By Jeff Burns
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| Plymouth Rock |
Just
a short drive from Boston, you’ll find Plymouth, the site where 102 Separatists
and others disembarked from the Mayflower to establish the colony of
Massachusetts. After a hard winter and
much assistance from the local Wampanoag people, the colonists survived and
celebrated a Thanksgiving feast. Today,
tourists flock to Plymouth to enjoy a beautiful New England town and to soak up
a lot of American history.
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| Mayflower II |
You
have to start from the beginning, with the Mayflower II, a full size replica of
the original ship. At just 106 feet
long, it’s difficult to imagine that the voyage was possible, but knowing that
it did happen, you’re left with a greater respect for the settlers. Visitors can board and examine the entire
ship. Costumed historic interpreters are on hand to answer questions and
demonstrate life on board . Nearby, you
can see Plymouth Rock, the legendary landing spot. It’s actually a part of the original boulder
that was identified in 1715 as “the” rock, moved from its original
location. There are no contemporary
mentions of a rock, and historians have long cast doubt on the story, but it’s
without doubt a part of the story of Plymouth.
Across the street from the rock is the original burying ground, located
on Coles Hill, where you’ll also find a statue of Massasoit, the Wampanoag
chief who befriended the Pilgrims and encouraged Squanto and Samoset to help
them.
The
Pilgrim Hall Museum is one of the oldest public museums in the U.S., founded in
1824. It houses the largest collection
of Pilgrim-era artifacts in the country.
Just
a couple of miles out of town is Plimoth Plantation.
Step into life in the 17th century as you tour a Wampanoag Indian
village and the adjacent English village.
Costumed interpreters demonstrate life and answer questions from
visitors. It’s a fully functional
village, and the villagers go about their daily chores. They welcome you into their homes which
represent a spectrum of experiences. There are also non-costumed interpreters
who share their expertise. We had an interesting
conversation with an herbalist who was preparing various remedies. You could
easily spend a whole day here.
Aside from all the history, Plymouth is a beautiful
seaside village, and it’s definitely on our list of places worthy of a return.
