A Visit to Plimoth Plantation

Welcome to the 17th Century!
This is the view of Plimoth as you leave the fortress/meetinghouse
and head down inside the stockade to the village

You might meet a re-enactor
cooking a meal, so ask lots of
questions and get "interactive!"

This street scene includes a rare breed
Red Dorking Chicken from the 17th century

"William Brewster" reading in his cottage

If you ask questions of the "resident"
you might bump into your own ancestor!
This was "Mary Brewster"

Another rare breed milking cow from the 17th century

Located a few miles from downtown Plymouth, Massachusetts, the Plimoth Plantation is a living history museum, where you enter the 17th century via a recreation of Plymouth set in 1627.  The settlers have survived for seven years in the New World, and are thriving.  However, if you ask questions you will find that some of the "residents" have varying opinions on their fate, their religious views, politics, and their economic future.  Each actor accurately portrays a real resident of Plymouth, down to their regional English accent, political views and whether or not they were a saint or stranger (member of the Separatist church or Church of England).   It is fun to interact with the actors, handle the props representing life in 1627, and wander through their homes, gardens and town.

During my visit last week during the Mayflower Society Triennial Congress, I learned that there is a membership rate available to visitors, at varying levels, and also a special membership rate for members of the Mayflower Society.  Instead of a 10% discount at the bookstore, gift shop and restaurant, Mayflower Society/Plimoth Plantation members receive 20% off.  This was a great time for me to join as a member, and to buy some genealogy books and do a little Christmas shopping three months early! This membership also includes a biography of your ancestor, and special gifts.

Your admission to Plimoth Plantation also includes a visit to a Wampanoag Village, the Mayflower II ship, the Craft Center (where furniture, clothing, pottery and other items are created for the colonial village and for sale), the rare breeds Nye Barn, and the visitor's center which has an introductory film, exhibits, restaurant and gift shops.  You can turn one ticket into a full day's worth of fun!

The website for Plimoth Plantation  http://www.plimoth.org/

Information for Mayflower membership at Plimoth Plantation
 http://www.plimoth.org/please-support/members/mayflower-membership

DISCLAIMER:  I paid for my own membership at Plimoth Plantation, and received no special consideration for writing up this blog post

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Copyright 2011, Heather Wilkinson Rojo