Though the Pilgrims on the Mayflower came ashore in what would become Provincetown before setting out again, most folks associate the Mayflower with Plymouth. On the western shore of Cape Cod Bay, you’ll find the Plimoth Patuxet Museums.
A visit to these historical sites is like a step back in time, with museum employees in period dress, recreating scenes of daily life in years past. For those looking to learn more about the settlers and the indigenous tribes of the region there’s lots to offer, from demonstrations to interpreters and more.
The Plimoth Patuxet Museums are open seven days a week from now until the Sunday after Thanksgiving Day from 9 to 5. The other attractions, the Mayflower II recreation and Plimoth Grist Mill are also open 9 to 5. A heritage pass to visit all three sites costs $46 for adults, $41.40 for seniors and $29 for kids.
Plimoth Patuxet Museums – Historic Patuxet & Plymouth Colony
At Historic Patuxet you’ll learn about the history of the native peoples who have lived in coastal Massachusetts for the past 12,000 years. Interpreters will guide you through the site, learning about indigenous life in the 17th century. In addition, the interpreters can answer questions about the culture and traditions that continue to this day.
You can step inside a wetu to learn about the Native homelife or watch a demonstration of a staff member creating a dugout canoe using fire and shells to form the vessel. The museum reports that there are approximately 5,000–6,000 Wampanoags today, with most living in Massachusetts. The Cape and Islands are home to the two federally recognized tribes in Aquinnah and Mashpee.
The recreation of Plymouth Colony takes guests back to the 17th century English village that the Mayflower’s passengers formed. The timber framed houses, kitchen gardens, heirloom livestock and re-enactors bring the history to life, allowing guests to wander through the past. Guests can chat with people working in the gardens, processing corn, and take part in games, chores, and activities of the time period.
Finally, visitors can explore the Craft Center, wandering through the traditional medicinal gardens, learning about the Doctrine of Humors that guided medical treatment in the period. Explore herbal remedies, learning more about how they were created and administered. The Craft Center also features potters making replicas of 17th century English pottery.
Once you have finished exploring both Historic Patuxet and the recreation of the English Colony, you can travel into the town of Plymouth to visit the two additional sites of the Plimoth Patuxet Museums: the grist mill and the reproduction of the Mayflower in the harbor.
Plimoth Patuxet Museums – Plymouth Grist Mill
The Plymouth Grist Mill is a reconstruction of the 1636 grist mill found on Town Brook in the town of Plymouth. The site diverted water from the brook to power a water wheel which in turn powered large millstones used to grind corn. The cornmeal can still be sampled and ordered, or guests can just observe the process! There is even fresh-ground corn meal for sale in the gift shop.
Plimoth Patuxet Museums – Mayflower II
Built in 1957, the Mayflower II is a fully-functional reproduction of the original Mayflower that reached the shores of the Cape back in 1620. On April 20,1957 the Mayflower II set sail from Plymouth, England with a crew of thirty-three men and became the historic centerpiece of Plymouth Harbor.
In 2020 the ship was fully restored and then added into the National Register of Historic Places. The full-scale reproduction of the ship returned to Plymouth to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ landing. At 106 feet long and 25 feet wide, guests can imagine how crowded it would have been on a trans-Atlantic voyage. Square rigged, the vessel has four masts. The Mayflower II is now a part of the Plimoth Patuxet Museums and a floating classroom for all to enjoy.
There are also interactive exhibits and activities throughout, perfect for immersing yourself in the era. If you’re going around Thanksgiving, the museum often has special programs exploring both the Pilgrim story and the Wampanoag perspective.
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