Pilgrim Monument facts for kids
View of the Pilgrim Monument with the Signing of the Mayflower Compact by Cyrus Dallin below, as seen from Bradford Street.
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| Coordinates | 42°03′08″N 70°11′21″W / 42.052226°N 70.1892015°W |
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| Location | High Pole Hill Road, Provincetown, Massachusetts |
| Designer | Willard T. Sears |
| Type | Campanile |
| Material | Granite |
| Height | 252 feet 7+1⁄2 inches (77 m); Rises 350 ft (107 m) above sea level |
| Beginning date | June 20, 1907 |
| Opening date | August 5, 1910 |
| Dedicated to | The first landfall of the Pilgrims in 1620, and the signing in Provincetown Harbor of the Mayflower Compact. |
| This is the tallest all-granite structure in the United States. | |
The Pilgrim Monument is a tall, impressive tower in Provincetown, Massachusetts. It was built between 1907 and 1910. This monument remembers an important event: when the Pilgrims first landed here in 1620. It also honors the signing of the Mayflower Compact in Provincetown Harbor. Standing 252-foot-7+1⁄2-inch-tall (77.0 m), it's the tallest building made entirely of granite in the United States. It is also part of the Provincetown Historic District.
Contents
History of the Monument
The Pilgrims' Arrival
In 1620, the Pilgrims arrived on their ship, the Mayflower. They spent about five weeks exploring Cape Cod before sailing to Plymouth, Massachusetts. Before stepping onto land, the Pilgrims wrote and signed an important agreement. This agreement was called the Mayflower Compact.
Designing the Monument
To remember the Pilgrims' landing, a contest was held to design a special structure. More than 150 ideas were sent in. The winning design came from a Boston architect named Willard T. Sears. His design was inspired by the Torre del Mangia in Siena, Italy. That tower was built in 1309.
Building and Dedication
The building of the monument began with a special ceremony. On August 20, 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt helped lay the first stone, called the cornerstone. After the monument was finished, President William H. Taft officially opened it. This dedication ceremony happened on August 5, 1910.
A Unique Design
The monument's design was a bit unusual. Some people wondered why it didn't look more like something related to the Pilgrims. One architect even joked that they should have just picked the Leaning Tower of Pisa. However, many people in Provincetown were happy to have any monument at all. An old sea captain noted that it looked like lighthouses in Portugal. This was fitting because many Portuguese live in Provincetown.
Visiting the Monument Today
Today, people from all over the world visit Provincetown to climb the monument. From the top, you can see amazing views. At the base of the monument, there is a museum. The museum tells the story of Provincetown's long and interesting history with the sea.
Local residents are very proud of the monument. Every November, Christmas lights are strung from the top of the monument all the way to its base. They are lit up with a big celebration and stay lit every night until January.
Gallery
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Interior of the monument showing the ramps used to reach the top
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Monument in 1910
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View of structure housing Signing of the Mayflower Compact
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Signing of the Mayflower Compact by Cyrus Dallin
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