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| A visit to Plimouth Plantation is an incredible experience. This and Williamsburg are the two greatest living museums in America, and probably the world. Walking in the front gate here is the closest thing to a time machine you will find. For as long as you stay, you will be in 1627. The accents, vocabulary, conceptual framework, houses, tools, foods, clothing, and furniture are all authentic 1627. Even the animals have been backbred to recapture the authentic breeds kept by the Pilgrims. |  |
It took the Pilgrims most of a decade to develop a civilized lifestyle. That first Winter the women and children stayed on the ship while the men camped out. The second Winter they lived in dugouts in the side of the hill. The third Winter found them in hovels. By the fourth winter they had begun building legitimate houses. It wasn't until 1627 that their colony looked like a real village. So that is the year frozen in time at Plimouth Plantation. Very little remains of the years 1620-26 except for documents. Beginning in 1627, we have physical evidence. |
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You will see Plimouth Plantation as a vacation, a school field trip, or a chance to revisit the history you learned in class while perhaps refining a few of the details. But for the people who work here year round, this is a lab. Years of time and effort, millions of dollars of endowment, and the careers of hundreds of people, have gone into researching the tiny details of Plimouth, packaging it for you to experience, and preserving it. Year by year, this effort builds on what has come before, so we get better and better in our understanding of who these people were and what they left us. |  |
| It is critical that you do not try to hurry a visit to Plimouth Plantation. There is much to see and the glory is in details. You need to talk to Pilgrims as they work in gardens, fix dinner, feed animals, sew clothing or repair roofs. You need to sit on a rock or fence and absorb the village sights and sounds. You need time for photographs, to watch musket drills, town meetings and presentations. You time to ask questions and listen to questions of others. You need to hear music and sample food. And you need to step into each house, barn and shed. Allot at least half a day |  |
But there is still too much to absorb here during your visit. To get the most out of the Plantation, we recommend that you do some reading before you come. They have packets prepared for classes, Scout units, children and adults. Call, write or email to request their latest materials. You should contact the Plantation and see what special programs might be available. They have programs for student groups which we have found to be very well done. But this is a world famous destination and space is limited. Calling, phoning or writing ahead is critical. |
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In addition to the physical items (houses, clothing, tools, etc.), one of the goals of the Plantation is to research, recapture and preserve the skills of the Pilgrims. From crude beginnings, they developed into gifted artisans of every kind. From chairs to baskets to lamps, they created a uniquely American style. In workshops as you explore the Plantation, you'll see craftsmen practicing these arts, displaying finished products, and sometimes even selling them. They use only the tools and materials appropriate to that time, recreating the patterns found in museums or private collections. Many people spend an entire day at the Plantation just moving from worksite to worksite to study the skills being demonstrated. Others take classes and spend a day learning a specific skill. You should check in advance to see what is available. |  |
| Food is as much a part of history as anything else. At Plimoth Plantation, you can eat at The Patuxet Cafe and sample 90% authentic Pilgrim and Wampanoag items, prepared in the same way they were in 1627. (The other 10% consists of soft drinks, sugar and sugar substitutes, and the french fries and burgers on the kids menu). The Patuxet Cafe is at the entrance. It is open from 8 - 5 daily, so is ideal for lunch and possibly breakfast. |  |
You might have a light lunch of soup and sallet, then plan on an early 4:00 dinner. We like the Cranberry Soup, Venison Skewers, Stuffed Quahog, Nausump, Indian Pudding, pies, custards and tarts. If you eat dinner, the Venison, Duck and Quail are memorable. On selected dates in the Summer Plimoth stages an evening Thanksgiving Reenactment for those who are unable to attend the famous November event. |
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