Explore the real-world places that appear in Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Harvard Square T Station, Harvard University Campus, MIT Campus, Charles River, Koreatown, Los Angeles and 7 more.
Massachusetts Avenue — Where Sam and Sadie reunite
On a bitter December day during Sam's junior year at Harvard, he exits the Red Line subway car at Harvard Square and spots Sadie Green among the waiting crowds. This pivotal moment marks their reunion after years of separation, when Sam calls her name and she initially pretends not to hear him before turning around. Their rekindled friendship here launches the legendary collaboration that will create their first blockbuster game, Ichigo.
Harvard Square Station opened in 1912 as part of the original Cambridge-Dorchester tunnel, making it one of the oldest subway stations in America. The station has served as a transportation hub connecting Harvard University to downtown Boston for over a century.
The station remains a busy transit hub serving Harvard University students, faculty, and Cambridge residents. The distinctive kiosk entrances and underground platforms are largely unchanged from the era depicted in the novel.
Visit: Harvard Square Station (landmark)
Cambridge — Sam's college years
Sam Masur attends Harvard as an undergraduate, where his academic life intersects with his gaming ambitions. The campus serves as the backdrop for his intellectual development and the early stages of his partnership with Sadie. Here, Sam and Sadie begin developing their game design skills while navigating the pressures of elite academia and their complicated personal history.
Founded in 1636, Harvard is America's oldest institution of higher education. The Cambridge campus has been the site of groundbreaking research and education for nearly four centuries, producing numerous presidents, Supreme Court justices, and Nobel laureates.
Harvard continues as one of the world's most prestigious universities, with its iconic Yard and red-brick buildings attracting millions of visitors annually. The campus remains largely unchanged architecturally from the time period in the novel.
Visit: Harvard University (historic site)
Cambridge — Sadie's academic home
Sadie Green studies at MIT, where she develops her technical and programming skills that become crucial to her game development partnership with Sam. The rigorous computer science and engineering environment at MIT shapes her approach to game design, providing the technical expertise that complements Sam's creative vision in their collaboration.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology was founded in 1861 and has been at the forefront of scientific and technological innovation. The campus moved to Cambridge in 1916 and became a leading center for computer science and engineering education.
MIT remains one of the world's premier technological universities, known for its cutting-edge research in computer science, artificial intelligence, and game design. The campus continues to produce innovators in the tech industry.
Visit: MIT Campus (historic site)
Cambridge/Boston border — Reflective moments
The Charles River serves as a contemplative space for Sam and Sadie during their college years, providing a scenic backdrop for crucial conversations about their games, their friendship, and their individual struggles. The river walk becomes a place where they can escape academic pressures and discuss their creative ambitions away from the intensity of their respective campuses.
The Charles River has flowed through Boston and Cambridge for thousands of years, serving as a natural boundary and transportation route. The river esplanade was developed in the early 20th century as a public recreational space.
The Charles River Esplanade is a beloved public park system offering walking and biking paths, with iconic views of both the Boston and Cambridge skylines. It remains a popular spot for reflection and recreation.
Visit: Charles River Esplanade (park)
Los Angeles — Gaming industry hub
As Sam and Sadie's gaming career develops, they become involved with the Los Angeles gaming industry, particularly in Koreatown where many gaming companies and arcades are located. This area represents their entry into the professional gaming world and the commercial success that follows their breakthrough with Ichigo, connecting them to the broader Asian gaming community.
Koreatown in Los Angeles developed in the 1960s and became a major cultural and business center for Korean Americans. By the 1990s and 2000s, it had also become a hub for gaming culture, with numerous PC bangs (internet cafes) and gaming companies.
Koreatown remains a vibrant cultural district with a significant gaming presence, including esports venues, gaming cafes, and tech companies. It continues to be a major center for both Korean culture and gaming industry innovation.
Visit: Koreatown Cultural District (landmark)
Venice, California — Creative sanctuary
Venice Beach becomes a significant location in Sam and Sadie's later lives, representing a creative sanctuary away from the pressures of the gaming industry. The bohemian atmosphere and artistic community of Venice provide inspiration and respite as they navigate the complexities of success, creative differences, and personal relationships that span thirty years.
Venice Beach was founded in 1905 by Abbot Kinney as a beach resort town modeled after Venice, Italy. It became a counterculture haven in the 1960s and has maintained its reputation as an artistic and unconventional community.
Venice Beach remains one of Los Angeles's most iconic destinations, known for its boardwalk, street performers, and artistic community. The area continues to attract creative professionals from the tech and entertainment industries.
Visit: Venice Beach Boardwalk (landmark)
San Francisco Bay Area — Tech industry center
Silicon Valley represents the heart of the tech industry where Sam and Sadie's gaming company likely establishes its presence as they achieve commercial success. The area embodies the entrepreneurial spirit and technological innovation that drives their career, while also representing the corporate pressures and competitive environment that challenges their creative partnership over the decades.
Silicon Valley emerged as the world's leading technology hub in the mid-20th century, starting with semiconductor companies in the 1950s and expanding to include computer and software companies. It became synonymous with technological innovation and startup culture.
Silicon Valley remains the global center of the technology industry, home to major gaming companies, tech giants, and countless startups. It continues to be the epicenter of video game development and digital innovation.
Visit: Computer History Museum (museum)
Hollywood area — Industry workplace
The Hollywood area gaming studios serve as the professional backdrop for Sam and Sadie's rise in the gaming industry. These studios represent both their creative triumph with Ichigo and the subsequent challenges of managing success, creative differences, and the pressures of producing follow-up games while maintaining their friendship and artistic vision.
The Hollywood area has been an entertainment industry center since the early 20th century. In the 1990s and 2000s, it also became home to numerous video game development studios, capitalizing on the area's existing creative infrastructure.
The Hollywood area continues to house major gaming studios and entertainment companies, serving as a bridge between traditional entertainment and the interactive gaming industry.
Santa Monica — Gaming culture landmark
Santa Monica Pier, with its iconic arcade and games, serves as a symbolic location representing the roots of gaming culture that inspire Sam and Sadie's work. The pier's vintage arcade games and carnival atmosphere connect to the playful, nostalgic elements that influence their game design philosophy and remind them of the joy that originally drew them to gaming.
Santa Monica Pier opened in 1909 and has been a Southern California landmark for over a century. Its arcade has entertained generations with classic games, making it an important cultural touchstone for gaming history.
The pier continues to operate its historic arcade alongside modern attractions, serving as both a tourist destination and a nostalgic reminder of gaming's roots in arcade culture.
Visit: Santa Monica Pier (landmark)
Los Angeles — Contemplative viewpoint
Griffith Observatory serves as a contemplative space where Sam and Sadie can gain perspective on their lives and careers. The sweeping views of Los Angeles and the cosmos above provide a backdrop for meaningful conversations about their creative ambitions, personal struggles, and the long arc of their thirty-year relationship as it evolves through success and setbacks.
Griffith Observatory opened in 1935 as a public observatory and has been a Los Angeles landmark for nearly a century. It was designed to make astronomy accessible to the public and has inspired countless visitors with its views of both the city and the stars.
The observatory remains a popular destination for both astronomy education and panoramic city views. It continues to serve its original mission of making science accessible to the public.
Visit: Griffith Observatory (landmark)
Boston — Sam's medical journey
Boston Children's Hospital represents Sam's ongoing relationship with his disability and medical care throughout his life. His experiences here as a patient inform his perspective on identity, physical limitations, and resilience that deeply influence both his personal growth and his approach to game design, particularly in creating inclusive gaming experiences.
Boston Children's Hospital was founded in 1869 as one of the first pediatric hospitals in the United States. It has been a leading center for pediatric care and medical research for over 150 years.
The hospital remains one of the world's premier pediatric medical centers, known for its innovative treatments and research. It continues to serve children with complex medical conditions from around the world.
Cambridge — Research and refuge
The Cambridge Public Library serves as a quiet refuge where Sam and Sadie conduct research for their games and find solace during difficult periods of their collaboration. The library's resources help them develop the cultural and historical depth that distinguishes their games, while its peaceful atmosphere provides a neutral ground for working through creative differences.
The Cambridge Public Library system has served the community since 1858. The main library building has been a center of learning and community gathering for generations of Cambridge residents.
The library continues to serve as a community resource and cultural center, offering traditional library services alongside modern digital resources and community programming.
Visit: Cambridge Public Library (library)
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