As long as you have the right mindset and think of this as a trio of museums-- the main grounds on Warren Avenue (formerly "Plymouth Plantation"), the Mayflower II on the waterfront, and the Grist Mill further inland, it can be a fun, educational and step-count-padding experience. But each one unto itself can be as underwhelming as Plymouth Rock is small (and underwhelming)-- and I came in with high expectations based on fond memories from youth. -- Pilgrim Village and Wampanoag Huts: Impressive structures, but mostly empty, with very sparse allocation of costumed human actors and no scheduled presentations. It's sort of the historical/museum equivalent of going to see a comedian who doesn't have an actual set, but relies exclusively on crowd work. The actors, when you can find them, do a nice job, and some are quite knowledgable-- but the onus is on the paying visitors to ask questions, so go in ready to do your own crowd work. They all stay in character, so you can't really ask about them in the third person or refer to things later than outside their 1627 setting. Interestingly, there's at least twice as many gift shop employees as costumed actors. Parking is plentiful. A 2.5-mile ride to the two other attractions. -- Grist Mill: A more relaxed look and an actual presentation, both upstairs where the corn is ground and downstairs looking at the machinery. Another gift shop. Limited parking. Walkable to/from the Mayflower II. -- Mayflower II: A 1950s replica of the original Mayflower, sent to the US as a gift from England. Fun to look around, but limited staff and no real presentation. It's up to you to ask questions. No parking specifically dedicated to this attraction; you gotta park on the main streets. Walkable to/from the Grist Mill. This can be an enjoyable experience if you come prepared with things you want to ask and understand the mostly-self-guided aspect. If not, it can be tiring, boring, and awkward. read more

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Plimoth Patuxent Museums is a living history museum in Plymouth that operates at a level of immersion and historical depth that distinguishes it from most comparable sites in New England. We spent a full day on the main campus, which encompasses the reconstructed English colonial village, the Wampanoag homesite, a wooden fort overlooking the bay, and access to the Mayflower II and the Grist Mill. The combination of those components made it a full day visit rather than a quick stop. The historical interpreters are the defining element of the experience. In the English colonial village, the actors remained in character throughout, speaking as 17th century colonists and engaging with us from within that perspective without breaking the illusion. The knowledge they brought to those interactions was thorough enough that specific questions about individual historical figures, including ancestors who came over on the Mayflower, could often be addressed in detail. The Wampanoag homesite operates differently, with Native staff who speak as themselves and share the history and culture of the Wampanoag people from their own perspective rather than through historical character. That distinction is meaningful and gave the site a dual narrative. The canoe making demonstrations and the depth of knowledge the staff brought to those conversations were highlights of that section. For a living history experience that handles multiple perspectives with care and depth, Plimoth Patuxent Museums is one of the more rewarding historical sites in the region and well worth the time commitment. read more

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A fun day in Plymouth (the spelling with the i is the original historic spelling!) They have a joint ticket option to visit the living history museum, the Mayflower 2, and the Grist Mill (the latter is only $2 more and worth it). The best part is the Living History Museum where you can wander in and out of houses constructed for the time period. They also have goats and sheep!!! Sooo cute. We came in November where it was Thanksgiving preparation in the village. Felt like going back in time. The Mayflower 2 is a reconstruction of the ship and cool to walk through. Great bang for your buck if you like learning or history or just sight-seeing. read more

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Tucked right near the Mayflower II in Plymouth Harbor, the Plimoth Patuxet gift shop is more than just a place to grab a souvenir, it's a cozy little treasure trove that blends local history, handmade charm, and Cape Cod vibes in one rustic, wood-beamed cabin. The moment you step inside, you're hit with that old-timey warmth wood floors, stone walls, and shelves overflowing with thoughtful, nautical, and handcrafted goods. It's like a colonial general store married a Cape Cod art boutique and gave birth to the cutest shop in town. Here's what stood out: Unique Selection Forget the mass-produced keychains this place has beautifully curated items. Think handmade soaps, local pottery, sea glass art, nautical ornaments, wind chimes, themed tea towels, and even Pilgrim doll collectibles for the history lovers. Whether you're into kitschy or classy, there's something for every taste. Perfect for Gifts & Keepsakes They've got everything from mugs and magnets to coastal jewelry and books on New England folklore. It's the kind of place where you walk in thinking you'll just browse and walk out with an armful of gifts you didn't know you needed. Kid-Friendly Finds Too For families, there's a nice mix of educational toys, plush Pilgrims, puzzles, and coloring books. A great way to get the kids excited about history without forcing another museum brochure into their hands. Atmosphere Matters The ambiance is worth mentioning again. The beams, lighting, and layout make the shop feel like part of the experience, not just a commercial afterthought. It's an extension of the Mayflower visit and honestly, a great spot to warm up if the sea breeze is kicking in. Final Word: If you're visiting the Mayflower II, don't skip the gift shop. It's cozy, well-stocked, and full of surprises perfect for a meaningful souvenir or a last-minute gift that doesn't feel last-minute. Bonus points for feeling like you stepped into a living slice of New England history. #MayflowerGiftShop #PlymouthMA #PlimothPatuxet #CozyCabinVibes #HistoryMeetsHomeGoods #SupportLocalMakers #It'sTheLittleThings #ThePuddingCreekTrestle read more

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The burger was RAW and so were the hotdogs we thought that only the cookies were safe AND THEY WERE GREEN. Never come here. read more

Plimoth Patuxet Museums - Green cookie - Museums Near Me - Plymouth, Massachusetts

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This was by far the highlight of our Plymouth trip. Sure, the rock was fun to see, but I loved the actors and village on display at this museum. They're incredibly fun to talk to and have their own stories to tell. You could easily spend hours talking to all of them. We also learned how to march as a militia! The cafe was good, I really enjoyed the "taste of history" section where they had Wampanoag-style meals. I don't recommend the chicken sandwich, it was slightly undercooked. Overall,I highly recommend this for both kids and adults. What a historical place! read more

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The good: the guides were amazing and the programs were fun and educational. The bad: When we had an issue with a leaking tent, the person on night duty was unkind and annoyed with us and told us we couldn't sleep inside due to fire regulations. This may be true, but she could have been kinder and tried to find a solution. I wonder what they would have done if it had thundered. read more

I got to pet a goat! I also got to learn about the real natives there and their culture. They have shops, and everyone was super nice.

There are cross dressing Pilgrims walking around. My daughter was confused when she saw a female pilgrim and said "that's a man!". I'm pretty sure the pilgrims wouldn't have been ok with gender fluidity. Also, we found several of the cast members to be rude and condescending when answering our questions. We've been studying the pilgrims in our lessons and my 8 year old daughter actually knows a lot about them. When we playfully sparked conversation using some of our knowledge and asking questions several of them said we were flat out wrong with our information and quite rude. I guess their version of history is somewhat different than the truth. A very "woke" version. We won't be back. We spent a lot of money to be treated like cattle and expose my children to leftist ideological BS. read more

Loved! During our Mass. trip this was a must stop. I am personally very interested in history, especially experiences like this one. The maps and trails are very easy to follow. I absolutely loved their staff were both in and out of character so you can ask any questions you'd like. It didnt feel cheesy or touristy at all either. I loved walking through the native hut and hearing about their boat making which was crazy! The colonist village was also very cool. I'd recommend not waiting until the end of the day to visit as they have many speakers and demonstrations going on earlier in the day! Absolutely will be back again, I cant recommend it enough. read more

Another tourist trap that suppose to be a destination to see and feel the pilgrim story but unfortunately you will only see 5-8 pilgrims in the village and way to much gift shops that are high priced the native site is outstanding and much better than the pilgrim site and they have a ouch staff that love teaching the real story read more

Plimoth is worth visiting, but honestly not like I remember it as a kid. Like many other reviewers, the area looks the same as it used to, and seems very well taken care of, but there was a vast shortage of animals, actors, and guests the day we visited. We chalked it up to being a holiday, and a very hot summer day, but it seems from reading the reviews that this may be the norm not the exception. I expected the villages to be much more lively than they were. There were certainly a few actors but not very many. As a kid, I remember there being chickens, pigs, cows, sheep, etc and this time we barely saw any animals, just a few goats and 1 bull. The gift shop also left a lot to be desired. It felt like things were either a million bucks and extremely higher end or fairly expensive "cheap" stuff imported for overseas. We partook in the cafe and found it nice actually but very expensive for what you get. We ordered 3 sandwiches/wraps and I got a pretzel (amazing!) and I think it was over $50. After the villages we went to the mayflower and it was pretty good, not amazing. We didn't get much of a talk but noticed a large group after us got a very extensive overview and tour and we joked about re-joining them as they seemed to get a ton of info. We asked a few questions but overall our visit on the mayflower was pretty quick. Despite all this I still completely recommend this to anyone, as it's a nice change of scenery and an enjoyable visit regardless. A very expensive visit after tickets, food etc and expected a bit more in terms of experience. Still well worth visiting but hopefully they're able to recruit more staff (and animals!) in the future. read more

I visited here when I was 13 years old and remember it being so lively, filled with period actors (both from the Patuxet villages as well as the English 17th Century villages). My husband has never been to Plymouth and is very interested in history, so I wanted to take him here so he could experience it. The one woman at the front desk wasn't the friendliest, but she was helpful providing us a map of the grounds. The blonde woman that works in the smaller gift shop near the Crafters area/refreshment cafe was not friendly at all. She was joking around with her colleague, barely addressing us, and seemed bothered to be making a transaction. I ended up having to come back towards the end of my trip to pick up something for my co-worker and this same blonde woman SIGHED before scanning my ONE item (and then commented to her co-worker about when she was taking break). There are very minimal employees in the villages (both Patuxet as well as English village). I'm not sure if it's because it's not Thanksgiving season where this might be at its prime, but there were four employees total in the Patuxet village, and one Pilgrim woman and maybe four Pilgrim men. The employees in the Patuxet village seemed very knowledgeable about the huts, the cooking, and the general lifestyle back then, and answered our group's questions with ease. It was also cool hearing the 17th Century people talk to us in the old time language. There was no one making things in the Crafters area (such as pottery, clothing, etc). Again, I'm sure if we were in a heightened season, we would see more employees working. All in all, it was a fun experience, and a lottt of walking, just wish the atmosphere was a tad more lively. read more

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Idk why but I always enjoy coming here. I remember the first time I went as a kid on a field trip and I've Gone a few times as an adult with my kids and we always have a good time. Usually make a day out of it with the heritage pass so we go here then to the mill and then over to the mayflower ll. Your whole family will really enjoy it read more

My family unfortunately planned only half a day. This is an entire day experience. We learned a lot from Native Americans. The presentation in their camp was a big eyes opener. You and your kids will learn a lot. In the village the presenter could have his own History Channel. He was entertaining and full of facts we have missed, or did not know, from the school. Make sure to reserve the entire day and come early, not to miss militia. read more

We bought the 3 in 1 ticket for $46 a person. The Mayflower and the Mill were very interesting and gave us the chance to walk around Plymouth. The museum was lacking in actors, exhibits and information. The village area has replicas of houses the Pilgrims lived in. There were 2 houses with actors and 1 house with goats. The houses are basically the same inside and out and there are no signs giving any information. The area that shows how the Wampanoag lived was really lacking. There were only 3 exhibits and no signs or information to read. I wanted to learn more about they lived and interacted with each other. read more

Visited all the museums in September 2023.. Began at the Patuxet village. It has a great visitor center and the employees are very helpful to help you navigate the site. People in wheelchairs can navigate up paved pathways, but to walk the village you may want to use a cane. They do have golf carts that take you back to the paved pathway. We learned so much from the people dressed in period clothes speaking as if they were in the 1600's. We saw one of the people making succotash soup in pots over an open fire & you could sample when done. It's a lot of walking but there are several places you can sit. They have a nice gift shop The Plimoth grist mill is a short tour and they don't grind every day. You do have to climb stairs. The Mayflower II is a step back in our history. Being able to walk around and see how small it was. I recommend you purchase the museum package for all 3 places to save money. We ended our tour with pics of Plymouth Rock. read more

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Plimouth Patuxet is a living history museum with a recreated native village and Pilgrim settlement on one property, a replica of the Mayflower (aptly named the Mayflower II) in downtown Plymouth, and replica of the Pilgrim's gristmill on a third site. We visited the villages and the Mayflower II on a beautiful 75 degree sunny day. The native village buildings were interesting, but there wasn't much going on in that area. They did have a couple of staff talking about the sleeping/living building and another talking about how they made their canoes. There was more happening in the settlement, which included a fort building and several homes with gardens. We talked with at least five re-enactors about life at the settlement. It was interesting. We also visited their craft building, where we learned about different types of pottery. The visitor center offers an introductory film, which I recommend viewing. It sets the stage for what you are about to experience. The visitor center also has a cafe where we enjoyed Native Succotash soup made with poultry, lima and kidney beans, corn, celery, and onions. It was delicious! We also got an Indian Pudding, which had the flavor of molasses, topped with whipped cream. It was a little too sweet for me. They have a large gift shop in the visitor center too. The Mayflower II was about a 3 mile drive into downtown Plymouth. The ship is beautiful, having been restored in 2000. We went aboard and learned about the shop and the Pilgrims' journey from the staff. It's worth the extra fee to add the ship onto your admission ticket. Bring situated in Plymouth, there are lots of cute shops and restaurants in the town. We found two parking lots and street parking. We used our Passport parking app to park in one of the lots. The price was $2/hour. They also have a gristmill to visit, which we did not visit. If you are looking for a great day trip out of Boston, or if your in the area, I recommend a visit. read more

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Came here when I was 10 years old, so on my family's trip to New England this year we decided to do it again with our 7 and 9 year old. We got the ticket that lets you also go to Mayflower II and the Grist Mill, which I was glad we did. The living history museum is beautiful and really looks like it probably did 400 years ago. The staff and reenactors were wonderful. My only complaint was that there weren't more of them. We came on a sunny Saturday and it was relatively empty - very few visitors and I only saw maybe 4-5 reenactors. They also have "modern" staff who can answer questions, but I wish there were more period actors to help the place come alive. That said, those who were there were great. I'd definitely come back. read more

Plimoth Patuxet Museums - Museums Near Me - Plymouth, Massachusetts

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As with many of the places that we visited on the East Coast on a recent trip, this was an absolutely amazing spot and made us want to come back and check it out again in the future! Plymouth plantation is different from Plymouth rock and was the area where the original pilgrims set up camp. The whole place is a rather large campus that has large trails that lead you through to different sections of the colony. There are areas where there are traditional Native American living arrangements including some really cool long houses, areas where they talk about making canoes out of one solid log, and areas where they talked about some of the agricultural practices. In another area, they have an actual colony set up with homes and actresses and actors that play the parts of early colonists. We got to talk to Mr. Standish for quite some time and the kids even got to help her make up a bed with a mattress that was filled with straw. A number of other people were distributed throughout the colony and interacting with them was a lot of fun. A young lady and an older woman were sitting outside of some of the houses singing a song that they taught our kids. We sang arousing version of a song I'd never heard that went' " Lady come down and see....The cat sits in the plumb tree." About three months later, this song is repeated by at least one of our children on a weekly basis. I fully expect somebody to sing this in their teenage years and ask where did this come from? Down at the far end was a building with a children's play area where there were tons of things to dress up in. Overall, we spent about five hours here and could've spent many more. We had a picnic at the picnic tables just after we came in and we're also able to grab some souvenirs at the gift shop. All in all, this place was awesome! read more

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My family has an insatiable thirst for history and historical settings. When we had an opportunity to visit Plimoth Patuxet Museums, we didn't hesitate. And we were not disappointed! In fact, we learned quite a bit about the struggles the pilgrims faced, and how they endured. The Museum is actually a series of activities that are scattered along a sizable reserve, complete with reproductions of both early Plymouth Settlement and an Indian village from the early 1600s. The grounds are extensive and require mildly strenuous walking. There were a few stairs to climb, so I'm not sure if the entire facility is handicap accessible. The complex also has a great cafe that serves both ordinary foods such as chicken strips and hamburgers, but it also features items consistent with foods the pilgrims might have eaten. We tried them and found them delightful--despite the complex flavors of foods I was unfamiliar with. We also had an opportunity to attend one of their sponsored festivals where the entire meal is a reproduction of a 15th century meal. SO FUN! You really should attend when the opportunity is available. The museums and grounds are kid friendly, and they encourage participation and interaction with almost everything they offer. Roll players are present and are a lot of fun to ask questions and watch as they go about recreating what a day in Plymouth would have been like for the pilgrims and Indians. And the Indians were actually Native Americans, so that was a treat to learn about their lives and hear their stories. All in all, you could spend several hours enjoying all that is offered. #todaysdiscovery #traviswinman read more

Plimoth Patuxet Museums - Settlement recreation - Museums Near Me - Plymouth, Massachusetts

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Bill at the front desk was extremely helpful in guiding us on which package to purchase and what to do. Cute series of attractions that include a little village with homes, video intro. Characters were well played and engaging in the village/ Plymouth Rock was a nice walk from the Mill. Stop at the Mill (a drive from the museum) to see corn grinding. Take a nice stroll to the Rock. Worth a visit and family pass for yearly return is a good value. Discount at restaurant where you can get Thanksgiving dinner and fried dough. Good for kids. read more

Loved this museum! It was very well laid out and easy to flow through the exhibits. The video presentations were authentic and gave a comprehensive point of view. Seeing actual objects from the Mayflower and the original town of Plymouth was incredibly moving and memorable. Put a lot into a new perspective for the sacrifice and hardships these people made for themselves and their beliefs. Highly recommend! read more

This is a cool experience and combines learning and an interactive experience in a great way. I got the weekend pass since I wasn't sure if I'd be back so I wanted to see it all. That includes the museum (small exhibit with some artifacts, model ships, and when I went, a speaker talking about indigenous clothing trends). Outside, you walk on a trail to the Native American exhibit. I believe most of the interpreters were from the actual tribe. They discussed topics like canoe creation, cooking, trading, etc. They are super knowledgeable but not "in character" but explaining the culture. Next along the path is a a pottery exhibit/gift shop/bathroom stop right before you get to the Pilgrim village where interpreters are in character. There's the fort stand and then the model town with men and women inside houses. Even with restrictions, you can still look into the buildings and see a few types of internal spaces. Great view to the ocean. There are a couple of scheduled activities that change daily. The whole museum took us about 3-4 hours. I don't know if the weekend pass was necessary, but since I got it, I came back the next day to listen to a presentation on how goods were valued for trade and one on religion. I do wish there was a little more variety day to day. We had to ask for a schedule for the next day before we left so we could see if it was worth returning. Overall, definitely a fun experience, but its not 2 days worth of content. read more

Plimoth Patuxet Museums - Museums Near Me - Plymouth, Massachusetts

Great history behind these grounds. Where the indigenous people used to live. Crazy to see how these used to live way back in the day and to progress to now a days. The villages were very awesome to see in person along with the buildings that have descriptions of everything. Very fun experience. Highly recommended read more

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You can purchase tickets online or in person. There are some deals offered for residents but not all can be seen/bought online so worth asking in person before you pay. Parking is free and the entrance is clearly marked. The check in/ticket line can move slowly as employees are happy to discuss ticket options, then move onto giving each guest group an orientation with a map. Once you complete that process, there is a cinema which loops a 15 minute video. It is pretty informative, even if you arrive after the first few minutes after the start its worth sitting in on. You can always see it after you walk around the outdoor portion. You will spend anywhere from 2-4 hours, depending on your interest level. Once outside, you can choose to go left to see a representation of "Plimouth Center" with homes and gardens as they were in 1627. In 2 hours we encountered and spoke to 3 of the actors and watched a musket drill with 4 other actors. The actors were very convincing and comfortable to talk to. They really seem to appreciate questions and all have a senses of humor. They will have clever responses to any questions which relate to a time after 1627. If you head to the right side path you will end up on the Wampanoag village where you can see an example living structure and huge canoes made of tree trunks. We did not see any actors here, but there was an employee who is a guide who answered all of our questions. It is great there are both actors and guides, so you can leave with a wealth of knowledge of what life was like in 1627, the struggles and accomplishments which led to the eventual founding of America. They do ask you refrain from dressing in 1627 period clothing as it can be confusing for other guests to know who actually works there. The guides are dressed in modern clothes and have name badges so it is easy to spot them. Most of the museum is outdoors, and there are a couple of shops along the way you can purchase water and snacks. There are several gift shops, all are pretty cool with a wide variety of gifts, many local made, books, clothes, pottery and almost anything else you can think of. The main shop is one you can simply shop at without purchasing any museum tickets. read more

Plimoth Patuxet Museums - He was speaking with an 11 year old who wanted to trade a rock for his wooden bead necklace.She had to try it using no language. Insightful - Museums Near Me - Plymouth, Massachusetts

This was seriously fascinating - def buy the combo ticket that covers all 3 activities (museum/village, Mayflower 2, and Mill). You'll want to spend about half a day exploring all 3 - do note you'll need to drive between the locations as the museum/village is about 2 miles from the Mayflower/Plymouth Rock, and the Mill is about another mile from there. On a cold windy Boston day, you'll not want to walk that. The historical actors staying in character in the village are a hoot! You can go from house to house as the actors play out their daily activities in the life of an early colonist and interact and ask questions. Do note that this village is a re-creation of the early settlement and also not in the same location as the first settlement (that is actually right behind the Mill). The Mill is also a re-creation built in the 1980 as the original mill built by the pilgrims burnt down. There you can buy actual grains milled there every Saturday (it is an actual working Mill!). The Mayflower 2 was super fascinating as well. This was an exact replica of the original built in the 1950s in England at the same shipyard and sailed over to Plymouth. The guides on the ship had so much knowledge to share - fascinating to see what life was like on the 66 day trek onboard the voyage to Plymouth and how navigation worked (original ship had NO steering wheel) using just strings and pegs. Amazing. Plymouth Rock is located under a cupola a short walk from the Mayflower. Lunch at the cafe at the Museum - good amount of options , very reasonably priced and pretty tasty :) read more

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Overall, our high school students had a great experience. They learned a lot of history and loved the hands on experience. Highly recommend to any school group or individual who wants to know more about our American history. read more

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Has a museum with exhibits, restrooms, gift shops, and cafe. Then, walk outdoors to the craft shop where you get to see what creations of the time period looked like. They've got a cafe, a restroom and a gift shop and benches. Most of the museums are outdoors: Native village. There's not much here. Get to see how they cooked and kept warm. They've got a fire going. English village: phenomenal reproduction. Highly educated and enthusiastic staff that can answer anything. Period actors, too, in costume. Working farms. Fort. It's all historically accurate. Dead on Patriots Day. Great time to visit. Got the combo ticket with the Mayflower, Grist Mill, and Plimoth Patuxent Museum. Free parking lot. Be prepared for lots of walking in the outdoors. I spent 2 hours here. read more

The settlement suffered a bit from COVID, appropriately restricting access and limiting the number of historical actors playing colonists and the native Wampanoag (10 and 2, respectively), but it was still a quirky, informative visit. And really, any excuse to withdraw myself from 2020 is a welcomed one. The two featured areas are meant to recreate a Native American settlement, and their eventual "overshadowing" by European colonists. And I think we all know that there are a thousand more appropriate, more oppressive terms I can use, but I digress. What's past is our prologue. I thought there would be more hot, auger on wood action, but I'm assuming the staffing was scaled back for safety measures. We got to see a guy burn out a canoe, and two other guys saw some wood. So that was cool. The most important part: the kids got a huge kick out of completing the several scavenger hunts the site made available. They found sage, armor, and a bull. And a bunch of other stuff or maybe not I don't know kids cheat. read more

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Plimoth Plantation attempts to replicate the original settlement of the Plymouth Colony established in the 17th century by the English colonists who became known as the Pilgrims. The English settlement is next to a Native American settlement. You are free to explore the grounds of both settlements. There are actors pretending to be Pilgrims on the English side and there are actual Native Americans on the Native American side. It's a living museum. There is a museum building there with artifacts from the time period, but the main attraction is the grounds, which make you feel like you are actually there. It's like being transported back in time. I enjoyed myself there, hanging out with my girlfriend. It was a fun and educational experience. read more

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*WARNING* - this review is more vulgar, bombastic, and hyperbolic than my usual offerings. I used to relish coming here on field trips when I was growing up. It was so fun to walk around and see all the actors pretend they were pilgrims, see historical dwellings, see how other people lived, and learn about Native Americans from, well, Native Americans! Then maturity and reality set in. I went with my family (notably, my 7-year old nephew) here, hoping that nostalgia would be revived. What I got was mostly disappointment and a strong yearning to leave and never come back. I'll start with the only significant positive of this historical site. The only reason why I didn't give this place a single star was because of the Native American area. The real-life Native Americans there were informative and seemed like they wanted to share their culture and the aspects of their lives. There were only two of them there that day (and one seemingly was on a lengthy bathroom break), which was a little disappointing. They were supported by a few support staff to answer questions, but I wasn't as impressed as I was when I was young. Walking to the pilgrim stockade area, I conjured up pleasant memories when there were an abundance of convincing actors that played as 17th century pilgrims that were friendly but played the part well. First off, there were only 3-4 actors (or technically called "interpreters") there that day. Seriously, did plague and starvation already take out the population? Secondly, I didn't know douche-baggery was a job requirement to be a pseudo-pilgrim. I took my nephew to see some chickens and one of the actresses yells, "Don't crowd them! Don't crowd them!" Him and I were at least 10 feet away and while my nephew wasn't bother by her, it annoyed me greatly that someone would yell at him that way. If the nephew wasn't listening and if my self-control wasn't engaged, this would have been the subsequent exchange... Me: We're [expletive] 10 feet away and just looking at them. Why do you have to be such a [expletive] jerk? Her: *looking shocked* Me: Oh you know what I said, you [expletive] idiot. Don't give me that 17th century English acting [expletive]! Seriously, I know you're here because you couldn't get a spot on Les Miz or "Wicked"...or that Yale didn't quite come calling for you to the history professor tenure track, but don't extend your misery on me. I just walked away and went into more houses that looked the same: dark, dank, and looking like they should be condemned. Lastly, all of the separatist (pilgrims) actors lacked any sort of enthusiasm or energy. I know, I've worked Sunday afternoons in my past life and I want no part of it anymore, but show a freakin' heartbeat. What, did you guys forget to visit Ye Olde Starbucks prior to your shift? The Craft Center is okay, and it's not a total negative. The candlemaker was really patient and education, whereas the potters seemed like they wanted to not talk to anyone. For $28 per person, I expected a hell of a lot more than what I got. From what I recall, Old Sturbridge Village is a better experience (it's a different time period, though). Or if you're a tourist visiting Boston, unless you really yearn for the history of the time period, just stick to spots in and around the city (like Quincy). read more

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We went to see the Mayflower today. Both Kallie and Bill were amazing. Kallie was so knowledgeable and both she and Bill were accommodating of our group. The middle schoolers we brought were so excited to get on board, it was all they could talk about. Thanks for all that you do to make history come alive! read more

Plimoth Patuxet Museums - Mayflower - Museums Near Me - Plymouth, Massachusetts

Pretty cool spot to visit if you're planning a trip to Plymouth or maybe heading out to the Cape. From learning about the Mayflower journey in history class in primary school, this made me interested enough to see the Pilgrim settlement in person. There was rarely anyone here due to the pandemic, which was good for visitors like us so we know we weren't going to run into huge crowds. Experiencing what being inside a Wigwam was super cool, especially the fact that they knew how to build one from scratch in the present day still. The Pilgrim settlement replica was super cool to experience, especially without the huge crowd that I assume would normally be there. Was able to see pretty much everything in less than two hours. Would recommend going if you're into history. read more

This is a really cool living history museum! They have recreated a Native American settlement as well as the Plymouth Colony! To get to both there are some short, but nice, walking trails that are fun to traverse. Stopping into the Native American settlement you can see how they constructed their canoes, how they prepared food, as well as the housing structure they used to keep warm during the winter. The recreated plantation is much larger and is filled with actresses and actors. They each have a story of who they are and what things were like at the time. It's really fun to interact with them and you could honestly make a day of just that. In addition to the recreated homes they also have the fort that would have protected the town. There are a couple of gift shops which have the usual souvenirs as well as some not so usual and interesting things. It's definitely a great place to visit for a fun time! read more

If you are thinking of going for thanksgiving dinner, don't. I paid almost $100 per person for a conference like meal ( which didn't include wine or soda) in buffet style, no entertainment, and in a bland room. For numbers, they seat 300 people 4 times during the day. The price did include the museum. The walk-in cafe provided basically the same meal for $28. So I paid $40 for a waitress at a buffet, some veggies, apple cider and coffee and tea. I would not go back. Really they should have done better - this should be their big event but of the year. It was underwhelming. read more

Nice little detour. Folks in character didn't really interact with us which was disappointing. Inthink maybe because we are Asian and they weren't sure we'd understand. I saw them joking with the locals. Hey we like joking around too actually. Anyway it was difficult asking questions to the cashier once I had bought my ticket because he kept taking new customers. I just wanted to know where to go for the mobility assistance. They have a golf cart that will drive you to the main site if you can't walk it. The walk from the Indian village to the pilgrim village is uphill. Parking lot is some downhill stairs (or ramp) to the entrance. You can swing by the bus lot to pick up folks as it's a more level walk from the entrance. read more

We enjoyed our visit here. Definitely ask questions of the guides and the period actors. You will learn a lot. I think it's better for adults and curious teens than for young kids. We skipped the Grist Mill visit because the parking lot was full near there. There is other free parking in the area around it. We parked there and just google navigated to the Mayflower2 ship. The ship was great. The guides aboard were excellent and we learned a lot about what it was like to live on that small ship for 90 days! read more

It was okay- just okay. Nothing to write home about and definitely not worth over $30 per person. During our visit on a Saturday in end of October we saw no actors dressed in traditional clothing in the Indian village and only 5 actors at the pilgrim village that were not very engaging - none of them were telling stories. I would expect to see way more actors for that kind of money. It was not a true living museum experience. It was okay but a bit disappointing read more

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It's November and I was on a business trip in the Boston area, so I figured, what better way to celebrate and honor Thanksgiving, than to explore the origins of American history. When I was in elementary school, I learned that the Indians saved the Pilgrims during their first winter in the New World and everyone lived happily ever after...and that's why we celebrate Thanksgiving. Nevermind, the rest of all the sordid history of the white man conquering and wiping out all the "naturals" as they were called. I arrived at the visitor center and thought a $30 ticket was quite steep to see a bunch of artifacts and recreations. Later, I realized the reason why it's a little pricey is because of all the people that are hired to make it a "living museum". The people that work there are actors that stay in character as you walk through the site. Ask them a question and they'll answer as though you were the strange time traveler from the future. Truth be told though, it was very difficult to understand them past their thick English accent...that's the Queen's English...or as they might tell you, the King's English. I honestly learned a lot from this self-paced tour and as the site was about to close at 5pm, I walked past the gift shop and noticed there was a banquet hall that was setup for a dinner. I asked about it and was told it was a dinner event that required tickets. They had one more seat open, so I decided to give it a try. What better than to try an authentic 17th century meal to commemorate Thanksgiving. Normally these dinner tickets (w/admission) go for $70 I think. I ended up paying another $50 on top of the $30 admission since I was last minute...literally. I'm glad I did, because I got a seat at the table. It wasn't just dinner, but more like dinner theater. All the "cast members" from the village came out to host and provide entertainment throughout the evening, and especially to explain old world dinner manners and how and why food was prepared a certain way. Overall it was very entertaining and a very eye opening experience. Could you spend $70 for a fine dinner experience elsewhere? Of course! Could you find such an interesting dining experience like this? Probably not. Glad I didn't hesitate to try it and would highly recommend it to any of my friends. read more