Plymouth Rock is located in Pilgrim Memorial State Park (Plymouth, Massachusetts). The park was about a half hour drive from our campground. The park is free and you can see both Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower II just from walking around. There is a charge for the Museum and to go on the Mayflower II.
Will was very excited to see “THE ROCK”. His grandparents did try to warn him that it wasn’t as exciting as he thought it would be.
It was indeed, just a rock. There was a pavilion placed over the top of it to help protect it from the elements. The rock was identified as “the rock” 121 years after the pilgrims landed. Plymouth Rock was later split during the Revolutionary War and the one piece was moved to the town square for “liberty” inspiration. The two pieces were later reunited in 1880. The claim on the informational board that the original rock the pilgrims may have seen was 3 times larger; I guess due to weathering and splitting of the rock?
The Mayflower II is located in the park as well. It is a reproduction of the original ship, with some modern technology thrown in. The ship was smaller than I thought it would be. There were not informational signs, much to Will’s dismay, but there were employees throughout the ship to answer questions and to tell you information. There were 102 passengers on board with their animals, plus crew (20-30).
We learned that the ship did not have a wheel to steer, instead it used a whip-staff to move the tiller, which moved the rudder. The crew worked in 4 hour shifts and kept track on peg board called a Traverse Board. The navigator also marked the knots on this board. It’s pretty amazing that they made it across the ocean without a wheel and only using a compass! Will was also shocked that they were not attacked by pirates, as King James ordered all his ships to be painted in brighter colors (yellow, red, blue, green).
The town is really cute with lots of shops and food options. We had a beautiful day for walking around.
DETAILS For The Mayflower II:*
- TICKETS: $15/adults, $12/child. COVID Restrictions: masks required
- HOURS: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
- PARKING: Pay parking on street
- BATHROOM: Yes, at the Pilgrim Memorial Park
- TIME RECOMMENDED: 30 min to 1 hour for the ship
- *Details correct at the time of posting, but please double check before you go.
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Sharing history is a very good thing…you are making all the History books come alive… We continue to be so impressed by your very helpful reviews and the quick reference info at the end of your posts… Have a great evening and sending you all big hugs