Massachusetts Hall, Boston

Massachusetts Hall, the granddaddy of Harvard buildings, has been standing tall since 1720, back when the USA was just a twinkle in the eye of the British Empire. One of the oldest academic structures in the entire country, this architectural relic rocks an Early Georgian style, with red brick walls and white accents that scream "colonial charm."

Originally, it was like the Harvard Hilton, hosting 64 students in 32 chambers (that's just fancy talk for rooms) and 64 tiny studies. But here's where it gets interesting – during the Siege of Boston from 1775 to 1776, this dormitory did double duty as a barracks, housing over 640 American soldiers. It went from scholarly sanctuary to full-on military base real quick.

Now, Massachusetts Hall has played host to some pretty famous folks. We're talking about the founding fathers of the nation, no less. John Adams, who would later become President #2, once called the third floor home sweet home. Founding fathers like John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Elbridge Gerry, and James Otis all pulled up a bunk here while they were hitting the books. These walls practically oozed revolutionary ideas – who needs a lecture hall when you've got heated debates happening in your dorm room?

Today, Massachusetts Hall has gone through a bit of a career change. It's home to the bigwigs of Harvard – the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Provost all have offices on the first and second floors. Meanwhile, the third floor has gone back to its roots, serving as a dormitory for bright-eyed, bushy-tailed freshmen, because why let a little thing like age slow you down?