teas, and performances such as the Lowell House Opera, the 1812 Overture, and the ringing of the Russian Bells. High Table is a formal dinner held for only seniors and special guests, who can range from Harvard faculty and administrators, as well as other notable people. They are intended as an opportunity for seniors to network with a variety of professionals, as well as to socialize with interesting people. At one time, High Table was held every Monday night, but now they are held four times each semester. Thursday tea is held every Thursday afternoon at 5 o'clock in the Faculty Dean's residence (formerly House Master), and all Lowell House students can attend.

The Lowell House Opera, New England's oldest opera company, puts on one professional-quality opera per year, and participation is open to community members from Harvard or the Boston area. Every spring, a group of students and musicians from Lowell House and volunteers from Harvard put together a picnic performance of the 1812 Overture. The performance usually includes Science Center technicians who create sound effects similar to cannon fire by burning helium balloons and Lowell House bell-ringers, called the Klappermeisters, who play the House's Russian bells during the concert. The ringing of the Russian bells also occurs every Sunday at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, as well as for winning football games, New Year's Eve, High Table, and other special dinners. Originally located at the Danilov Monastery in Moscow, the Russian bells were purchased from the Soviet government by Charles Crane, an industrialist, humanitarian, and diplomat. Archaeologist and humanitarian Thomas Whittemore acted as the intermediary between Crane and the Soviet government, and the bells were given to Lowell House in 1930.

Several portraits and artwork of the Lowell family can be seen throughout Lowell House. Portraits hanging in the dining room include President Lowell and his wife, Anna Parker Lowell, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Amy Lowell, astronomer Percival Lowell, and businessman and philathropist John Amory Lowell. A bust of poet James Russell Lowell stands in the courtyard.

Notable residents include John H. Updike, Michael Crichton, Natalie Portman, Matt Damon, Nicolas Kristof, Chris Wallace, David H. Souter, Tom Lehrer, and Japanese Crown Princess Masako.