Plymouth Rock

June 11, 2006

Plymouth, MA







There are many places around the country where they have character actors recreating historical figures or peoples, dressing in period costumes, attempting accents and mannerisms of a given time and such, but I have never been to a place where it is well done as it is at the Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, MA. Despite continued steady rain, Kari, Kathy and I visited this wonderful facility yesterday and truly took in the experience of the pilgrims. In addition to a world-class visitor center and education facility, Plimoth Plantation has recreated a working replica of the Pilgrim village from 1627 including a remarkable collection of actors who basically live their roles as Pilgrims. They were insightful, intelligent and incredibly realistic in their portrayals, not at all the hokey type that is so common in recreations. It was a truly amazing place. Signs entering the Indian village warned visitors of the proper behavior( for example; do not raise your hand and say “How”), to exhibit when interacting with the Native People who though portraying historical figures were all themselves Indian craftsmen and women who had not only built the village, but created the authentic implements and artifacts fund there.

Our historical exploration of the Pilgrims continued as we journeyed to the Plymouth Waterfront to visit the famous “Plymouth Rock” the purported first landing site of the Pilgrims in 1620. We also toured the replica of the Mayflower which is docked at Plymouth. You really got an appreciation of the hardships that the Pilgrims experienced when you experience the small quarters found on the boat. We were also pleased to see a plaque there that recognized the “National Day of Mourning” that is held each Thanksgiving by Native Americans to honor the Indians whose way of life was destroyed by the onslaught of settlers.




Yesterday evening, we returned for the second week to the sauna at the UKTS summer camp, this time bring a much larger crowd as we were joined by Kari, Sophie, James, Julie, Bayla, Aunt Kathy & Uncle Al and their friend Ann Sweeney. The weather was still rainy and the lake was cold, but we had a great time, finishing the evening with a great dinner at the Bridgwaye Inn in Humarock.





Today the rain has finally stopped and the bright sunshine has returned. We are going to attend services at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist church in Scituate, MA.