Plimoth Plantation

Plimoth Plantation

Plimoth Plantation

Plimoth Plantation is a living museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA, that shows the original settlement of the Plymouth Colony established in the 17th century by English colonists, some of whom later became known as Pilgrims. They were among the first people who immigrated to America to avoid religious persecution and to seek religious separation from the Church of England.^[1] It currently is a not-for-profit museum supported by admissions, contributions, grants and volunteers.^[2]

The re-creations are sourced from a wide variety of first and second records, accounts, articles and period paintings and artifacts,^[3] and the museum conducts ongoing research and scholarship, including historical archaeological excavation and curation locally and abroad.^[4]

In the 1627 English Village section of the museum, interpreters have been trained to speak, act and dress appropriately for the period.^[5] At Plimoth Plantation they are called historical interpreters, and they interact with their 'strange visitors' (i.e. the modern general public) in the first person, answering questions, discussing their lives and viewpoints and participating in tasks such as cooking, planting, blacksmithing and animal husbandry.^[6] The 1627 English Village loosely follows a time line, chronologically representing the calendar year 1627 from late March through November (the months the museum is open),^[7] depicting day-to-day life and seasonal activities as well as featuring some key historical events such as funerals and special celebrations.

Other attractions

Alongside the settlement is a re-creation of a Wampanoag home site, where modern Native People from a variety of nations (not in period character, but in traditional dress) explain and demonstrate how the Wampanoag's ancestors lived and interacted with the settlers.

The museum grounds at Plimoth Plantation also include Nye Barn, where historical breeds of livestock are kept; a crafts center where many of the objects used in the village exhibits are created; a cinema where educational videos are shown, a Colonial Education site for youth and adult groups, and visitors' center with indoor exhibits and educational programs. The two houses on the Colonial Education site were built by Plimoth Plantation for the PBS show Colonial House filmed in Maine. Following the filming, the museum disassembled the houses and reconstructed them at Plimoth Plantation.^[8] The roof one of these houses, the Cook House, was destroyed by a fire from a fireplace on November 19, 2011. The building had to be torn down.^[9]

The Mayflower II, docked near the purported Plymouth Rock, is also under the care of the museum. Colonial first-person interpreters represent the sailors and officers of the ship circa the 1620s. At some times, the "sailors" go on week-long trips to experience what it was like for Pilgrims.^[10]

See also

• Plymouth Colony, history of the Plymouth settlement in North America from 1620 - 1691
• Plantation (settlement or colony)
• Open air museum

Images

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  Wigwam and Wampanoag guide

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  Native American canoe building

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  Entrance, with blacksmith shop on the right

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  Blacksmith

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  Mary Soule, wife of George Soule

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  House

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  Livestock

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  Recreated fort also served as First Parish Church in Plymouth and a colony meeting house, originally on Burial Hill

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  View from the fort, looking down a recreation of Leyden Street, the first street in Plymouth

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  Dr. John Kemp, director of the Colonial Interpretation Department, portraying Samuel Fuller (Mayflower physician) at the church

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  Fort originally on Burial Hill, coming up Leyden Street

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  Pilgrim George Soule house

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Notes

External links

• Plimoth Plantation
• "Writings of William Bradford", broadcast from Plimoth Plantation from C-SPAN's American Writers

Coordinates: 41°56′20.64″N 70°37′33.69″W / 41.9390667°N 70.6260250°W / 41.9390667; -70.6260250