A Quick Trip to Plymouth...

Look where I went, and what I learned in about an hour !

Arriving early to Plymouth to meet friends for dinner, I took a quick tour of some of the many historic treasures this town has to offer.

The National Monument to the Forefathers, formerly known as the Pilgrim Monument, commemorates the Mayflower, Pilgrims and honors their ideals as later generally embraced by the United States. Located on Allerton Street in Plymouth, Massachusetts,   the 81-foot-tall monument was commissioned by the Pilgrim Society. The original concept dates to around 1820, with actual planning beginning in 1850. The corner-stone was laid August 2, 1859 by the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts, under the direction of Grand Master John T. Heard. The monument was completed in October 1888, and was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies on August 1, 1889.
The monument, which faces northeast to Plymouth Harbor (and, roughly, towards Plymouth, England), sits in the center of a circular drive. The plan of the principal pedestal is octagonal, with four small, and four large faces. On the main pedestal stands the heroic figure of "Faith." Upon the four buttresses are seated figures emblematic of the principles upon which the
Pilgrims founded their Commonwealth; counter-clockwise from the east are Freedom, Morality, Law and Education. Each was carved from a solid block of granite, posed in the sitting position.

Under "Freedom" stand "Tyranny" and "Peace;" under "Morality" stand "Prophet" and "Evangelist;" under "Law" stand "Justice" and "Mercy;" and under "Education" are "Youth" and "Wisdom." On the face of the buttresses, beneath these figures are high reliefs in marble, representing scenes from Pilgrim history.

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The overall scheme was designed by architect Hammatt Billings, with subsidiary statues executed by area sculptors including William Rimmer.

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The monument was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 30, 1974. Originally under the care of the Pilgrim Society, it was given to the Massachusetts government in 2001.

It and Plymouth Rock constitute the Pilgrim Memorial State Park.



Plymouth Rock

Pilgrims Memorial Park - (Cafe' Strega top right)

See how much you can see and learn in a very short time.

It was fun too !