Pilgrim Memorial State Park

Posted on June 18, 2022June 12, 2022 by Dusty Roads

Pilgrim Memorial State Park

The Pilgrims, Plymouth Rock, the Mayflower…things we have heard about since we were children. That’s why Pilgrim Memorial State Park is one of the most visited Parks in the state. I am sure this little park makes a huge impression on young people when parents bring them along for a bit of “educational” vacation.

Located at 79 Water St, Plymouth, MA, the park is right on the waterfront making a visually stunning scene. From the Pilgrim cabins to the Mayflower replica (Mayflower II) this 17 acre park is the smallest state park. It may be small but it’s mighty. Over 1 million visitors flock to this lovely park that is steeped in history.

Plymouth Rock

This is a rock that might as well have had legs. It’s been moved and transported from location to location over the years. During the course of it’s many moves it was broken in half. Finally to preserve the historic stone it was placed on the waterfront where it is located today. A granite portico was built to protect it from the weather and souvenir hunters who liked to chip off pieces of the stone. The current portico was built in 1921 replacing an earlier gothic revival style monument. Whether you visit during the day or at night, this is a beautiful monument.

The Mayflower II

Board the Mayflower II docked at the State Pier in Plymouth. It looks sturdy quietly moored in the placid harbor but think about the size of the cruise ships that ply the oceans today and then imagine spending not weeks, but months (66 days) on an ocean voyage in this tiny vessel. The holds are dark and cramped. No air conditioning here. It makes me think of an old saying I heard once “Protect me Oh Lord for the Ocean is so big and my ship is so small”. If you are there at the right time of the year the crew is in full 1600’s attire and prepared to tell you of life aboard ship on that fateful voyage.

If You Go

Enjoy a Self Guided walking tour of the Park and it’s monuments

The walk is only about 1/4 mile and takes about 30 minutes

There are 9 stop on the tour including the Mayflower II and Plymouth Rock

Challenge #1 ~ Plymouth Rock

Posted on March 22, 2013March 22, 2013 by Dusty Roads

Did you get it? It’s Plymouth Rock.

The first time I went to see Plymouth Rock I was surprised to see the monument. For some reason I expected a rock possibly protected by a fence around it. I wasn’t expecting this elaborate memorial.

Plymouth Rock located in Pilgrim Memorial State Park is in one of the most heavily visited State Parks in the system. The big draw being the “Rock”, the world-famous symbol of the courage and faith of the men and women who founded the first New England Colony.

Every year nearly one million people from all over the world come to visit the town where in 1620 Europeans first made a home in New England.

The park is located on Water St, Plymouth , Ma.

In 1774, Plymouth Rock split in two when a team of oxen attempted to raise it. Only the lower portion was left at the waterfront. The upper portion was moved to be displayed in the Town Square. Souvenir seekers caused further damage so the rock was moved again to the safety of an iron fence at Pilgrim Hall in 1834.

It had a rough trip to the museum obtaining a distinctive crack when it fell off its conveyance.

In 1859 the Pilgrim Society acquired the other half of Plymouth Rock and in 1867 a canopy structure was completed on the waterfront to house it. In 1880 the upper chunk was united with the lower piece with cement and 1620 was carved into the rock.

Plymouth rock made its last move to its current location in 1921 during the celebration of Plymouth’s tercentenary and a new canopy.

If you plan to visit you will find a replica of the Mayflower, the Mayflower II, anchored in the park.

So that’s challenge #1. Tomorrow I’ll have a new one for you. 🙂 At least you know it won’t be the Mayflower!

Challenge # 1

Posted on March 21, 2013March 21, 2013 by Dusty Roads

I think this first one will be easy. What is it and where is it? Answer tomorrow but I bet most of you get it first. 🙂

Eiffel Tower

Posted on March 20, 2013March 20, 2013 by Dusty Roads

The Eiffel Tower (French: La Tour Eiffel, is an iron lattice tower located on the in Champ de Mars, Paris, France. The structure carries the name of the engineer who designed and built the tower in 1889.

The Eiffel Tower is the tallest building in Paris and the most visited paid monument in the world.

The Eiffel tower was built for the 1889 World Fair. It was said to be the ‘symbol of our achievements in the field of science and engineering’.

Construction of the Eiffel Tower began on January 28, 1887, and was eventually completed on March 31, 1889. It took 2 years, 2 months, and 5 days , for the 300 workers involved to complete the project.

The Eiffel Tower has a total of 1710 steps ( Just imagine climbing them all) to the third level small platform at the top, 674 steps to the second level, and 347 steps to the first level, all counted from the ground.

There’s much more I could list here but I have to save some for when I really go there. But I think you get the idea. So tomorrow I’ll post the first landmark/monument for real.

Coming Attractions

Posted on March 19, 2013March 19, 2013 by Dusty Roads

With the nasty weather the northeast has been experiencing since I came back from Florida and the time it’s taken to assimilate Buddy into our little family, I haven’t been doing too much exploring.

For once Sunday at work was not too crazy so I sat and pondered what I could write about until I get out and about again. I thought of a few places that would be awesome for pictures and of course that would mean some good stories but none are open yet. Some won’t open their doors until May!

May is the Alaska cruise so I’m sure I’ll have a lot to tell you then but there’s the rest of March and all of April so what can I share that would be of interest?

I think I have an idea. I have thousands of pictures from my trips, both away and locally. But just dumping a bunch of pictures isn’t that interesting so I thought a challenge might be fun.

Lets say I went to Paris. (I haven’t but we’re just pretending right now). While in Paris I took a picture of the Eiffel Tower. I would post the picture and you’d have to figure out that it was the Eiffel Tower in Paris France.

The next post will give you the answer so you’ll know if you are right and tell a little bit about the picture or landmark.

So even though I haven’t been to Paris and I have to “steal” a picture of the Eiffel Tower. Here it is.