Where is Plymouth Rock?
Plymouth Rock is located in the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States.
Plymouth Rock holds a significant place in the history and culture of the United States as it was the spot where William Bradford and other pilgrims arrived from Plymouth, England in the year 1620. But, it was more than a century later that the rock gained significance. In 1741, Elder Thomas Faunce made the claim that the rock was the place where the pilgrims had set foot. Ever since, the rock has become a revered symbol in the United States.
In 1774, while the rock was being hauled from Town Square in Plymouth, it split into two parts. The top part of the rock was moved to Pilgrim Hall Museum from Town Square in 1834, and back to its earlier position on the shore of Plymouth Harbor in 1880. Today, the rock lies underneath a granite canopy.
Plymouth, where the rock is located, is a town in Plymouth County, and derives its name from the English city of the same name. Plymouth, which has a population of 58,271 inhabitants and is the largest municipality in the state by area, is situated around 40 miles from Boston.
Plymouth is known as America’s Hometown and is an important town because of its historical value and association with Thanksgiving Day. The oldest municipality in New England and one of the oldest in the United, Plymouth was founded in 1620 by pilgrims who had arrived by the Mayflower, an English ship used by the English Puritans to travel to the New World from Plymouth in England.
The town is today a part of American culture as well as folklore because of the numerous important events that were held here. Among these is the First Thanksgiving Feast that was held in 1621 in celebration of the good harvest. The event was attended by the pilgrims, as well as ninety men of the Wampanoag tribe. Even today a reenactment of the First Thanksgiving Feast is held in the town. The event, which also includes a parade, is witnessed by thousands of people.
The town was also the capital of the of the Plymouth Colony from 1620 through 1691. The Plymouth Colony comprised today’s Plymouth counties as well as Barnstable and Bristol. However, in 1691, the Province of Massachusetts Bay was created with the merger of Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts Bay Colony and other territories.
Plymouth was also a significant commercial town and during the 19th century, and had a prosperous ropemaking and fishing industry. Today, tourism is the biggest industry in the town.
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