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Faces of History

Plimoth Plantation

Plymouth, Massachusetts

It was a cold day in December when the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock back in 1620. As the pilgrims disembarked, they did so with a sense of purpose to build a better life for themselves and their children. Their aim was to begin a colony where they would be free to worship in the way they wanted. The New World offered the chance at a new beginning.

It was their faith, courage and sense of unity that laid the foundation for the country, and their legacy lives on to this day. Today, Plimoth Plantation showcases how they lived when they arrived with modest timber-framed houses, heritage breeds of cattle and even actors portraying the early settlers dressed in the style of the times and interacting with their Wampanoag neighbors. It’s not that time has stood still on this historic site; it’s the original vision of archaeologist Henry Hornblower II that has been brought to life through an interactive living-history museum.

The village opened in 1947 and has grown to include a 17th-century English Village, a reproduction of the Mayflower ship, a Wampanoag homesite, a visitors center, a craft center, a cinema, a working gristmill and a selection of heritage breed animals.

“The faith of the Pilgrims is a source of inspiration for so many church groups who visit Plimoth Plantation,” said Kate Sheehan, associate director, media relations and marketing for Plimoth Plantation. “Visitors can interact with William Brewster [the colony’s spiritual leader], ask the residents about practicing their faith in a new land or perhaps attend a sermon in the Fort Meetinghouse.”

www.plimoth.org