In Search of Thanksgiving~Plimouth Plantation

Plymouth, MA. home of the Pilgrims, the Mayflower, Plymouth Rock, Thanksgiving, or so we are taught in school. But how much of this is myth, legend and just plain misinformation?

Since it is Thanksgiving time, I thought a trip to Plymouth to visit the Plimouth Plantation might just answer some of my questions.

Plimouth Plantation has a special Thanksgiving day feast re-creation and you can buy tickets to attend. Traditional 17^th century foods are cooked as they were in the 17^th century...no modern ovens here. But I was more in search of the dynamics between the Native Americans and the English Colonists, known today as the Pilgrims.

Today seemed like a perfect day to head to Plymouth. The sun was trying to peek through a cloud cover and the temps were approaching 60 degrees. Unheard of for the end of November but perfect for wandering through an outdoor exhibit.

This time of year a lot of schools take field trips to the Plimouth Plantation and the Mayflower II as part of their Thanksgiving curriculum but they usually go in the morning so I planned my visit for around noon. That proved to be a bit early as the place was still packed with school children. There is a separate parking lot for buses and that was full. They had buses parking in the back of the car parking lot too. But I was there so there was no turning back. I would just have to brave the munchkin crowds.

You enter the Plimouth Plantation through a wooden entryway and then down a flight of wooden stairs. There is a path for strollers and handicap access.

First stop is the Henry Hornblower II Visitor Center.

 Here there is an orientation movie, (which is about 15 minutes long and quite good), 3 distinctive gift shops, a café, rest rooms plus special exhibits. Today there is one called Thanksgiving, Memory, Myth & Meaning. Sounds like exactly what I’m looking for.

I purchased a combo ticket as it was only $4.00 more to add the Mayflower II to the ticket, a savings of $6.00. (The ticket for the Mayflower is $10.00 when purchased separately). With a complimentary map in hand I headed out to the first stop…The Wampanoag Homesite.