Plymouth, a little coastal town in Massachusetts, should be high on the list of locations to visit for anyone interested in experiencing and savoring American history in the places where it happened. For about a half-century, European settlers and Native Americans coexisted peacefully together, and it was here that the first formal covenant among ordinary people forming a functioning democracy was signed. Plymouth is also a lovely, little New England town where visitors may take in the scenery while learning about the region's history.
Despite the fact that the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock four centuries ago, their footprints can be found everywhere: in museums displaying their belongings, in homes built by their descendants, in carved stones marking their burial sites, in authentic replicas of their original homes, and even in the ship they arrived on.
The Plymouth Village Historic District features streets lined with houses from the late 17th and early 18th centuries, as well as a portion of the Plymouth Colony's oldest settlement. Only one house survives that was constructed from the Pilgrims' original defensive fort's wood and timbers. Plymouth has long valued and protected its history, as evidenced by the well-kept early homes.
Although Plymouth is close enough to be a day trip from Boston, you may want to spend more time there to explore all of its historic sites. Use our list of things to do and places to visit in Plymouth, Massachussets to plan your family's visit.
1. Mayflower II
The enormous masts of Mayflower II rise over her decks in view of the hillside where the original Pilgrims' colony stood, a reminder of how it all began. The ship, which was built in England in the early 1950s and landed in Plymouth in 1957, is still used to tell the story of European settlement in America. The ship is a full-scale duplicate of the original, as far as can be established.
Visitors can climb aboard, inspect the decks and between-decks regions, learn about the ship's construction, and experience life aboard for the 102 settlers and their 25 or 30 man crew. Two settlers died aboard ship, and two of the three expectant women aboard gave birth before they arrived at Plymouth, according to interpreters. The ship is now undergoing repairs and restoration and will not be returned to its original location until these have been finished.
The ship was restored at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut for several years before being returned to its original location at Pilgrim Memorial State Park in the spring of 2020 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the original Mayflower's arrival.
2. Discover Plimouth Plantation
Plimoth Plantation realistically recreates the reality of those difficult initial years in the Plymouth Colony on ground meticulously chosen to mirror the geography of the Pilgrims' original settlement and following the same street plan. The fortified settlement is surrounded by a rough board stockade gate, which includes reproductions of the two-story fort and the homes of Reverend Brewster, Governor Bradford, Miles Standish, and other founders.
The crude dwellings made of tiny trees coated with a mixture of straw and mud depict the harsh and unpredictable world they stepped into. Costumed interpreters take on the roles of real-life residents. Men construct fences and cut wood, while women tend gardens and prepare meals, conversing in 17th-century English with each other and visitors about current events.
Plimoth Plantation, just outside the gates of the "English Settlement," recreates the other half of the image - that of the Native Americans who lived here before the arrival of Europeans. A modest Wampanoag hamlet, meticulously rebuilt, depicts tribal life and customs.
Native Americans who work as interpreters are dedicated to preserving their ancestors' traditions and crafts. The property is home to New England's sole three-fire wetu (a family residence also known as a wigwam). The building is made of saplings bent into arches and covered in overlapping layers of heavy tree bark.
Interpreters are occupied with domestic chores such as cooking over an open fire, hollowing a log for a canoe, and caring to a garden of plants cultivated and used in the 1600s. Plimoth Plantation presents a realistic depiction of two civilizations coexisting in peace for more than 50 years to 21st-century visitors.
Plimoth Plantation is more than simply a tourist attraction; it's an immersive experience with houses to see and period activities to witness. This makes it one of the most popular family activities in Plymouth.
3. Pilgrim Hall Museum
The Pilgrim Hall Museum puts the Pilgrims' story into context, and it's the only museum in Plymouth that has relics from the original Pilgrim settlers and their voyage. This tourist attraction, which is filled with actual Pilgrim artifacts, provides a well-presented account of the Pilgrims' motivations and lifestyles.
Personal things include furniture, books, and other items that help visitors connect with the space. Myles Standish's sword, Governor Bradford's bible, and the cradle of Peregrine White, who was born on the Mayflower, are among the items on display. The ruins of the Sparrow Hawk, a wooden ship that sank off the coast of Cape Cod in 1626, can also be found here.
In the main hall, heroic-scale paintings depict how several generations of Americans viewed the Pilgrims, their struggles, and their interactions with the Native Americans they encountered. The changing perceptions of these people, as well as how Americans have perceived them in the past, are discussed.
4. Plymouth Rock and Piligrim
The protected bay was one of the reasons that the original residents chose this location. Early in the 18th century, about a century after the arrival, one of their relatives identified a particular rock as the landing site. The famous rock, which has been fractured, transported, and reassembled, now rests at the edge of the sea, shielded by a classical columned canopy.
Plymouth Rock is a beloved American icon, a symbol of the nation's beginnings, despite its questionable status as the real rock on which the Pilgrims laid foot.
5. Forefathers’ National Monument
The 81-foot-tall monument was commissioned by the Pilgrim Society and dedicated in 1889 to commemorate the founders of the Plymouth Colony. It is thought to be the world's tallest solid granite monument. It was intended to be nearly twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty when it was first built.
The monument's inscription reads, "The Forefathers National Monument is a national park dedicated to the ancestors of the United States. In honor of their labors, sacrifices, and sufferings in the cause of civic and religious liberty, a grateful people erected this monument." The National Register of Historic Places recognizes the monument.
6. Jenny Grist Mill
This genuine copy of the original mill built on this site in 1636 to grind the grains harvested by the settlers is also known as the Plimoth Grist Mill. The mill grinds grain now in the same way that its predecessor did, with the help of Town Brook and its massive 14-foot wheel.
On Fridays, you can watch the grinding wheels and massive gears grind organic corn in action. Visitors can participate in hands-on activities from former eras, which are especially popular with youngsters, in addition to watching the mill operate.
Walking tours and displays focus on historical events in Plymouth, such as the Abolitionists and the Underground Railroad's activity here.
7. Deep Sea Fishing, Whale Watching and Cruises
Plymouth Harbor is a bustling hub with plenty to see and do. From deep-sea fishing charters to ice cream and pirate cruises for youngsters, the boats stationed here provide a wide range of tours and excursions. From here, you can take a day or overnight ferry voyage to Provincetown, on Cape Cod.
Whale watching cruises to Stellwagen Banks, one of the richest whale-spotting regions on the east coast, are particularly popular. Passengers on these cruises are not uncommon to witness 20 or more whales up close. To enhance the experience, some boats have marine biologists on board, but all have narration and employees to point out and identify aquatic animals. You can take a 90-minute harbor ride on a paddle-wheeler to view Plymouth from the water.
8. Burial Hill
A path runs up onto Burial Hill from Old Town Square, the hub of town life in the early days (the two churches there are descended from parishes established by the Pilgrims). The old fort, built to safeguard the community, is commemorated by a monument, and many of the first settlers, including Governor William Bradford, are buried here.
The National Register of Historic Places includes Burial Hill. It's a pleasant area to think about history, with views of the bay below.
9. Leyden Street and Brewster Gardens
The major street of the earliest settlers was Leyden Street. Its lower end, along the shore, is now a park, encompassing much of the original settlement's property. For the tercentenary festivities in 1920, monuments honoring the settlers were erected. The settlers' first supply of fresh water, Town Brook, still runs through the gardens and is surrounded by a nature trail.
The numerous settlers who perished during the first harsh year were buried atop Coles Hill, and their recovered bones are entombed in a sarcophagus with a huge statue of Massasoit, the Patuxent Chief with whom they made peace. Leyden Street is currently lined with later structures from the 18th and 19th centuries.
10. Jabez Howland House
The Howland House, the only extant house in Plymouth where Pilgrims lived, was built by Jabez Howland in 1667 as a two-story timber-framed house. He was the son of John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley Howland, who were both passengers aboard the Mayflower. Winters were spent here by the elder Howlands with their son and his family.
The house, which has been restored to its late 17th-century appearance and furnished with period antiques, has grown through the years from the original single-story, two-room structure. It also houses records and relics from other Howland sites. The National Register of Historic Places recognizes it.
11. Mayflower Society House
The Mayflower House, built in the 1700s by Edward Winslow, grandson of pilgrim Edward Winslow, has a fascinating history to tell. From May to October, self-guided audio tours and docent-led excursions are available, where you may learn about the Winslows' experiences as Loyalists during the American Revolution, a side of the story that is rarely told.
You'll also tour the chamber where Ralph Waldo Emerson married and hear stories from the house's time as the Red Cross headquarters during World War II.
12. William Russel Blake Planetarium
This full-dome planetarium's DigitalSky projection system shows images of the night sky throughout the whole dome interior, immersing guests in sound as well as astronomical splendors. You can learn how to read a sky map, recognize constellations, planets, and bright stars, as well as learn about other cosmic mysteries.
If programs are provided during your stay in Plymouth, this is an especially useful thing to do for families with children who have gotten tired of the historic sights.
13. Sparrow House
The Richard Sparrow House, the oldest house in Plymouth and one of the oldest wooden buildings in North America, was built between 1636 and 1640. In 1633, Richard Sparrow and his family moved from England and built a two-story mansion on the banks of Town Brook.
With paneled walls and leaded glass windows, it would have been one of the more opulent mansions of the time. The house has been expanded over the years, but the original structure is still standing and open to the public. A boutique exhibiting exceptional American-made handcrafts is located in the house's newest section.
14. Hedge House Museum
Hedge House, erected in 1809 by sea captain William Hammatt, is one of Plymouth's outstanding examples of Federal period architecture. When a three-story ell was erected in 1830, it changed hands again. Hedge House was relocated to its current location facing the bay when the site for Memorial Hall was decided.
With furniture, paintings, fabrics, Chinese porcelain, and other antiques from the China Trade, the period rooms, which include unique octagonal rooms in the main house, reflect the grandeur of 19th-century life for the wealthy in Plymouth. Flowering perennials are used in gardening. From June to August, guided house tours are available.
Hopefully, this article has helped you plan your next trip to Plymouth, Massachusetts and all that it has to offer! At any time of year, there are numerous pleasurable activities and attractions near Plymouth. If you want to see some of the other fantastic sights in the area, Sandwich is a great place to stay.