the pilgrims landed on plymouth rock in 1620.
the pilgrims landed on plymouth rock in 1620.
when did the pilgrims land on plymouth rock?
1620
plymouth rock is the traditional site of disembarkation of william bradford and the "mayflower" pilgrims who founded plymouth colony in 1620. the pilgrims did not refer to plymouth rock in any of their writings; the first known written reference to the rock dates to 1715 when it was described in the town boundary records as "a great rock." the first documented claim that plymouth rock was the landing place of the pilgrims was made by elder thomas faunce in 1741, 121 years after the pilgrims arrived in plymouth. from that time to the present, plymouth rock has occupied a prominent spot in american tradition and has been interpreted by later generations as a symbol of both the virtues and the flaws of the first english people who colonized new england. in 1774, the rock broke in half during an attempt to haul it to town square in plymouth. the top portion (the fragment now visible) sat in town square, was moved to pilgrim hall museum in 1834, and was returned to its original site on the shore of plymouth harbor in 1880. today it is ensconced beneath a granite canopy designed by mckim, mead & white.
plymouth rock
plymouth rock became very famous after its identification as the supposed landing site of the pilgrims, and was subsequently moved to a location in plymouth center. during the process, the rock split in two. it was later moved to pilgrim hall and then to a location under a granite victorian canopy, where it was easily accessible and subject to souvenir hunters. the rock was finally moved back to its original location along the town's waterfront in 1921. "plymouth rock", a large boulder, now sits under the historic plymouth rock portico. the neo-classical revival structure was designed by the highly influential architectural firm of mckim, mead and white, designers of the boston public library, rhode island state house and the former pennsylvania station in new york city. built in 1921 the existing granite portico replaced an earlier gothic revival style monument designed by hammatt billings (who also designed the national monument to the forefathers). in 1970 the plymouth rock portico was listed in the national register of historic places. the rock and portico are the centerpiece of pilgrim memorial state park. the park is the smallest park in the massachusetts state forest and park system, but is also the most heavily visited.
plymouth, massachusetts