Celebrate Thanksgiving at Plimoth Plantation
Photo courtesy of Plimoth Plantation
Have you ever wondered what life was like before Blackberries and iPods? If so, here’s your chance to step back in time and experience daily life in seventeenth century New England. Plimoth Plantation is a living history museum that recreates a 1627 English village in Plymouth Colony.
Amidst the timber-framed houses and fragrant gardens, you can chat with costumed reenactors and watch skilled crafters as they create historically authentic furniture, baskets, clothing, and more. You can also visit Mayflower II, a full-scale reproduction of the ship that brought many of the first European settlers to the “New World.” In honor of Thanksgiving, the Plantation stays open all day with dining options and special exhibits to commemorate the first harvest celebration of 1621.
Here are some facts about Thanksgiving, courtesy of our partners at Plimoth Plantation:
- In the 1620s, a Thanksgiving was a religious day of fasting.
- There was no popcorn, mashed potatoes, or apple pie served at the First Harvest Celebration of 1621—They didn’t have potatoes or apples back then, but of course, those are some of our favorite Thanksgiving dishes today!
- The First Harvest Celebration of 1621 only became known as the “First Thanksgiving” in the mid 1800’s.
- President Lincoln declared the First National Thanksgiving Holiday in 1863.
- After the Civil War, many southerners were reluctant to celebrate a holiday with such Yankee roots.
- None of the early 17th century Thanksgivings (St. Augustine, Jamestown, Plimoth, etc.) had anything to do with the development of our modern holiday.
- The museum serves over 5,000 turkey dinners the week of Thanksgiving…or the equivalent of 250, 20-pound turkeys.
- This month over 70,000 people will make the pilgrimage to Plimoth Plantation.
For a twenty-first century look at seventeenth century life, check out Plimoth Plantation’s blogs, which are written from the perspective of an embroiderer and a captain. Happy Thanksgiving!
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