by Isabelle Esteves

Created on: February 18, 2009   Last Updated: December 19, 2011

Plimoth Plantation is what is known as a living history museum. It is located just south of the current day city of Plymouth, Massachusetts. The year at Plimoth Plantation is 1627 and as soon as you enter the gates, all the interpreters in the English village, will be respond to your questions as if they lived in that year.

It has been seven years since the Mayflower landed with the hardy band of settlers. Thanks to the local Indians,  the "pilgrims" as they are now called,  have thrived.  Would that the Wampanoag Indians could say the same. Their immune system was unprepared for the diseases brought by the European settlers.

The houses are small and half timbered. Depending on the time of year,  there will be numerous task being performed by the residents. Even though they are busy with their everyday lives,  they always have time to stop and talk to visitors and discuss what life is like at the Plimoth Colony in 1627. This is a fascinating history lesson for children and for adults.

The houses are eye opening. They are much smaller than we are used to today and it is very evident that the ideas we have about privacy were non-existent in 1627. The fact that everyone slept together in one room and sometimes even in one bed is very hard for us to comprehend today. Life was simple and hard and yet there is a sense of happiness that can often be missing today. They didn't take the freedoms that we have  for granted. It is eye opening for the entire family.

If you have ever dreamed of talking with Miles Standish or John Alden, this is going to be your chance. Both of them have homes in the village and they can be found wandering through town or working at their homes. All of the players will be named for the actually colonists be they male or female. The woman will be cooking in the manner of the year on an open hearth and you will see just how simple their basic fare is. You can feel free to ask any questions or to pitch in and help  with any task that can be done by more than one person. This is a very interactive museum.

In addition to the Pilgrim Village there is an Indian Village and you can also speak and see the Wampanoag. You can enter into their home, known as a wetu and make yourself at home while you listen to stories about the people who lived here for 12,000 years before the white man ventured across the Atlantic. Unlike Plimoth,  in the Wampanoag homesite there are no characters, the players will be real Native Americans telling yesterday's stories from today's perspective.

Visiting Plimoth Plantation is a chance to partake in a living experience. It is perfect combined with a visit to the Mayflower II which is berthed in downtown Plymouth. You can also stop by the Pavilion protection our national treasure, Plymouth Rock.

There is a wonderful gift store with lots of interesting items and also books on the area and the history.

Open late March through late November 9:30am to 5pm

Adults $25.50

Senior over 62 $23.00

Children 6-11 $ 15.00

The tickets are good for two days.  Many people find that there is too much to see to do it all in one day. As you can well imagine,  Thanksgiving is a very popular time here but in the warm weather,  any weekend day is going to have a sizable crowd walking through town. Combination tickets are also offered.

There are several very nice hotels in Plymouth and all of them cater to families with children, so pack up the kids and give them a history lesson that they will really enjoy.

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