| Plimoth Plantation and the Mayflower II ship | | | | looked seven years into the venture. |
| are illuminating exhibits on a major event in | | | | |
| early American history. Both are places to | | | | The people of the village dress, talk, and |
| stir the imagination and entertain your | | | | act, as best we know they would've on the |
| knowledge cells. At the Mayflower II you'll | | | | original Plymouth Plantation. But that |
| discover first-hand all about the voyage the | | | | doesn't mean they are aloof or communicate in |
| pilgrims endured, and then barely a few miles | | | | riddles or a strange tongue. Their aim is to |
| away you'll experience the early and | | | | educate and entertain but still remain true |
| struggling years of settlement. | | | | to the era. I've always found they are |
| | | | engaging and excellent in this balance. |
| Plimoth Plantation and the Mayflower are both | | | | |
| located in Plymouth, Massachusetts - a small | | | | The stroll out of the village along the Eel |
| city 40 miles south of Boston. Authentic yet | | | | River walk takes you to the Native people |
| entertaining the two attractions are links to | | | | homesite. As mentioned earlier, the Pilgrims |
| our past and the 102 passengers that survived | | | | wouldn't have survived the first year had it |
| the journey across the stormy Atlantic seas. | | | | not been for help from the Native Peoples. |
| | | | They taught them about the region and it's |
| The Mayflower voyage of 1620 took 66 days | | | | agriculture and the resources of the land, |
| after leaving Plymouth, England on September | | | | and how to thrive. |
| 6, and anchoring in present day Provincetown | | | | |
| harbor in Cape Cod on November 11, 1620. Only | | | | This special area is a home for an extended |
| one individual did not survive the journey. | | | | family not another village. It honors the |
| Though the pilgrims had endured much hardship | | | | importance and affinity the Native People |
| on the voyage the worst was yet to come. | | | | have in this region. Take time to appreciate |
| | | | the skills of weaving and tanning practiced |
| Deciding Cape Cod was not a suitable place | | | | at the site, and the use of fire for burning |
| for a settlement, and forced north because of | | | | out boats. Go inside one of the houses and |
| the weather and shoals south of Cape Cod, the | | | | notice the materials and bindings used for |
| pilgrims finally came ashore in late November | | | | construction. The inhabitants here do not |
| in present day Plymouth center. That first | | | | role-play so feel free to discuss modern day |
| winter at Plimoth Plantation decimated the | | | | subjects with them. |
| settlers due to cold and disease. Of the 102 | | | | |
| that came ashore only 52 were left in the | | | | The Mayflower II replica is docked on State |
| spring. | | | | Pier on Water Street. You'll think it a small |
| | | | ship, and wonder how it could've survived the |
| The native Wampanoag men showed the survivors | | | | wild and unforgiving North Atlantic. A |
| how to plant corn and in October 1621 the | | | | 2,760-mile trip in a ship that leaked and |
| Pilgrims celebrated their first harvest at | | | | creaked at an agonizing speed of 2 mph! |
| Plymouth Plantation and which today we mark | | | | |
| on our calendars as Thanksgiving Day. | | | | During your Mayflower tour you'll meet |
| Plymouth Plantation is a 1627 Pilgrim | | | | passengers on the ship role-playing for you. |
| authentic village just a few miles outside of | | | | You'll get to see the passenger's cramped |
| the city. | | | | quarters and the captain's spacious cabin. |
| | | | But most of all you'll be cast back in |
| The plantation itself is a loop tour with two | | | | time... and if you close your eyes and listen |
| primary sites, the 1627 Pilgrim Village and | | | | to the gulls overhead, maybe you'll hear the |
| the Hobbamock's (Wampanoag) Homesite. The | | | | shouts of a sailor as he sights landfall and |
| village itself consists of modest | | | | one journey's end... and the start of |
| timber-framed houses, and fragrant raised-bed | | | | another. |
| gardens. Everything is plain and productive, | | | | |
| and authentic - this means don't expect | | | | Enjoy your day at Plimoth Plantation and the |
| neatly maintained and tended areas and | | | | Mayflower II. They're entertaining reminders |
| settings. This is how the first permanent | | | | of our history and a link back to a |
| English Settlement in New England would have | | | | monumental place in our history. |