Plimoth Patuxet Museums (US)
Plimoth Patuxet Museums is a living museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA, that re-creates the original settlement of Plymouth Colony established in 1620 by the English Colonists, known as Pilgrims. The 17th-Century English Village consists of Pilgrim houses and outbuildings built in front of the public using traditional timberframing technology, and is staffed by interpreters playing the roles of colonists who lived in Plymouth in 1627.
Welcome to the 17th Century! Plymouth Colony comes to life in our recreation of early Plymouth, complete with timber-framed houses furnished with reproductions of the types of objects that the Pilgrims* owned, aromatic kitchen gardens, and heritage breeds livestock. Spend some time exploring! When you encounter someone wearing historical clothing, they are playing the role of an actual inhabitant of Plymouth Colony. They will talk about historical events and lifeways as if they are happening in the present, and will express their hopes, fears, and viewpoints. Modern-day guides will help you better understand the 1600s.
*Although not commonly used until the 19th century, for the sake of convenience, we often use the popular term Pilgrim when talking about the Plymouth Colonists.
Located on the Eel River, the Historic Patuxet Homesite is where guests learn about the Native peoples who have lived here for over 12,000 years. We invite you to learn about the Indigenous heritage of the Northeast from contemporary interpreters who discuss the 17th-century lifeways of a culture that continues to thrive today.
What will you do at the Historic Patuxet Homesite?
Step inside a wetu (house)! Take a seat on the soft fur-lined benches, warm yourself by the fire on cold days, and learn about home and family life of Wampanoag communities in the 17th-century. Be sure to touch the different furs, play the catch games made from animal bones and find out where people sleep in the wetu.
Watch staff work on making a mishoon (dug-out canoe), using fire as a tool to shape the vessel. You may be asked to assist our staff by using shells to scrape the inside of the mishoon.
At the cooking area, learn about the Wampanoag seasonal diet. Maybe something will even be cooking, like meat over the fire, or soup or tea over the hot coals.
You may see staff working in the garden, growing corn, squash, and beans. They will tell you about the seasonal work of growing food.
What will you do at the 17th-Century English Village?
A goodwife, or Pilgrim woman, might ask you to help her pound corn. You might visit the garden with her or help her make sage and salt toothpaste. You may be called upon to participate in a muster drill! Captain Miles Standish will teach you to follow his commands. Learn about 17th-century defense, and how the Pilgrims prepared themselves to keep their town safe. Play a Pilgrim game! The Pilgrims worked very hard, but they had some time for recreation, especially activities that made them exercise their minds.