can you visit plymouth rock

Visiting Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts

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What is the most visited rock in New England? It's Plymouth Rock in seaside Plymouth, Massachusetts, of course. This famous landmark south of Boston is housed within the smallest state park in Massachusetts, Pilgrim Memorial State Park , visited by more than 1 million people each year.

The Story of Plymouth Rock

According to legend, Plymouth Rock is the boulder upon which the Pilgrims landed when they arrived at the location of their permanent settlement in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620. Most first-time visitors to "the rock" are a bit startled by its smallness. How could such a monumental artifact in American history be so, well... puny?

For starters, the well-intentioned residents of Plymouth who first set out to preserve the symbolic rock in 1774 had the unpleasant experience of watching the rock split in two when a team of oxen attempted to raise it. Only the upper portion of Plymouth Rock left the waterfront originally for display in the Town Square.

Souvenir seekers who desired to bring home a "piece of the rock" caused further deterioration until Plymouth Rock was moved to safety inside an iron fence at the Pilgrim Hall Museum in 1834. It had a rough trip to the museum, though, falling off its conveyance and obtaining its distinctive crack.

Remember the bottom part of the rock that was left behind at the waterfront? The Pilgrim Society acquired the other half of Plymouth Rock in 1859, and in 1867, a Plymouth Rock canopy structure was completed at the waterfront to house it. Unfortunately, the canopy was not large enough to hold the whole rock, so a few pieces had to be hacked off and sold as souvenirs.

Finally, in 1880, the upper chunk was united with the lower piece of Plymouth Rock—cement did the trick! And "1620," the date of the Pilgrims' arrival in Plymouth, was permanently carved into the rock. 

Plymouth Rock was moved for the last time during the celebration of Plymouth's tercentenary (300th anniversary) in 1921 to an ornate new canopy designed by famed architects McKim, Mead and White and built by Roy B. Beattie of Fall River, Massachusetts. Would you believe that the rock broke apart once again during this move to its elegant new digs? 

Visiting This Rock Icon

Massachusetts' most famous rock, though a bit battered by time, remains a powerful tribute to the courage of the 102 Mayflower passengers who established a settlement in the region we know as New England. When you visit, after your initial surprise at its small size, standing in the presence of Plymouth Rock will connect you to the Pilgrim story in a way no history textbook can.

Getting to Plymouth Rock:  Follow Route 3 South to Route 44 (Plymouth). Follow 44 East to the waterfront. When using a GPS, set the destination address for 79 Water Street, Plymouth, Massachusetts, 02360. The memorial is always open, free to the public, 365 days of the year. Free visitor parking is available at the monument. If all spaces are filled, look for metered parking spots on nearby streets.

Staying in Plymouth: The John Carver Inn , a family favorite thanks to its Pilgrim Cove Indoor Theme Pool, is just an eight-minute walk from Plymouth Rock. The hotel sits on the historic site of the Pilgrims' original village. Compare rates and reviews for this and other Plymouth hotels with TripAdvisor.

While You're in Plymouth:  Visit the Pilgrim Hall Museum, the nation’s oldest continuously operating public museum, and step back in time to the 17th century at Plimoth Plantation , a living history museum that faithfully recreates the original Plymouth Colony. You'll also want to step aboard the newly restored Mayflower II , a replica of the famous ship that carried the Pilgrims to Plymouth Rock, when it returns to Plymouth Harbor in 2020.

Join in the Plymouth 400 Celebration

Visitation to Plymouth Rock will soar in 2020, as Plymouth celebrates the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims' journey and landing. Few sailings have had such monumental impact on the course of history, and Plymouth 400 will commemorate the story and the legacy of the Pilgrims' quest for freedom to worship as they wished. "America's Hometown" and surrounding communities will host events throughout 2020, and related commemorations are being held in the UK and the Netherlands and by Wampanoag Nation tribes in Massachusetts.

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UponArriving

Visiting Plymouth Rock: The Most Overhyped Rock in The U.S? Maybe.

Plymouth Rock is an attraction steeped in legend and symbolism.

On one hand, it serves as a potent symbol of the resilience of the Pilgrims who established the first permanent English colony in New England. On the other hand, it has the air of being just a mere rock and overshadowed by folklore.

So, what’s the true tale behind Plymouth Rock, and why should we care about this seemingly ordinary boulder?

Below, I’ll provide you with the full historical account of Plymouth Rock, allowing you to form your own perspective on its significance. I’ll also equip you with all the essential details for your visit and help you plan your trip.

Table of Contents

What is Plymouth Rock?

Plymouth Rock, located in Plymouth, Massachusetts, is believed to be the spot where the Pilgrims first hopped off the Mayflower. It’s a symbol that’s etched into America’s history books, standing for the grit and resolve of the early Pilgrims and perhaps a literal stepping stone to self-governance. Every year, it draws over a million curious onlookers.

Yet, this rock’s story isn’t exactly set in stone. There’s a whole lot of controversy and doubt about whether it’s the real deal when it comes to marking the Pilgrims’ landing. To add to the drama, this rock has been through some rough times, broken up and shuffled around over the years.

Plymouth Rock: A broken history

Plymouth Rock’s story is a bit broken, a bit hazy.

This rock, made of ancient Dedham granite that’s been around for some 600 million years, first ended up in Plymouth’s neighborhood around 20,000 years ago, thanks to some glacial action.

And it didn’t see much in the way of Europeans until 1620 when the Pilgrims arrived in the New World.

Arriving in the New World

After failing to reach their intended destination at the mouth of the Hudson River, the Pilgrims first set foot in modern-day Provincetown, found at Cape Cod’s tip.

Most of the Pilgrims hung back on the Mayflower, while a small group ventured out for about six weeks. It’s believed that they may have engaged in some not-so-savory activities, like dabbling in a bit of grave robbing or resource stealing from the natives in this time.

But once they realized Cape Cod was far from ideal with its vulnerable terrain and lack of freshwater, the Pilgrims moved on.

They probably hopped around the Cape, looking for a suitable area to land with everything they needed and eventually they decided to stop at Clark’s Island , where legend has it they kicked off their first Sabbath.

What’s intriguing is that there’s this colossal rock there, dubbed “Pulpit Rock,” which is way closer to what you’d envision when Plymouth Rock comes to mind. In fact, rumor has it that this might be the real Plymouth Rock!

After this stop, they eventually landed at Plymouth, where they laid the foundations for Plymouth Colony on December 26, 1620. This marked the birth of the first permanent English settlement in New England , a momentous occasion in US history.

Plymouth Rock is supposedly the site where the Pilgrims disembarked the Mayflower, which is why the rock is so significant.

But here’s the plot twist: the Pilgrims, in all their scribbling and documenting, never gave a shout-out to Plymouth Rock in their writings. You’d think Edward Winslow’s “Mourt’s Relation” or William Bradford’s “Of Plymouth Plantation” would drop at least a line about it, but no such luck.

There was apparently a record of the rock in Plymouth’s town boundaries in 1715, where it is described as “a great rock” but it doesn’t seem like much else was said about it until around 25 years later.

The legend of Plymouth Rock takes off

The tale of Plymouth Rock truly gained prominence in 1741, nearly 120 years after the colony’s establishment.

Local residents had intended to construct a wharf that would have concealed the rock. However, before construction could commence, an elderly church elder by the name of Thomas Faunce, aged 94, passionately proclaimed that the boulder marked the landing point of the Mayflower Pilgrims.

He made a request to be transported in his chair — over a distance of three miles — to the site.

There, he bid an emotional farewell to the rock, which he claimed his father, and possibly other Mayflower pilgrims, had informed him was the very spot where the Pilgrims first set foot.

Considering that Faunce’s father arrived in Plymouth three years after the Mayflower’s landing and Faunce himself was born in 1647, during a time when many of the Mayflower Pilgrims were still alive, his assertion possessed at least some potential validity.

But still, given the circumstances around the story (a distraught elderly man making an unverified claim on his death bed), many people suspect that Faunce’s re-telling is nothing more than conjured-up folklore.

The rock begins to travel (and shrink)

In 1774, the residents of Plymouth made a rather bold move by attempting to relocate the rock in an attempt to create support for the revolution. However, during the move the rock split into two pieces.

The lower portion remained at the wharf, while the upper segment found a new home in the town’s meeting house. Interestingly, some interpreted this split as symbolic of the growing sentiment within the colonies to break free from English rule.

The upper rock was then relocated from Plymouth’s meetinghouse to Pilgrim Hall in 1834, and it’s reported that during the journey a vertical crack developed in the upper part of the rock, perhaps causing it to lose some of its material.

As the lower section of the rock was left behind at the wharf during these relocations, souvenir hunters, over time, took to chipping away at it, steadily reducing its size.

To safeguard it from further damage, a solution was sought. Eventually, a Victorian-style canopy supported by columns, skillfully designed by Hammatt Billings, was constructed on a waterfront location between 1859 and 1867. Apparently the rock was cut down in size to accommodate this canopy.

In 1880, the upper segment of the rock was carefully taken from the Pilgrim Hall Museum yard and rejoined with the remaining portion . During this restoration, the date “1620” was intricately carved into the rock, replacing the previously painted numbers.

In 1921, as a big part of the extended Pilgrim tercentenary celebrations, a structure that bears a resemblance to a Roman temple was erected to serve as Plymouth Rock’s new abode. Today, this iconic boulder rests on a sandy bed situated five feet below street level, enclosed within this dignified structure.

Also in the 1920s, it came to light that a 400-pound section, hewn from Plymouth Rock, had been repurposed as a doorstep for the Sandwich Street Harlow House.

In a commendable gesture, the Plymouth Antiquarian Society, who had purchased the historic home, contributed a portion of this rock to the Pilgrim Hall Museum and also to the Smithsonian .

The Smithsonian acquired another piece of Plymouth Rock earlier in 1911 that is painted with details from Lewis Bradford, a descendent of William Bradford. On that piece of small rock he wrote, “Broken from the Mother Rock by Mr. Lewis Bradford on Tues. 28th of Dec. 1850 4 1/2 o’clock p.m.”

So to recap, apart from fragments possibly held by private collectors and descendants of souvenir hunters, sections of Plymouth Rock can be found at the Pilgrim Hall Museum, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, and the Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims, situated in Brooklyn Heights, New York.

This has left the small, war-torn boulder left today which some estimate to only be 1/3 of its original size.

How to visit Plymouth Rock

Plymouth Rock is open to the public and free to visit.

It’s situated at Pilgrim Memorial State Park on the shores of Plymouth Harbor, conveniently located just off the street. There are parking lots available nearby for those who need them.

A common sentiment among visitors is a sense of mild disappointment, often stemming from expectations of a much larger or more imposing rock.

This sentiment can be further compounded when they discover that the rock’s fame may have been inflated by folklore and anecdotal accounts.

So adjusting your expectations before you visit can be a big help here.

Given its proximity to the street, a visit to Plymouth Rock is typically quite brief. You could easily be in and out in a couple of minutes.

However, during the summer and fall, interpretive staff may be on hand to provide additional insights and answer questions about its history.

Fortunately, the area offers a range of other attractions to explore. Among them, the Mayflower II , located next-door, is a major highlight. You can also take a leisurely stroll around the park grounds, where you’ll find notable statues like the one of William Bradford. Be sure to head up the steps across the street for a nice view of the portico.

So, just to wrap it all up.

Plymouth Rock is not the first spot in America where the Pilgrims landed. There are no contemporaneous records confirming it as the spot where the Pilgrims eventually disembarked from the Mayflower. The assertion that it marked the Pilgrims’ landing was made by an individual in his 90s, well over a century after the initial event. It’s been chipped away, broken apart, and large chunks of it removed and relocated. And at the end of the day, it’s just a rock.

Nevertheless, Plymouth Rock remains a unique point of interest.

It’s at least located in close proximity to a site of tremendous historical significance to the United States and it undeniably holds symbolic significance, as the landing — along with the creation of the Mayflower Compact — marked a significant step in the direction of self-governance.

For some, Plymouth Rock is not just a historical landmark but a powerful emblem of the Pilgrims’ determination and resilience in the face of countless challenges, serving as a testament to the human spirit’s ability to overcome adversity and forge new beginnings.

And for some, including lots of Native Americans, the symbolism of Plymouth Rock is complicated and represents a painful history of colonization, displacement, and cultural disruption.

Although relationships were initially not marred with conflict, the arrival of the subsequent settlement led to significant changes in the lives of the indigenous peoples who had inhabited the region for generations. For them, Plymouth Rock serves as a reminder of the profound impact European colonization had on their way of life, including loss of land, resources, and cultural heritage.

How you personally perceive and feel about Plymouth Rock will be something to ponder when you have the chance to visit and explore this historic landmark.

Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo . He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio .

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How to Visit Plymouth Rock

Visiting Plymouth Rock, the iconic historical site in Plymouth where the Mayflower Pilgrims are believed to have landed in 1620, is a straightforward process.

Plymouth Rock is housed in a granite portico located at Pilgrim Memorial State Park in Plymouth, Mass which receives over 1 million visitors every year. In 1970, Plymouth Rock was added to the National Register of Historical Places.

Have you ever visited Plymouth Rock? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think of it!

Here’s a guide on how to visit Plymouth Rock:

Before You Go:

1. Plan Your Trip:

Decide on the date and time of your visit. Consider checking for any special events, holidays, or ceremonies that might affect your plans. If you are visiting around Thanksgiving, check out this article on Thanksgiving events in Plymouth .

2. Operating Hours:

Pilgrim Memorial State Park is open daily from sunrise to sunset. The granite portico that the rock is housed in is lit at night but visibility is still limited at night.

3. Entry Fees:

It is free to visit Plymouth Rock at the Pilgrim Memorial State Park.

Getting There:

1. Address:

The address for Pilgrim Memorial State Park is: 79 Water Street, Plymouth, MA 02360.

2. Parking:

Pilgrim Memorial State Park offers paid two-hour parking from 9am – 7pm.

Free parking:

• Unlimited free parking is available at the Jenny Pond parking lot on Spring Lane.
• Four-hour free parking is available on Summer Street.
• Two-hour free parking is available on Court Street, Main Street, Main Street Extension, Market Street, Sandwich Street and Depot Square.

In addition, paid street parking and paid parking lots are available throughout the downtown and waterfront areas.

Visiting Plymouth Rock:

1. Tourist Information Center:

Start your visit at the Pilgrim Memorial State Park Visitor Center, located near Plymouth Rock. Here, you can get information about the historical site, pick up maps, and ask any questions you may have.

2. Plymouth Rock Viewing:

Plymouth Rock is located along the waterfront. Follow signs or ask for directions to reach the site. The rock is housed in a granite portico, and you can view it from a designated area.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by SeePlymouth (@seeplymouth)

3. Pilgrim Hall Museum:

After visiting Plymouth Rock, stop by the Pilgrim Hall Museum, which is located nearby. It houses a collection of Pilgrim possessions and artifacts, providing additional historical context.

Tips for Your Visit:

1. Weather:

Check the weather forecast for Plymouth on the day of your visit. Dress accordingly and bring sunscreen, hats, or umbrellas as needed.

2. Photography:

Capture memories of your visit, but be mindful of any photography rules in place at the site.

3. Respect the Site:

Follow any posted rules and guidelines to ensure the preservation of Plymouth Rock and its surroundings. Treat the site with respect to help maintain its historical significance.

4. Educational Opportunities:

Take advantage of any educational materials or exhibits available at the visitor center or nearby museums to enhance your understanding of the history associated with Plymouth Rock.

5. Nearby Attractions:

Explore other attractions in Plymouth, such as the Mayflower II, Plimoth Patuxet Museums, or historic landmarks like Burial Hill.

Remember that specific details may change, so it’s always a good idea to check the official Pilgrim Memorial State Park website or contact the relevant authorities for the most up-to-date information before planning your visit.

Sources: “Pilgrim Memorial State Park Historical Marker.” Historical Marker Database, hmdb.org/m.asp?m=62450 “Public Parking Locations in Plymouth.” Park Plymouth, parkplymouth.com/public-parking-locations.html “Plymouth Rock.” See Plymouth, seeplymouth.com/listing/plymouth-rock/

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Middle Journey

Solo travel, plymouth rock: 7 things visitors need to know.

March 27, 2023

Visiting Plymouth Rock is worth it if you’re in the area and have some time to debunk history. When I visited, I had no idea there was so much controversy about this rock. It’s a rock, after all. I was surprised to learn so many stories about it, the surrounding area, and the people who once lived there.

But first, is there anyone who was a kid in the 80s who can hear “Plymouth Rock” and not think of “ Fraggle Rock ” while the song plays in your head? Clap twice if you know what I’m talking about.

Why Plymouth Rock is Famous

Chances are you’ve heard of Plymouth Rock, but like me, you’re unsure of why. Plymouth Rock is one of those questionable U.S. History facts our old schoolbooks used to teach.

Just over 100 passengers and 30 crew packed themselves onto the Mayflower ship in 1620. They left England on a 66-day voyage across the ocean blue before arriving in Plymouth Harbor. Then, these pilgrims stepped off the boat and onto the rock to reach land. But did they?

Plymouth Rock is famous for what it stands for to Americans – bravery, freedom, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Unfortunately, the crew didn’t find much of the latter for some time. There was much suffering and many hard times to come first.

1. Did the Pilgrims Land on Plymouth Rock?

According to oral history, the pilgrims anchored the Mayflower and used Plymouth Rock to step onto the shore. But there’s a lot of debate about whether that could possibly be true.

Fun Fact : Plymouth Rock is an actual rock big enough to hold about three people, so theoretically, it could be true.

If you take the time to read all the signs along the Plymouth boardwalk, which I did, you’ll learn that no written historical records refer to Plymouth Rock. The first mention of the rock in writing didn’t occur until 1715 when town officials mentioned the “great rock” in boundary records.

The oral history started with Thomas Faunce in 1741. At that time, he was 94 years old and claimed his elders told him about the rock landing. His story about the pilgrims disembarking onto the rock was taken at face value and continued to be passed down. But, in later years, many questioned that story.

“The one thing the Pilgrims certainly did not do was step ashore on Plymouth Rock,” Writer Bill Bryson wrote. He and others argue that it would have been an impractical landing spot. I agree, but it’s not like there were docks they could step onto. A big rock seems as good a place as any when it’s that or the water.

Plymouth Rock

The debate may stem from the fact that the rock isn’t as big as you might imagine. It’s currently about 10 tons, but historians estimate it would have been twice that size in 1620 if not more. Over the years, it has worn down and in 1774, the rock even broke in half when town officials tried to haul it to a different location. Today, small pieces of the rock exist in various places. But the two biggest chucks were eventually reattached – put back in the harbor where it came from, and the date, “1620,” was etched onto its face – lest we confuse it with another gigantic rock.

Today, confusing the rock for any other is impossible. It is covered beneath a granite canopy with a park official standing nearby. All day long, people walk up and look down into the hole where the rock has been caged. After two minutes, they walk away.

Whether the pilgrims stepped onto this actual rock or not is irrelevant to me. The rock was surely there when they arrived and it’s still there today, standing as a symbol of bravery, hard work, and liberty – it doesn’t get more American than that.

Aside from the rock, there are plenty of other things to do and see in the area.

2. Pilgrim Memorial State Park

Of the 130 people on the Mayflower, only one died at sea. That first New England winter, however, would claim the lives of half. Now, the area surrounding the rock is known as Pilgrim Memorial State Park. The Department of Conservation and Recreation for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts manages it and staff guides tell visitors like me plenty of stories.

This waterfront park includes the rock and a Mayflower ship replica, a museum, a shopping district and other features to keep visitors entertained for an entire day. Indeed, more than one million people visit each year.

3. Mayflower II

If you want to know about the pilgrims, your best bet is to head to the Mayflower II replica ship. It’s a replica of the cargo ship that carried the Pilgrims across the Atlantic. Yes, cargo ship. The cargo, in this case, happened to be people. The original ship and the replica are just 80 feet long and 24 feet wide. Passengers had to spend the 66-day voyage below deck crammed together. One woman was so pregnant she gave birth as soon as they arrived – can you imagine?

The Mayflower II was a gift from the U.K. to the U.S. in 1957. It’s now a museum and working classroom that tells visitors all about the journey. It’s so accurate a portrayal of the original ship that it’s on the National Register of Historic Places.

4. Cole’s Hill

Take a walk up to the top of the hill behind the harbor. It’s called Cole’s Hill and has the best view of the harbor you’re likely to get. Stairs built into the hillside make it easy – unlike the steep hike I took before noticing the stairs. Cole’s Hill is a National Historic Site named after the first person who settled on it – James Cole (1600— 1692). This is where the pilgrims made an Agreement of Peace with the Wampanoag people.

5. The Statue of Massasoit, a Wampanoag Leader

T he Wampanoag people were the native, indigenous people who lived in Plymouth before the colonists arrived. Much like the history of Jamestown , the Wampanoag were one of many Nations living on the continent before Europeans arrived. It’s likely the help from these native people that any settlers survived at all. They helped the settlers and taught them about the land. In return, the Europeans traded with them and shared skills, but it was at a high cost. An estimated 70% of the Wampanoag people died from European diseases. Likewise, about half of the Europeans died from the harsh conditions that first winter in the New World.

A sculpture at the top of Cole’s Hill represents the Pokanoket leader Massasoit. It shows the leader on the first Thanksgiving as they enjoyed their first harvest, thanks to the Massasoit who taught them about the crops.

Fun Fact : If the statue looks familiar, it’s because several replicas of it exist across the United States.

6. Pilgrim Sarcophagus

You’ll find the Pilgrim Sarcophagus a short distance from the Massasoit statue. Of the nearly half of the English colonists and sailors who perished during the first winter, many were buried or reinterred here in this mass grave atop Cole’s Hill.

The sarcophagus is also a memorial. Imagery and printed text along the four large sides tell of the many difficulties the pilgrims encountered that first season. The names of 47 Pilgrims are etched on it.

7. Leyden Street is the Oldest

After all that grim history, you may need to take a break. If so, you’re in the right place; just up the block is Leyden Street. It was the first residential street in the colony. Back then, it was accordingly named First Street, and it’s where many pilgrims built homes. It’s said to be the oldest continuously used English street in America. Continue toward Market Street and the square to find a few places to rest and refuel.

Many shops and businesses near the Plymouth boardwalk are faux historic and sell pilgrim-style trinkets and old-fashioned toys for the kids. There’s also an active watersports and beach theme for the many boats filling the harbor. Outdoor dining and cafes line the street overlooking the harbor.

If you Visit Plymouth Rock

You’ll find Plymouth Rock at 79 Water St., Plymouth, MA. Street parking is metered, and I had no trouble getting a spot, but the time is limited to two hours. There are also parking garages just off the boardwalk. Spending two to four hours should be plenty of time to see everything.

Read more stories about Massachusetts here.

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More about Rene Cizio

Rene Cizio is a solo female traveler, writer, author and photographer. Find her on Instagram @renecizio

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Plymouth Rock - Pilgrim Memorial State Park

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Plymouth Rock - Pilgrim Memorial State Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Boston to Plymouth Day-Trip including Quincy, Plimoth Patuxet and Mayflower II (From C$202.28)
• Plymouth and South Shore Full Day Private Tour (From C$1,289.73)
• Plymouth Night Tour (From C$36.66)
• Plymouth Pilgrims Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour (From C$20.35)
• Massachusetts Self-Guided Driving and Walking Tours Bundle (From C$67.87)
• (0.23 km) By The Sea Bed and Breakfast
• (0.15 km) Whitfield House Bed and Breakfast
• (0.25 km) Downtown condo with a great location near waterfront, “a block from the Rock”
• (0.45 km) John Carver Inn & Spa
• (0.32 km) NEW! HEART of downtown! Walk to beach, shops, restaurants & steps to the harbor!
• (0.22 km) Yellow Deli Togo Shop
• (0.09 km) Pillory Pub
• (0.14 km) Pebble's
• (0.22 km) Surfside Smokehouse
• (0.36 km) KKatie's Burger Bar
• (0.03 km) William Bradford Statue
• (0.09 km) Mayflower II
• (0.13 km) Plymouth Whale Watching
• (0.11 km) Pilgrim Memorial State Park
• (0.09 km) Dead of Night Ghost Tours

Plymouth Rock

South Shore

Thousands of visitors come each year to look at this weathered granite ball and consider what it was like for the Pilgrims who stepped ashore on a foreign land in the fall of 1620. In firsthand accounts of the fledgling colony there's no mention of a granite rock, but the story gained popularity during colonial times.

In 1774, 20 yoke of oxen were harnessed to the rock to move it – splitting it in the process. Half of the cloven boulder went on display in Pilgrim Hall from 1834 to 1867. The sea and wind lashed at the other half, and innumerable small pieces were chipped off and carried away by souvenir hunters over the centuries. By the 20th century the rock was an endangered artifact, and steps were taken to protect it. In 1921 the reunited halves were sheltered in the present granite enclosure. In 1989 the rock was repaired and strengthened to withstand weathering. And so it stands today, relatively small, broken and mended, an enduring symbol of the quest for religious freedom.

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Climb to the top of the country's tallest all-granite structure (253ft) for a sweeping view of town, the beaches and the spine of the Lower Cape. The…

Heritage Museums & Gardens

16.48 MILES

Fun for kids and adults alike, the 100-acre Heritage Museums & Gardens sports a superb vintage automobile collection in a Shaker-style round barn, an…

Captains' Mile

27.74 MILES

Nearly 50 historic sea captains' homes are lined up along MA 6A (the Old King's Hwy) in Yarmouth Port, on a 1.5-mile stretch known as the Captains' Mile…

John F Kennedy Hyannis Museum

28.74 MILES

Hyannis has been the summer home of the Kennedy clan for generations. Back in the day, JFK spent the warmer months here – times that are beautifully…

Nearby South Shore attractions

1 . Mayflower Society Museum

The offices of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants are housed in the magnificent 1754 house of Edward Winslow, the great-grandson of Plymouth…

2 . 1749 Spooner House

On pretty North St, this 18th-century house was the home of the Spooner family for more than two centuries. Nowadays, the two-story house still contains…

3 . Mayflower II

4 . 1667 Jabez Howland House

This is the only house in Plymouth that was home to a known Mayflower passenger. John Howland lived here with his wife, Elizabeth Tilley, and their son…

5 . 1809 Hedge House

You can't miss this grand, Federal edifice overlooking Plymouth Harbor. Originally built on Court St for a sea captain, it became the home of merchant…

6 . Richard Sparrow House

Plymouth's oldest house was built by one of the original Pilgrim settlers in 1640. Today, there is a small art gallery in the more recent addition, while…

7 . Pilgrim Hall Museum

8 . Plimoth Grist Mill

In 1636, local leaders constructed a gristmill on Town Brook so that the growing community could grind corn and produce cornmeal. Today, the replica mill…

Plymouth Rock | Facts and Trivia

Learn the truth behind the myths and legends that surround Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

By Edgar Allen Beem

Oct 12 2011

Edgar Allen Beem

Take a look at art in New England with Edgar Allen Beem. He’s been art critic for the Portland Independent, art critic and feature writer for Maine Times, and now is a freelance writer for Yankee, Down East, Boston Globe Magazine, The Forecaster, and Photo District News. He’s the author of Maine Art Now (1990) and Maine: The Spirit of America (2000).

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Plymouth Rock

Plymouth Rock is a historic landmark located in Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA. It holds great significance in American history as it is believed to be the site where the Mayflower Pilgrims first landed in 1620.

VISIT PLYMOUTH ROCK

Plymouth Rock is situated on the waterfront of Plymouth Harbor, near the intersection of Water Street and Leyden Street in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It's easily accessible by car and is a popular tourist attraction. The rock itself is a large boulder that is now housed in a granite structure to protect it from the elements. It is inscribed with the date "1620," commemorating the Pilgrims' arrival. There is a visitor center nearby where you can learn more about the history of the Mayflower voyage, the Pilgrims' settlement, and the significance of Plymouth Rock.The visitor center provides exhibits, films, and educational resources.

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Explore the exciting activities and events at Plymouth Rock.

GETTING TO PLYMOUTH ROCK

I f you have access to a car, you can drive to Plymouth, Massachusetts. Here are some rough directions depending on your starting point:

From Boston: Take Interstate 93 South to Route 3 South. Follow Route 3 South until you reach Plymouth. Plymouth Rock is located near the intersection of Water Street and Leyden Street.

From Cape Cod: Take Route 6 West to Route 3 North. Continue on Route 3 North until you reach Plymouth. Again, Plymouth Rock is near the intersection of Water Street and Leyden Street.

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AT THE SMITHSONIAN

The true story behind plymouth rock.

Curator Larry Bird weighs in on the significance of Plymouth Rock—and the two pieces in the Smithsonian collections

Megan Gambino

Senior Editor

Plymouth Rock, located on the shore of Plymouth Harbor in Massachusetts, is reputed to be the very spot where William Bradford, an early governor of Plymouth colony, and other Pilgrims first set foot on land  in 1620. Yet, there is no mention of the granite stone in the two surviving firsthand accounts of the founding of the colony—Bradford’s famous manuscript Of Plymouth Plantation and Edward Winslow’s writings published in a document called “Mourt’s Relation.”

In fact, the rock went unidentified for 121 years. It wasn’t until 1741, when a wharf was to be built over it, that 94-year-old Thomas Faunce, a town record keeper and the son of a pilgrim who arrived in Plymouth in 1623, reported the rock’s significance. Ever since, Plymouth Rock has been an object of reverence, as a symbol of the founding of a new nation.

“It is important because of what people have turned it into,” says Larry Bird, a curator in the National Museum of American History’s division of political history. “To possess a piece of it is to look at a historical moment in terms of image making and imagery. We choose these moments, and these things become invested with values that continue to speak to us today.”

In 1774, Plymouth Rock was split, horizontally, into two pieces. “Like a bagel,” writes John McPhee in “Travels of the Rock,” a story that appeared in the New Yorker in 1990 . (Bird considers McPhee’s story one of the best pieces written about the rock.) “There were those who feared and those who hoped that the break in the rock portended an irreversible rupture between England and the American colonies,” writes McPhee. Actually, the upper half was transported to the town square where it was used to rile up New Englanders to want to gain independence from the Mother Country. Meanwhile, over the course of the next century, people, wanting a stake in the history, slowly chipped away at the half of the rock still on shore.

The National Museum of American History has two pieces of Plymouth Rock in its collection. “The one that I like is painted with a little affidavit by Lewis Bradford, who is a descendent of William Bradford,” says Bird. “He paints on it the exact moment of time in which he chips it from the ‘Mother Rock.’” The label on the small, four-inch by two-inch rock reads, “Broken from the Mother Rock by Mr. Lewis Bradford on Tues. 28th of Dec. 1850 4 1/2 o’clock p.m.” The artifact was donated to the museum in 1911 by the family of Gustavus Vasa Fox, a former Assistant Secretary of the Navy.

Much larger, weighing in at 100 pounds, the second hunk of rock was once part of a 400-pound portion owned by the Plymouth Antiquarian Society. The organization came into possession of the rock in the 1920s; it bought the Sandwich Street Harlow House, where the stone was being used as a doorstep. The society ended up breaking the 400-pound rock into three pieces, and the museum acquired one in 1985.

“Like a Lincoln fence rail piece, a tiny piece of Mount Vernon or even a piece of the Bastille, Plymouth Rock is part of who we are as a people,” says Bird.

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Megan Gambino | | READ MORE

Megan Gambino is a senior web editor for Smithsonian magazine.

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The Real Story Behind Plymouth Rock

By: Christopher Klein

Updated: September 29, 2023 | Original: November 21, 2012

Two words inevitably cross the lips of first-time visitors to Plymouth Rock: “That’s it?”

Yes, Plymouth Rock never fails to underwhelm, leaving tourists struck by disappointment rather than awe. But don’t blame the rock. America’s most famous piece of granite is simply a victim of outsized expectations. The overhyped legend surrounding the Pilgrims ’ supposed landing place conjures visions of the Rock of Gibraltar. The reality, however, is that the country’s birthstone is a mere boulder.

And then there’s the inconvenient truth that no historical evidence exists to confirm Plymouth Rock as the Pilgrims’ steppingstone to the New World. Leaving aside the fact that the Pilgrims first made landfall on the tip of Cape Cod in November 1620 before sailing to safer harbors in Plymouth the following month, William Bradford and his fellow Mayflower passengers made no written references to setting foot on a rock as they disembarked to start their settlement on a new continent.

It wasn’t until 1741—121 years after the arrival of the Mayflower —that a 10-ton boulder in Plymouth Harbor was identified as the precise spot where Pilgrim feet first trod. The claim was made by 94-year-old Thomas Faunce, a church elder who said his father, who arrived in Plymouth in 1623, and several of the original Mayflower passengers assured him the stone was the specific landing spot. When the elderly Faunce heard that a wharf was to be built over the rock, he wanted a final glimpse. He was conveyed by chair 3 miles from his house to the harbor, where he reportedly gave Plymouth Rock a tearful goodbye. Whether Faunce’s assertion was accurate oral history or the figment of a doddering old mind, we don’t know. (And if Faunce indeed was telling a tall tale about the humble chunk of granite, he broke the cardinal rule of American mythology: When you make stuff up, go big—really big.)

What is certain, however, is that diminutive Plymouth Rock quickly grew into a prodigious American icon, and the boulder and the country it symbolizes have led eerily parallel lives over the past 250 years. Much like the United States itself, Plymouth Rock came of age in a burst of patriotic fervor. It was split in two and cemented back together. And while it has been battered by time, it continues to endure.

By the 1770s, just a few years after Faunce made his declaration, Plymouth Rock had already become a tangible monument to freedom. As a revolutionary fever swept through Plymouth in 1774, some of the town’s most zealous patriots sought to enlist Plymouth Rock in the cause. With 20 teams of oxen at the ready, the colonists attempted to move the boulder from the harbor to a liberty pole in front of the town’s meetinghouse. As they tried to load the rock onto a carriage, however, it accidentally broke in two. (Some townsfolk interpreted the rupture as a providential sign that America should sever itself from Great Britain.) The bottom portion of Plymouth Rock was left embedded on the shoreline, while the top half was moved to the town square.

On July 4, 1834, Plymouth Rock was on the move again, this time a few blocks north to the front lawn of the Pilgrim Hall Museum. And once again, the boulder had a rough ride. While passing the courthouse, the rock fell from a cart and broke in two on the ground. The small iron fence encircling Plymouth Rock did little to discourage the stream of souvenir seekers from wielding their hammers and chisels to get a piece of the rock. (Even today, chips off the old block are strewn across the country in places such as the Smithsonian Institution and the Plymouth Church in Brooklyn.)

Back at the harbor, a Victorian-style canopy was constructed in the 1860s to cover the lower portion of Plymouth Rock still embedded in the shoreline. In order to fit inside the new monument, however, the stone was given a trim. Years later, it was discovered that a 400-pound slab that was carved off was being used as a doorstep on a local historic house, and the Plymouth Antiquarian Society donated a piece of it in the 1980s to the hometown Pilgrim Hall Museum, where visitors are actually encouraged to touch this piece of Americana.

Finally, in 1880, at the same time that an America torn asunder by the Civil War was stitching itself back together, the top of Plymouth Rock was returned to the harbor and reunited with its base. The date “1620” was carved on the stone’s surface, replacing painted numerals.

In conjunction with the 300th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ arrival, Plymouth’s Rock's current home, which resembles a Roman temple, was constructed. The boulder now rests on a sandy bed 5 feet below street level, encased in an enclosure like a zoo animal. Given all the whittling and the accidents, Plymouth Rock is estimated to be only a third or half of its original size, and only a third of the stone is visible, with the rest buried under the sand. A prominent cement scar is a reminder of the boulder’s tumultuous journeys around town.

While the original Pilgrims may never have come to Plymouth Rock, it certainly draws pilgrims of a different sort today. Upwards of a million people visit it each year. Sure, the stone’s physical stature and sketchy historical provenance can be a letdown, but thanks should also be given that a colossal symbol of America has managed to endure.

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Adventures with our little explorer

Best things to do on a day trip to Plymouth Massachusetts

During a summer road trip through Massachusetts, we decided to spend the day in Plymouth to explore all the historic sites, and finally get to visit Plymouth Rock, which has always been on our bucket list.

Plymouth is a coastal town in Massachusetts and is an easy day trip from Boston. It is the site of the first Pilgrim settlement, founded in 1620. 

* This post may contain affiliate links. Affiliate links are no extra charge to you, but I may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase.

The town holds a place of great prominence in American history and is named after Plymouth, England where the Mayflower set sail for America.

Plymouth is also known as the location of the first Thanksgiving feast, in which the surviving Pilgrims celebrated their successful harvest along with the Wampanoag tribe. 

On the blog, I will share our day trip to Plymouth Massachusetts, and the top things to do in this historic city in America. 

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Top things to do in Plymouth Massachusetts 

Pilgrim memorial state park .

On your visit to Plymouth Massachusetts, the first place you should visit is the Pilgrim Memorial State Park. This waterfront park is where you will find the Plymouth Rock historic site, and where the Mayflower is docked. 

You also get the most amazing views of the Plymouth harbor here along with some monuments. 

If you’re driving into Plymouth, there is metered parking on the street, and a few free parking spots in the area. 

There is also a gift shop here, where you can shop for some Plymouth souvenirs. 

Visit Plymouth Rock 

One of the top places to visit in Plymouth Massachusetts is Plymouth Rock. 

This famous boulder in Pilgrim Memorial State Park marks where the settlers are thought to have landed on shore. 

Plymouth Rock is encased in a granite canopy along the Plymouth harbor and resembles a Greek-style Portico. 

I must say, our first sighting of  Plymouth Rock was kind of underwhelming though.

I think we build up this image of what we thought Plymouth Rock would look like, and it was nothing like what I imagined. The Rock was smaller than I thought!

We learned that during an attempt to haul Plymouth Rock into the town square, the rock broke in half. 

The lower half of the Rock was left at the wharf where it is located now, while the top half that broke off was left at Pilgrims Hall before it was later rejoined with its bottom half. 

You can learn more about the history of Plymouth Rock in one of the 10-minute historical talks that are given at Plymouth Rock throughout the day. 

Even though Plymouth Rock wasn’t what I imagined, it is still so worth the visit! It’s always amazing to see history up close, whether it lives up to our expectations or not. 

Visit the Mayflower II

Another one of the top things to do on your visit to Plymouth is a visit to the Mayflower II. The Mayflower II is a full-scale replica of the ship that carried the Pilgrims across the Atlantic. 

The Mayflower is anchored at the Pilgrim Memorial State park and has undergone restorations. Visits to the Mayflower II are now open and you can take a tour and see what life was like for the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower!

• Hours: 7 days a week | 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Mayflower II tickets only: Adult  $17.95 / Senior  $16.00 / Child  $12.95
• Heritage Pass: Admission to Plimoth Patuxet,  Mayflower II , and Plimoth Grist Mill Adult  $44.95 / Senior  $40.45 / Child  $28.95
• Admission tickets sold daily till 4:30pm
• You can purchase tickets onsite or online here
• Tickets sold online can be redeemed at any time during the 2023 season

Coles Hill Burial Ground

Just across the street from Plymouth Rock is the Cole Hill Burial ground, which is the first cemetery used by the Mayflower Pilgrims. 

A number of monuments and memorials are on the hill, which includes the statue of the Wampanoag sachem  Massasoit.

You will also find a granite sarcophagus that contains the remains of some of the Pilgrims which are believed to be those of Mayflower settlers buried here in the winter of 1620-21. 

Other Plymouth places of interest

Jabez howland house .

Another place to visit in Historic Plymouth is the Jabez Howland House, which is the only existing house in Plymouth where Pilgrims actually spent time. 

 The 17th-century timber-framed house was built by Jacob Mitchell in 1667 and purchased by Jabez Howland, son of Mayflower passengers John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley Howland, two of the original Pilgrims.

You can tour this historic home in Plymouth which is open from June 16- October 27, 2023 Thursday to Monday 10am-4:00 pm.

Admission costs $6.00 for adults, children (6-12) $2.00, Senior, Student, AAA or Military $5.00

Jabez Howland House is located at 33 Sandwich Street Plymouth, MA 02360

Pilgrim Hall Museum 

The Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth is the oldest public museum in the United States in continuous operation. It has been in operation since 1824.

You can learn more about the Pilgrim’s story on your visit. The museum is open 7 days a week from 9:30 – 4:30. You can purchase tickets online or onsite. 

Visit the Plimoth Patuxet Museum

One of the best places to visit in Plymouth to learn more about how the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe lived back then is the Plimoth Patuxet Museum.

This living history museum was one of our favorite things to do on our visit to Plymouth. 

Plimoth Patuxet Museum replicates the original settlement of the Plymouth colony. 

Some of the interpreters have been trained to speak, act, and dress appropriately for the period, which made the experience even more amazing!

It was so awesome to have an actual conversation with the interpreters, they really made you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

There is also a recreation of the Wampanoag home site, where the interpreters in traditional dress demonstrate how the Wampanoag’s ancestors lived and interacted with the settlers.  

It was such a great learning experience and so worth the visit when visiting Plymouth. 

• The outdoor Living History Sites and Museum Shops are open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Plimoth Patuxet Museum only : Adult: $33.95, Senior (62+): $30.50, Child: (Ages 5-12): $19.95, Children 4 and under are free with the purchase of an adult or senior ticket.
• Heritage Pass : Admission to Plimoth Patuxet,  Mayflower II , and Plimoth Grist Mill Adult  $44.95 / Senior  $40.45 / Child  $28.95
• Purchase tickets online here

Plimoth Grist Mill

Your Plimouth Plantation tickets come with admission to the Plimoth Grist Mill which is another one of the Plymouth sites to see.

Plimoth Grist Mill is a corn grinding mill used by the Pilgrims in the Plymouth colony. 

It is a reproduction of the original mill used in 1636, Many of the parts are from the early 1800s. 

Our little one enjoyed learning how corn was ground and even got to participate in a demonstration. There is also a gift shop here to purchase some souvenirs. 

• Tickets: Heritage Pass which gives you access to Plimoth Patuxet,  Mayflower II , and Plimoth Grist Mill. Purchase Heritage Pass here .
• Grist Mill Tickets only: Adult  $9.95 / Senior  $8.95 / Child  $7.95– purchase Grist Mill tickets only online here .

Plymouth Long Beach  

On your visit to Plymouth Massachusetts, make sure to stop by Plymouth Long Beach. This beach was so serene and beautiful.

It is also an important breeding and nesting site for several threatened and endangered shorebirds. We made a short stop here before we made our way out of town and it was just so beautiful.

Where to eat in Plymouth

During our visit to Plymouth, we had a wonderful meal at the Tavern on the Wharf. It’s a short walk from Plymouth Rock and the food was so yummy.

We had the Crab cakes and Clam chowder, which is the typical New England staple to try on your visit. We heard that the Lobster Hut is a great place for some seafood as well.

We enjoyed our visit to Plymouth exploring one of the most historic towns in America. It was nice to finally get to visit Plymouth Rock and stand in the exact spot where the pilgrims landed.

We drove into Plymouth from Boston, and it was the perfect day trip. It’s a short drive, and so worth the visit if you happen to be visiting Boston.

You can read more about our weekend visit to Boston and all the fun things we did, including spending the 4th of July.

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Home » Things to Do » Plymouth Rock Walks & Tours

Plymouth Rock Walks & Tours

Pilgrim Memorial State Park Walking Tours – Seasonal: Memorial Day-Labor Day – Daily at 11 AM, 1:30PM, and 3:30PM; 30 to 40 minutes. Want to learn more about the Plymouth story? Take a guided walk with one of our park staff! Topics vary day to day, check the flyer on the park kiosk for the description of each day’s events. Meet at the Plymouth Rock Portico. Rain or strong winds cancel; call to confirm at (508) 747-5360. Appropriate for ages 8 and up, all children must be accompanied by an adult.

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(508) 747-5360

Pilgrim Memorial State Park, 79 Water Street, Plymouth, MA 02360

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THE 10 BEST Things to Do Near Plymouth Rock - Pilgrim Memorial State Park

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Things to Do near Plymouth Rock - Pilgrim Memorial State Park

The 15 Best Things to do in Plymouth, Massachusetts

When you visit Plymouth , Massachusetts , there’s history everywhere you look. Dating back to 1620, Plymouth’s story is one of perseverance. The Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth after a long and challenging journey from England to create a new home where their future children could prosper.

But the story of Plymouth is also greatly misunderstood, with many people being unable to tell the facts from the myths. When you plan a trip to Plymouth, you can immerse yourself in the real history of this legendary location. From living history museums to houses preserved in their heyday, you’ll learn about the people who came across the world to call this land home, as well as the people who called it home for generations prior.

Planning a trip to this historic destination? We’ve compiled a list of the best things to do in Plymouth, from cruises with stunning views to tours that take you into a world you’ve never seen before. Stick to this Plymouth bucket list, and you’re bound to have an amazing time in this famous colony.

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The 15 Best Things to do in Plymouth, MA

1. take a cruise on the pilgrim belle.

While Captain John Boats may run all kinds of cruises, with a fleet of five different boats that visitors can climb aboard, there’s nothing quite like a ride on the Pilgrim Belle . Taking a cruise on the Pilgrim Belle is one of the most unique things to do in Plymouth, as it’s a stunning, authentic paddlewheel boat that feels perfectly at home in Plymouth’s historic harbor.

The Pilgrim Belle offers cruises through the beautiful harbor, where you can soak up the sun on the deck or relax in the climate-controlled cabin on your 75-minute, narrated journey. You’ll bob around the water as you take in the sights of Plymouth from the comfort of the classic ship. A full bar is also available aboard the boat but requires cash.

Harbor cruises are available during the day, or you can book a special sunset cruise. With a cocktail in hand, you can watch as the sun descends over the harbor and take in the evening air over the ocean. 

2. Explore Myles Standish State Forest

Looking to get out in nature during your trip to Plymouth? Then, Myles Standish State Forest belongs on your Plymouth bucket list. Named for the military advisor to the Pilgrims, Myles Standish State Forest offers tons of recreational opportunities to have you get out and enjoy the great outdoors. With over 12,400 acres to explore, you’re bound to see all types of beautiful creatures in this forest.

Take in the fresh smell of the pine trees as you traverse 13 miles of hiking trails. There are many routes to take in this state forest. Take the Rocky Pond Cranberry Bog Trail to see a seven-acre commercial cranberry bog in operation in the state forest. Or go biking on over 15 miles of paved bike paths. Hiking and biking are particularly beautiful in the fall, as the forest becomes a sea of reds, golds, and yellows mixed in among the green.

Or perhaps you’re planning a summer trip. With the forest’s many ponds, you can go swimming, canoeing, or fishing on the water. 

3. Step Back in Time at Plimoth Patuxet Museums

Formerly known as Plimoth Plantation, Plimoth Patuxet Museums offer you a chance to explore what life was like back during the age of the Pilgrims. These living history museums provide one of the coolest things to do in Plymouth if you want to be truly immersed in history.

Plimoth Patuxet Museums includes several exhibits that bring to life the original Plymouth colony and the history of the Indigenous tribes who have long inhabited here. In the Historic Patuxet exhibit, you’ll learn about the Native Wampanoag people who lived in this area for over 12,000 years. 

You’ll explore their homes and see how they lived, from playing their games to helping to make a mishoon, which is a dug-out canoe. You may even try a bite of a traditional Wampanoag meal as you learn about how their people harvested and prepared food.

Over in the 17th-Century English Village, you’ll meet villagers who can tell you all about historical events in the 1600s and what their day-to-day life is like. Here, you’ll participate with the Pilgrims in their goings-on, from making remedies for the home to helping to keep the town safe to simply playing traditional Pilgrim games. 

Near the 17th-Century English Village, you’ll find the Craft Center, where you can learn about crafts and herbal remedies from the 1600s. In the Humoral Gardens, you’ll find medicinal herbs that demonstrate the Doctrine of the Humors, the leading medical theory in the Plymouth colony. 

Inside the Craft Center, you’ll learn about how those herbs were used and see how they were turned into treatments. Also in the Craft Center, you’ll see skilled artisans hard at work recreating historic items from the 17th century.

4. Tour the Mayflower II

The Mayflower II functions both as a part of and independently of the Plimoth Patuxet Museums. You can buy a ticket that gets you access to the other museum sites and the Mayflower II, or you can simply grab a ticket that gets you onboard this historic replica.

The Mayflower is one of the greatest pieces of American history, which is why visiting its replica, the Mayflower II, is one of the must-do things in Plymouth. This replica, which has become the centerpiece of Plymouth Harbor, is a monument to the journey that was taken more than 400 years ago that led to the America we know today. 

While no one knows what happened to the Mayflower, its replica is a historic ship in its own right, having been added to the National Register of Historic Places following its return to Plymouth in 2020. The Mayflower II is a working vessel, having sailed from Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1957. It was restored in 2020 and found a home at the Plimoth Patuxet Museums, now functioning as its own exhibit.

5. Step Inside the Plimoth Grist Mill

Like the Mayflower II, the Plimoth Grist Mill is a part of the Plimoth Patuxet Museums, but you can either purchase a ticket to this Plymouth attraction as a part of your pass to the other parts of the museum or just pick admission to the mill. The mill itself is located on Town Brook, the waterway that powers it.

The Plimoth Grist Mill is a real working mill working to rebuild regional grain economies, which you can support by purchasing the stone-ground grains when you come for a tour of this mill. It’s a recreation of the original 1636 grain mill that the Pilgrims once used, but it’s historic in its own right, using 200-year-old millstones to grind the corn.

Outside the mill, you’ll see how water diverted by the Town Brook turns the waterwheel to power the mill. Inside, you’ll see how the mill works to cut the corn into finer and finer pieces. If you plan on visiting the Plimoth Grist Mill, you may want to aim to arrive on a Saturday afternoon, which tends to be when the millers are hard at work. 

You can also interact with the mill in the hands-on exhibit area, where you’ll experiment with simple machines to learn how water power works and learn about the river herring that migrate past the mill every spring.

6. See a Show at Priscilla Beach Theatre

What’s so special about Priscilla Beach Theatre ? Seeing a show means traveling back in time to the days when barn summer stock theaters were popping up around the US. In fact, this historic theater was one of the first such theaters in the nation, dating back to 1937, which is why it remains one of the coolest Plymouth attractions.

Located one block from Priscilla Beach, this theater is set on a charming two-acre campus, with its beautiful barn as the centerpiece. Priscilla Beach Theatre produces six shows from May to October, so if you’re planning a trip in the late spring to early fall, catching a show is one of the best things to do in Plymouth. 

Got a little one interested in acting? You can also consider signing them up for the theater’s training camp. Many young actors have gotten their start at this iconic theater, including Paul Newman, Rob Reiner, Peter Gallagher, and Jennifer Coolidge.

7. Visit the Iconic Plymouth Rock

Seeing the world-famous Plymouth Rock is just a must-do thing in Plymouth. When you see it, admittedly, there’s not much to it – unless you know the story behind it.

Located in Pilgrim Memorial Park on the shore of Plymouth Harbor, Plymouth Rock may be something that we can see and admire, but it’s more of a legend than anything else. We will likely never know the exact landing spot of the Pilgrims who came over on the Mayflower, but there’s one story that’s made Plymouth Rock an iconic symbol of freedom. 

The boulder actually became famous 121 years after the arrival of the Mayflower. When Thomas Faunce, a church elder, heard that a wharf was to be built over the rock, he claimed that he must say a final goodbye. His father, who did come over on the Mayflower, assured him that the rock was the Pilgrims’ landing site. The story spread, and Plymouth Rock has been a historical landmark ever since. 

From Memorial Day through Labor Day, you can hear the story and more about the famous rock in a 10-minute talk at the rock’s site. Talks typically happen every 30 minutes.

8. Go on a Whale-Watching Tour

In addition to the Pilgrim Belle, Captain John Boats also offers whale-watching tours in Plymouth . If you’re visiting during their whale-watching season, running from April to October, hopping on board to witness gentle giants at sea is one of the top things to do in Plymouth.

Departing from Plymouth Harbor, your four-hour journey will be led by a naturalist. Not only are you likely to see stunning creatures in the water, but you’ll also learn about them from a knowledgeable expert. You’ll venture out to Cape Cod Bay and Stellwagen Bank, a marine sanctuary and one of the primary feeding grounds for several types of whales.

What whales might you see out in the water? Some of the most commonly sighted include humpbacks, finbacks, and minke whales. But you might also catch a glimpse of some of the less commonly spotted types, like the pilot whales and the endangered right whales.

Be sure to dress warmly if you intend to stand out on the deck, but you also have access to the climate-controlled cabin. Food and beverages, including alcohol, are available on board, but both are cash only.

9. See History Preserved by the Plymouth Antiquarian Society

The Plymouth Antiquarian Society is the city’s largest organization dedicated to preserving historic sites. They strive to tell the story of everyday life in Plymouth from the mid-17th century through today through their exhibits, tours, and special events. 

Visiting the historic sites this society has preserved is one of the coolest things to do in Plymouth because you get to explore Plymouth’s history beyond the Pilgrims. Learn about the Native people of the area at the ancient Sacrifice Rock, an essential stop by Wampanoag wayfarers throughout time. 

Or venture back to the 17th century at the Harlow House, built in 1677 as the family residence of the settler William Harlow, who served as a sergeant of the local militia. It is today one of the few remaining 17th-century buildings in Plymouth.

The Spooner House takes you into the 18th century, having been built in 1749. Though it was built for the widow Hannah Jackson, it became known as the Spooner House as the Spooner family inhabited it for over 200 years.

One of the best examples of Federal period architecture in Plymouth, the Hedge House, dates back to 1809. It was built by shipowner William Hammatt, but when merchant Thomas Hedge purchased it in 1830, he built upon it to accommodate his large family.

Tours of the historic sites are available seasonally or by appointment. Special events may also open the houses up for visitation.

10. Learn About our Past at the Pilgrim Hall Museum

As it’s in a city that’s filled with history, it should come as no surprise that one of the best things to do in Plymouth is visit the oldest public museum in continuous operation in the US. Pilgrim Hall Museum dates back to 1824 and is filled with early Plymouth artifacts that can teach you about how the Pilgrims and the Native Wampanoag people lived.

Collections include historical paintings, furnishings, texts, patents, and the Sparrow-Hawk, a small vessel that only housed 25 passengers who were attempting to land in Virginia. They encountered a horrible storm that led to them landing in Plymouth, though many lives were lost at sea.

The museum is open from April through December. Throughout this time, it features both permanent and rotating exhibits. Here, you’ll learn about the interactions between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag, from their first meetings to the terrible days of King Philip’s War. You’ll also see pieces of history that date back to the Mayflower’s crossing, like Governor William Bradford’s Bible and military leader Myles Standish’s sword.

11. Unearth the Pilgrims’ World at the Jabez Howland House

There’s history everywhere you look in Plymouth, and perhaps one of the best Plymouth attractions for history fans is the Jabez Howland House . The house is the only existing house in Plymouth where the Pilgrims actually spent time, though the homeowner did not come over on the Mayflower himself. The house, a two-story timber-framed structure, was owned by Jabez Howland, the son of Mayflower passengers John and Elizabeth Howland.

Jabez lived there until 1680, and it remained a private residence until 1912, when it was bought and turned into a museum. It now holds a place on the National Register of Historic Places. In the 1940s, it was returned to the way it looked when Jabez owned it, so stepping foot in this house is indeed much like stepping into a Pilgrim’s home.

The museum has an extensive collection of artifacts from the age of the Pilgrims, including 17th-century furnishings, archaeological digs from the Rocky Nook homes of John and Elizabeth, items uncovered from their son Joseph’s farm, letters to the Howland family from descendants of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, and much more.

12. Stroll Around the Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary

The Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the top things to see in Plymouth. Once a working cranberry farm, the sanctuary underwent the largest freshwater ecological restoration project in the Northeast. The result was a 481-acre haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with tons of trails to explore, filled with unique flora and fauna. Here, you’ll find cold-water streams, ponds, forests, woodlands, and the many creatures who call these environments home.

Currently, there are four miles of trails to traverse throughout this sanctuary, though more are being developed. The trails will take you past old cranberry bogs, cattail marshes, and many more unique ecosystems. 

While you can explore here on your own, the sanctuary also offers many programs that will help you learn more about what you’re seeing. From guided walks to reading groups, these programs are a great way to connect with nature while also getting to know the people of Plymouth and your fellow travelers.

13. Have a Day at the Beach

If you’re visiting when the weather’s warm, you may want to add a beach day to your list of things to do in Plymouth. Plymouth is home to a diverse array of beaches, each offering something a bit different.

Long Beach is as popular for people as it is for migratory birds. If you want to do some bird-watching, this beach is a great place to go. It’s also great for long walks in the sand at sunset.

Or head to Ellisville Harbor State Park if you want to experience the beach alongside other spectacular ecosystems, including a beautiful red pine forest. If you’re visiting in the winter months, you’ll still want to head to this beach to hopefully catch a glimpse of harbor seals.

Visiting with little ones? Stop by Nelson Memorial Beach Park . In addition to the beach, you also get many amenities here, including a play area and splash pad for kids. If you’re worried about your children not being ready for the ocean, you can still enjoy the stunning views while your little ones have some fun in the splash pad.

14. Take a Cranberry Bog Tour

Plymouth and its surrounding communities are filled with cranberry bogs, and visiting these bogs is one of the most unique things to do in Plymouth. But there’s a very limited amount of time to see the harvest in action.

Massachusetts Cranberries offers tours from their barn in nearby Carver. From there, they take groups out on rented school buses to bring them up close to where the wet harvest is happening. But tours only run for the public on the weekends during the harvest season. They begin at the end of September and last until the first weekend in November.

The cranberry harvest is a stunning sight. Plus, you’ll learn about what it takes to harvest these crimson beauties and how your favorite cranberry treats are made! And when the tour ends, you can take home some cranberries and cranberry-filled products from the company’s small shop.

15. Have a Spooky Good Time on a Ghost Tour

In a place known for its history, it makes sense that there might be more than a few spooky specters hanging around Plymouth. Gear up for some scary Plymouth sightseeing on a tour with Dead of Night Ghost Tours .

On their Nightly Twilight Lantern Ghost Tour, you’ll go on a two-hour walking tour of the most historically haunted areas of the city. As you walk along the oldest streets in the US, you’ll hear tales of the paranormal and make your way to where the most frequent ghost sightings happen in Plymouth.

Visit the old Town Square, said to be forever cursed by Wampanoag sachem Metacom, known to colonists as King Philip. Venture through Burial Hill, the burying ground of many Pilgrims. And hear tales of local legends and folklore that date back centuries. 

Your guide has been studying the paranormal for decades, and she can tell you about the many encounters she’s had over the years, including one that led to the creation of this very tour. Be sure to bring your camera, as many a chilling sight has been caught on film on this tour!

There you have it! The 15 best things to do in Plymouth. What’s your favorite thing to do in Plymouth? Let us know in the comments!

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About the Author:

Jacqueline is a writer and editor pursuing the freelance life to explore the world. Born and raised in New Jersey, she spent her college years in Boston before settling down with her partner and puppy in Monterey, California. When she’s not writing, you can often find her planning her next trip. Road trips are her favorite, whether it’s driving across the country or simply exploring a new city in her own backyard. She loves uncovering the history of every new place she goes. Jacqueline has a restless passion for learning and makes it a goal to pick up a new skill every year. She’s picked up embroidery, crocheting, knitting, and cross-stitching, but she’s hoping to master more languages to help her in her travels. She’s also a published author, with short stories and poetry appearing in several anthologies.

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