National Monument to the Forefathers Facts for Kids

This page is about the 1889 monument in Plymouth, Massachusetts, previously called the Pilgrim Monument. For the 1910 Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown, Massachusetts, see Pilgrim Monument.

Quick facts for kids
National Monument to the Forefathers
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

National Monument to the Forefathers, 2005
Location	Allerton St. Plymouth, Massachusetts
Built	August 1, 1889
NRHP reference No.	74002033
Added to NRHP	August 30, 1974

The National Monument to the Forefathers is a huge stone monument in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It used to be called the Pilgrim Monument. This monument celebrates the brave Mayflower Pilgrims. It honors their important ideas, which later became part of the United States. This monument, finished in 1889, is believed to be the world's largest solid granite monument.

About the Monument
- Designing the Monument
- What the Monument Looks Like
Monument's Official Recognition
Monumental Film
Images for kids
See also

About the Monument

The National Monument to the Forefathers is located at 72 Allerton Street in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It stands about 81 feet (25 meters) tall. The Pilgrim Society asked for this monument to be built.

Designing the Monument

The idea for the monument started around 1820. Real planning began in 1850. The first stone, called the cornerstone, was placed on August 2, 1859. It was finished in October 1888 and officially opened on August 1, 1889.

Hammatt Billings, an architect from Boston, first imagined a much taller monument. It was supposed to be 150 feet (46 meters) tall. Before he passed away in 1874, Billings made the design smaller. The monument was built entirely from granite stone from Hallowell, Maine.

After Billings died, his brother Joseph and other sculptors took over. These sculptors included Alexander Doyle, Carl Conrads, and James Mahoney. They worked on the design, but kept the main parts of Billings' original idea.

What the Monument Looks Like

The monument faces northeast, looking towards Plymouth Harbor. This direction is also roughly towards Plymouth, England. It sits in the middle of a round driveway.

The main part of the monument is shaped like an octagon (an eight-sided shape). It has four small sides and four large sides. Four supports, called buttresses, stick out from the small sides.

The Figure of Faith

On top of the main part stands a large figure called "Faith." She is 36 feet (11 meters) tall. Her right hand points towards the sky, and her left hand holds a Bible. The figure of Faith was based on a smaller model by William Rimmer. Joseph Edward Billings and a sculptor named Perry later made it larger.

Other Figures and Meanings

On the four buttresses, there are four seated figures. These figures represent the important ideas the Pilgrims used to build their community. Moving around the monument, you will see:

Morality: This figure represents good behavior and principles.
Law: This figure stands for justice and rules.
Education: This figure symbolizes learning and knowledge.
Liberty: This figure represents freedom.

Each of these figures was carved from a single block of granite. Underneath "Morality," you'll find smaller figures of "Prophet" and "Evangelist." Under "Law," there are "Justice" and "Mercy." Under "Education," you'll see "Youth" and "Wisdom." Finally, under "Liberty," there are "Tyranny Overthrown" and "Peace."

Scenes from Pilgrim History

On the front of the buttresses, below these figures, are detailed carvings made from marble. These carvings show important moments from Pilgrim history:

Under "Morality" is "Embarcation," showing the Pilgrims leaving.
Under "Law" is "Treaty," showing an agreement.
Under "Education" is "Compact," representing the Mayflower Compact.
Under "Freedom" is "Landing," showing their arrival.

Inscriptions and Names

The four large sides of the main pedestal have panels for records. The front panel says: "National Monument to the Forefathers. Erected by a grateful people in remembrance of their labors, sacrifices and sufferings for the cause of civil and religious liberty."

The panels on the right and left sides list the names of everyone who came over on the Mayflower. The back panel was carved more recently. It has a famous quote from Governor William Bradford's history book, Of Plymouth Plantation:

"Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing and gives being to all things that are; and as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation; let the glorious name of Jehovah have all praise."

Monument's Official Recognition

The National Monument to the Forefathers was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 30, 1974. This register lists important historical places in the United States.

The Pilgrim Society first took care of the monument. In 2001, it was given to the government of Massachusetts. Today, the monument and Plymouth Rock are part of the Pilgrim Memorial State Park. Even though it's called a "National Monument," it's not a federal "National Monument" like those created by the Antiquities Act of 1906.

Monumental Film

In 2012, Kirk Cameron released a movie called Monumental. The film explores the history of the monument. It also talks about the values of the people it honors.