America's Hometown: Plymouth, Massachusetts
Plymouth is a quintessential New England town conveniently nestled between Boston and Cape Cod. Plymouth is home to not only the Pilgrim story but iconic landmarks, cranberry harvests, ocean views, and charming accommodations.
Exploring Plymouth, MA
“Exploring Plymouth Massachusetts” is a new video series by The Mayflower Society that explores various aspects of the town of Plymouth, MA, from plants and animals to ships and mills!
Check out the Episodes Below!
Ep 1: The Herring Run
In episode 1, Plymouth renowned Historian Jim Baker and Mayflower Society Governor General Lisa Pennington take a look into the fascinating history of the “herring run,” where river herring (both anadromous alewives and blueback herring) swim up the Plymouth Town Brook from the ocean to the Billington sea every year between late April and early May to breed in fresh water.
Ep 2: The Nemasket Trail
In episode 2 renowned Historian Jim Baker takes Lisa Pennington, Mayflower Society’s Governor General, on a walking tour of the Nemasket Trail.
The Nemasket Trail was one of the first indiginous trails known and used by the Pilgrims. The trail ran from the pilgrim’s original settlement in Plimoth (Patuxet) through Middleboro, MA (Nemasket) to Bristol, RI (Pokanoket). According to Mourt’s Relation, on June 10th, 1621 Edward Winslow, Stephen Hopkins and Squanto set out on a journey on the Nemasket Trail to visit Massasoit at his home in Pokanoket.
Ep 3: Mayflowers
In episode 3, renowned Historian Jim Baker takes Lisa Pennington, Mayflower Society’s Governor General, on a nature walk to find where Mayflowers grow. Did you know that Mayflowers (as well as the shadbush) bloom around the same time of year that the herring run? If you want to see Mayflowers in bloom in Plymouth, MA be sure to visit between late April and Early May.
Ep 4: Industrial Mills
In episode 4 of “Exploring Plymouth Massachusetts,” renowned Historian Jim Baker takes Lisa Pennington, Mayflower Society’s Governor General, on a walk along Plymouth’s Town Brook to discuss the early industrial mills, once located there. There were iron mills, cotton mills, snuff mills and more. “Plymouth was once an industrial center, today it is not.”
Ep 5: Leyden Street
In episode 5 of “Exploring Plymouth Massachusetts,” the Mayflower Society’s Governor General, Lisa Pennington takes us on a tour of Leyden Street, the oldest street in America that has been continuously lived on. Join Lisa on this virtual walking tour “in the footsteps of the pilgrims.”
Ep 6: Plymouth Rock
Hear the full story of Plymouth Rock in this episode of “Exploring Plymouth Massachusetts” with Lisa Pennington, Governor General of The Mayflower Society.
“Plymouth Rock is a lot more important than the Pilgrims stepping on it in 1620, in fact in 1774 it was one of the most important things that Plymothians used to advance the patriot cause in the Revolutionary War.” – Lisa Pennington
Ep 7: Cole's Hill
Join Lisa Pennington, Governor General of The Mayflower Society, as she talks about Cole’s Hill, a National Historic Landmark once used by the Mayflower Pilgrims to bury their dead.
A granite sarcophagus erected by The Mayflower Society in 1920 on this hill contains the skeletal remains believed to be those of the original Mayflower settlers.