Take your own historical tour of Plymouth
The Pilgrim Path
1. Jenney Pond – Located on spring Lane, John Jenney built the Pilgrims’ first grist mill on this site in 1636.
2. Richard Sparrow House – Built in 1640 and believed to be Plymouth’s oldest home, pottery has been made on the premises since 1932 in the adjoining award-winning craft gallery.
3. Burial Hill – Site of the Pilgrims’ first meetinghouse and fort. The entrance is via stone steps to the right of First Church.
4. 1749 Court House – Constructed on Town Square, it is the oldest wooden courthouse in America and now serves as a free museum, with items from Plymouth’s history on display.
5. Howland House – Built in 1667 at 33 Sandwich St., Howland House is the only surviving house in Plymouth in which a Mayflower Pilgrim actually lived. It is furnished with many typical 17th-century items.
6. Harlow Old Fort House – Built in 1677 with timbers from the Plymouth Fort and staffed with costumed guides who may demonstrate candle dipping, weaving or spinning, Harlow Old Fort House is located at 119 Sandwich St.
7. Site of Original Settlement – The Pilgrims’ first houses were on First Street, now Leyden Street. Plots allotted to the early settlers (on which the houses were built) sloped to Town Brook.
8. Pilgrim Maiden Statue – Located in Brewster Gardens, the statue is dedicated to the intrepid English women whose courage and devotion brought a new nation into being.
9. Town Brook – The availability of fresh water from Town Brook was one of the reasons the Pilgrims settled in Plymouth.
10. William Bradford Statue – Honors the long-time governor of the Plymouth Colony. The statue, whose original design was by Cyrus E. Dallin, was commissioned as part of Plymouth’s 1921 tercentenary celebration.
11. Plymouth Rock – Believed to be the landing place of the Pilgrims, two-thirds of this Water Street landmark is underground. The classical canopy was designed by McKim, Mead & White.
12. Coles Hill – Located on Carver Street, Coles Hill was the scene of secret night burials of those who died during the settlement’s first bitter winter. Corn was planted over their unmarked graves so that the Native Americans would not know how many had perished.
13. Massasoit Statue – A statue of Massasoit, the Wampanoag leader who befriended the Pilgrims, crowns Coles Hill.
14. Mayflower II– Located in the harbor on Water Street, Mayflower II is a wonderful replica of the ship that carried Pilgrims to the New World. Costumed interpreters portray actual passengers and crew.
15. Pilgrim Mother Statue – A gift from the Daughters of the American Revolution for the 1921 tercentenary celebration, the statue is located at the junction of Water and North streets.
16. Mayflower Society Museum – The historic 18th-century dwelling, built by Edward Winslow, features formal gardens, a flying staircase and antique furniture. Owned by the General Society of Mayflower descendants, it is located at 4 Winslow St.
17. Spooner House – Built circa 1749, the Spooner House was home to same family for almost 200 years. It is located at 27 North St. and contains authentic furnishings from the Colonial era through the 20th century.
18. Pilgrim Hall Museum – Built in 1824, Pilgrim Hall Museum is a gallery museum located at 75 Court St. in the center of historic Plymouth. The nation’s oldest continuously-operating public museum, Pilgrim Hall houses an unmatched collection of Pilgrim possessions.
19. Hedge House – A Federal-style home built by a 19th-century merchant and ship owner in 1809, Hedge House, located at 126 Water St., features China trade porcelains.
20. National Monument to the Forefathers – Dedicated in 1889, this 81-foot tall monument is the largest solid granite monument in America. At 216 times life-size, it is dedicated to the virtues of the Pilgrims and served as the prototype for the Statue of Liberty. It is located on Allerton Street.
21. First Parish Church – The church was gathered in 1606 at Scrooby, in England, and brought to America in 1620 by the Pilgrims. The oldest continually active congregation in the country, the church is located on Town Square.
