Exploring Living History

Take your own historical tour of Plymouth

Sometimes called the Cornerstone of the Nation, Plymouth Rock is one of the most widely known historical landmarks in the United States. Although the portico is currently under renovation, the Rock can be seen through a viewing window.

· Local tip: The best-documented information on Plymouth Rock can be found in a pamphlet by Rose Briggs, available for purchase at Pilgrim Hall, located on Court Street.

Having celebrated its golden anniversary last year, the Mayflower II is a well-researched replica, built from the same Devon oak in Brixham, England, as the original Mayflower. It was sailed here by Captain Allan Villiers in 1957 as an international good-will project and is now owned by Plimoth Plantation. Costumed role players tell the story of the voyage and point out interesting details. 

The two houses, located between the Rock and Mayflower II, are typical of the period between 1620 and 1627.

Across from the Plymouth Rock canopy is the hill where the Pilgrims buried their dead in unmarked graves during their first winter. They obliterated all traces of the graves so that the Indians would not know how greatly their company had diminished.

This tomb contains bones of the first settlers, which were washed out of the hillside by rainstorms before the streets were paved and the hill landscaped. The area was an Indian cornfield in 1620.

A historic bronze statue by Cyrus Dallin (1861-1944) stands near the Sarcophagus on Cole’s Hill. Massasoit, the chief of the Wampanoag Indians, befriended the Pilgrims and helped them survive their first winter in Plymouth. The Wampanoags live today in the Mashpee area of Cape Cod.

About a block from Mayflower II on Water Street, you’ll find the Hedge House. It was built in 1809, and purchased by Thomas Hedge, a Plymouth merchant whose family occupied the home for nearly 100 years.

Forefathers monument and park

On the summit of Monument Hill stands the 81-foot National Monument to the Forefathers. Designed by Boston artist Hammatt Billings, the Pilgrim Society laid the cornerstone for it in 1859 and finally dedicated the finished monument in 1889.

· Local tip: This is a great place to enjoy a picnic.

This stately museum, which has recently reopened following renovation and major expansion, is the headquarters of the Pilgrim Society. Built in 1824, it houses the actual possessions of the Pilgrims. Call 508-746-1620, ext. 1, for information.

Located on North Street, near Cole’s Hill and a half-block from Main Street, is the Spooner house, maintained by the Plymouth Antiquarian Society. The Spooner family lived there until the death of James Spooner in 1954.

In the center of Plymouth, stands this great stone church at the head of Leyden Street. This is actually the fourth church building to occupy this precise spot. The first church building in Plymouth, built in 1648, is located adjacent to it, just across the corner of the square.

Located in back of First Church, up the stone stairway, is Burial Hill. A quiet spot with a magnificent view, it was appreciated by Myles Standish, the Pilgrim’s military commander, who located the first Pilgrim fort there, commanding the harbor entrance with cannon. 

Heading down the hill from First Church, the 1749 Court House is the white building on the right. Built before the revolution, it served as the first courthouse of Plymouth County. 

Built by John Jenney in 1636, the mill changed the quality of life for the Pilgrims by grinding corn with water power. A re-creation of the original mill stands at the same location and tours are available. Corn meal, ground at the mill from organically grown corn, is available for purchase at the gift shop. A 60-minute walking tour of the historical district is also offered.

· Local tip: Although interesting for its period furnishings, the highlight of the Sparrow House is its award-winning gallery of handmade crafts.

The street stretching from Brewster Gardens to First Church is Leyden Street, named for Leyden in Holland, a refuge for Pilgrims during their persecutions. This is the original Plymouth Street.

· Local tip: The tablets on the houses will give you a better appreciation of Plimoth Plantation and the accuracy of the Plantation’s topography, which closely mimics that of Leyden Street.

The only house now standing in Plymouth where Pilgrims are known to have lived is the Howland House. Now owned by the Pilgrim John Howland Society and furnished according to the period, the house is open for tours by hostesses in Pilgrim costume.

Located 2 1/2 miles south of Plymouth Rock on Route 3A, Plimoth Plantation is the living history museum dedicated to the story of two cultures living in Plymouth Colony during the 17^th century. Debunking myths through “historic reality,” Plimoth Plantation presents the separate and shared history of the Native Wampanoag and the English Colonists. Powerful experiences abound throughout the four major sites: The 1627 Pilgrim Village, where Colonists live their day-to-day lives, speaking in first person, as if it were 1627; The Wampanoag Homesite, where Native staff, dressed in period garb, reflect on the history of their people as well as the Wampanoag culture of today; The Crafts Center, where artisans recreate the handicrafts of the 17th-century; and Mayflower II, where visitors can get on board the reproduction ship that brought the Colonists to the new world in 1620. The visitor center is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., from March through November, with different exhibits opening at various times. Check the Web site, www.plimoth.org, for specific information.

Local tip: The Plantation is a must-see. It also has a great gift shop.

On Route 80, about a mile after the road intersects with Carver Road, lies a little-known burial site dating back to the late 1800s. A significant piece of history, it is the resting place of four African American Revolutionary War Veterans – Quamany Quash, Plato Turner, Cato Howe and Prince Goodwin – former slaves who fought and played a key role in the Revolutionary War.

Located in Duxbury and built in 1653, this was the family home of the descendants of John Alden and Priscilla Mullins. It is open to visitors from mid-May to Mid-October. For additional information, call 781-934-9092 or visit www.alden.org.