Plimoth Plantation facts for kids
Plimoth Patuxet (also known as Plimoth Plantation) is a special place in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It's a "living history museum," which means it brings history to life! The museum shows what it was like to live in the 1600s.
It tries to show how the original Plymouth Colony was settled. This colony was started by English people known as the Pilgrims. They were some of the first people to move to America. They came seeking religious freedom, wanting to separate from the Church of England.
In the museum's 1624 English Village, you'll meet "historical interpreters." These people dress, act, and speak like folks from the 1620s. They stay in character and can tell you about their "lives." Other museum staff, called "modern interpreters," can answer any questions the characters can't. These interpreters show daily life, like cooking, planting, and caring for animals. They also show special events, such as celebrations.
The Museum's Story
Henry Hornblower II started this museum in 1947. It began with just two English cottages and a fort on Plymouth's waterfront. Over the years, the museum has grown a lot!
Today, it includes:
- A full-size replica ship called the 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).
Next to the English settlement is a re-creation of a Wampanoag home site. Here, modern Native Americans from different tribes share how their ancestors lived. They explain how the Wampanoag people interacted with the English settlers. These interpreters wear traditional clothing but speak as themselves, not as historical characters.
The museum also has the Nye Barn, where old breeds of farm animals live. There's a crafts center where many items for the village are made. You can watch educational videos in the cinema. There's also a Colonial Education site for groups and a visitors' center with exhibits. Two houses on the Colonial Education site were built for a TV show called Colonial House. After filming, the museum moved them to Plimoth Plantation. Sadly, one of these houses, the Cook House, was damaged by fire in 2011 and had to be taken down.
The Mayflower II Ship
The Mayflower II is a copy of the original ship that brought the Pilgrims to America. It is docked near Plymouth Rock. The museum also takes care of this ship. On board, you'll find first-person interpreters acting as sailors and officers from the 1620s. Sometimes, these "sailors" go on trips. This helps them understand what it was like for the Pilgrims on their long journey.
Why the Name Change?
In July 2020, the museum announced it would change its name. They had been planning this for a while. The new name would help celebrate the 400th anniversary (1620-2020) of the Pilgrims arriving in Patuxet.
This change also happened during a time when many places were changing names to be more welcoming. Museum officials had been discussing for over a year if their name truly showed the full history they wanted to share. While a new name wasn't immediately announced, the museum started using a new logo. This logo included "Plimoth Patuxet" instead of "Plimoth Plantation." The new name helps to honor the Wampanoag people and their history in the area, which was known as Patuxet.
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 at work
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Mary Soule, wife of George Soule
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A house in the English Village
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Historical livestock breeds
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Recreated fort; the original also served as a church and meeting house
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View from the fort, looking down a recreation of Leyden Street
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Dr. John Kemp portraying Samuel Fuller (Mayflower physician)
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The fort as it might have appeared from Leyden Street
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Pilgrim George Soule's house
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A Pilgrim home
