Wouldn’t it be fun to travel back to 1621 and eat Thanksgiving dinner with the Pilgrims and Native People? Guess what? You can! Don’t worry; you won’t need a time-traveling DeLorean. Plimoth* Plantation, a rustic living history museum nestled in the coastal forests of Plymouth, Mass., handles all the details. All you have to do is plan the voyage.
Thanksgiving Dinner Where It All Began
On Thanksgiving Day, Plimoth Plantation offers a family-friendly “Story of Thanksgiving Dinner” hosted by “Pilgrims” and Native People. People travel from all over America, and even the world, to attend this unique Thanksgiving Dinner.
The family-style dinner is traditional Thanksgiving fare; turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, and all the fixings. Kids will gobble it up – literally. Try the Indian pudding; it’s a twist on pumpkin pie. While you dine, listen to personal stories, historical accounts, and exciting facts about the first Thanksgiving and how it evolved into the favorite American holiday we celebrate today. Did you know the modern Thanksgiving feast was first served to students at Harvard University in 1863?
Seating is assigned, but tables are shared. It’s always fun to make new friends! If you’d instead not “pass the potatoes,” a buffet option is available. Dinners are offered on Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after. Reservations are required. To purchase tickets and check availability, visit Plimoth.org. The dinners do sell out, so plan early.
NOTE: No time for dinner? No problem. You can visit the museum without purchasing dinner tickets.
What’s Included
The dinner event includes admission to Plimoth Plantation. Make time to explore the grounds either before dinner or after. Working up a pre-dinner appetite or walking off a hearty holiday meal is great. A rugged pathway winds around and connects the sites and exhibits throughout the museum.
GOOD TO KNOW: Most of the museum is outdoors. Many of the walkways are unpaved and uneven, so keep that in mind when planning footwear or navigating strollers.
What To See at Plimoth Plantation
The 17th Century English Village is a replica of the town pilgrims inhabited during the 1620s in the New World. Costumed actors portray famous (Miles Standish) and not-so-famous pilgrims who lived in the first settlement.
Watch as they tend crops, fortify fences, repair timber-framed homes, make clothing and cook meals by the fire. Go ahead, ask them questions: Why did they leave England? How long was the Mayflower crossing? Do they like living in the New World? What did they eat for breakfast? They will gladly share their “stories.” All are experts on anything related to life in the 1600s. Don’t ask them anything about the modern day; you will get a blank stare and maybe a chuckle or two.
At the Wampanoag Homesite, discover the culture and traditions of this Native tribe. Watch the Native People “burn” a canoe from a fallen tree or listen to stories inside a “nush wetu” (long house).
Stop in the Nye Barn and meet some rare farm animals along the path. In the craft shop, watch artisans work with tools and materials used by pilgrims in the 1600s.
GOOD TO KNOW: It’s important to note that the Native People are not actors. They are all Wampanoag or from other Native Nations. Ask them questions about life in the 1600s and modern day too.
BONUS SIDE TRIP: Modern Plymouth, Mass., is minutes from Plimoth Plantation. Make a stop and gander at the famous Plymouth Rock. A short walk away is the Plimoth Grist Mill, also included in your museum admission.
Plimoth Plantation / 137 Warren Ave., Plymouth, Mass. 02360 / (508) 746-1622 / info@plimoth.org /For more information, visit www.Plimoth.org
Maribeth Pjosek-Durkin contributed this article to Chicago Parent. Please visit the websites for the latest information
* Nope, it’s not a typo. Plimoth is the old English spelling of Plymouth.