Plymouth, Massachusetts

We spent Monday morning at Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts; it is a fantastic living museum, depicting life in the Plymouth colony in 1627. The books "Sam Easton's Day" and "Sarah Morton's Day" were photographed here. 

The first section we visited was the Wampanoag Homesite. The staff in this section dressed historically accurately, but spoke in modern English from a present day perspective. The fascinating thing about this museum was that the staff engaged in the kinds of everyday activities that the Wampanoag people would have. So you could watch things be done or cooked the way they would have in the 17th century.

Building a canoe using fire

Next we headed to the crafts section with its displays as well as a potter and carpenter at work using techniques from the early 17th century. Many of the items used in the pilgrim village were made here.

The last section we visited was the full scale replica of Plimouth Plantation in 1627. Throughout the village were many role players, who dressed and spoke as 17th century villagers. They were fabulous storytellers! Each person had his own story and were happy to tell it, as well as answer any questions you might have (What are you doing? When did you come to the plantation? Why did you come? Who is in your family?). It was Monday, so laundry day and lots of blankets and pillows were drying in the sun.

Looking down the main road; we later went to the original street

Above the meeting house; the meeting house was designed as a fort, so that the women and children could be below and protected from above by the men and cannons

This gentleman showed us numerous weapons; when Josiah got bored, he and I slipped into next door house where he got to climb on a bed and be sung an old children's song

Our one family portrait!

Miles Standish, I think

Then we drove the couple of miles to where Plymouth actually was founded.

Mayflower II, a full scale replica of the Mayflower

Plymouth Rock