Plimoth Patuxet facts for kids

The recreated 17th century village at Plimoth Patuxet

Another view of the recreated 17th century village

Plimoth Patuxet (also known as Plimoth Plantation) is a special museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It's a living history museum, which means it shows you what life was really like in the past. The museum was started in 1947. It helps us understand how the English colonists, called the Pilgrims, lived in the 1600s. It also shows us about the Patuxet people, whose land the Pilgrims settled on. The Pilgrims were some of the first people to come to America looking for religious freedom.

This museum is a non-profit organization. It gets support from donations, grants, and volunteers. The museum's recreations are based on old records, stories, and artifacts from the past. They even do archaeological digs to learn more about history.

In the 1627 English Village part of the museum, you'll meet "historical interpreters." These are people who dress, act, and speak like people from the 1600s. They can answer your questions about their lives, their beliefs, and what they do every day. You might see them cooking, planting, working as a blacksmith, or taking care of animals. There are also "modern interpreters" who can answer questions that the historical interpreters can't. The English Village shows what daily life was like in 1627, from late March to November, including special events like celebrations.

History of Plimoth Patuxet

Mayflower II

The museum was started in 1947 by Henry Hornblower II. He had help from his friends and family. At first, it was just two English cottages and a fort near the water in Plymouth. Over the years, the museum grew a lot.

Today, the museum includes:

• A replica of the ship Mayflower II (built in 1957).
• The English Village (opened in 1959).
• The Wampanoag Homesite (opened in 1973).
• The Hornblower Visitor Center (opened in 1987).
• The Craft Center (opened in 1992).
• The Maxwell and Nye Barns (opened in 1994).
• The Plimoth Grist Mill (opened in 2013).

At the Wampanoag Homesite, modern Native Americans from different tribes show how their ancestors lived. They wear traditional clothing and explain how the Wampanoag people interacted with the settlers. They don't act like people from the past, but they share important history.

The museum also has the Nye Barn, where they keep old breeds of farm animals. There's a crafts center where many items for the village exhibits are made. You can watch educational videos in a cinema. There's also a special area for school groups and adults to learn more about colonial times. The main visitors' center has indoor exhibits and educational programs.

The Mayflower II ship is docked near Plymouth Rock. The museum takes care of it. On the ship, you'll find interpreters who act like the sailors and officers from the time of the Pilgrims' voyage. Sometimes, these interpreters even go on week-long trips to better understand what the Pilgrims experienced.

Why the Name Changed

In July 2020, the museum announced it would change its name. This happened around the 400th anniversary (1620–2020) of the Pilgrims arriving in Patuxet. The museum wanted a name that better showed "the full history" of the area. They had been talking about this change for over a year. While a new official name wasn't immediately announced, the museum started using a new logo that said "Plimoth Patuxet" instead of "Plimoth Plantation." This change was part of a larger movement to make names more inclusive and reflect all parts of history.

Images for kids

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  Wigwam and Wampanoag guide

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  American Indian canoes (mishoons) under construction

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  Entrance, with blacksmith shop on the right

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  Blacksmith

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  Mary Soule, wife of George Soule

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  House

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  Livestock

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  Recreated fort; the original fort also served as First Parish Church in Plymouth and a colony meeting house on Burial Hill

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  View from the fort, looking down a recreation of Leyden Street, the first street in Plymouth

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  Dr. John Kemp, director of the Colonial Interpretation Department, portraying Samuel Fuller (Mayflower physician) at the church

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  Fort (which actually stood on Burial Hill) as it might have appeared when coming up Leyden Street

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  Pilgrim George Soule house

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  Pilgrim home