Pilgrim Hall Museum, Plymouth, MA

Visitors can find the Pilgrim Hall Museum at 75 Court St, Plymouth, MA 02360. The museum was first built in 1824 in the heart of Plymouth. This museum has the honor of being the oldest continuous running museum open to the public. There are irreplaceable artifacts such as William Bradford's Bible, a portrait of pilgrim Edward Winslow that was painted from life, Myles Standish's sword, a chair that was William Brewster's, a cradle that belonged to the first child born in New England, Peregrine White and a sampler made by Myles Standish's teen age daughter.

The museum preserves and perpetuates the life and ways of the first Pilgrims. They also have a section dedicated to the Wampanoag People. These are the Native Americans that inhabited the area for approximately 10,000 years before the arrival of the first Pilgrim. The exhibits portray the relationship that developed between these two peoples. There are permanent and temporary exhibits within the Pilgrim Hall Museum.

Parking is free at Pilgrim Hall Museum and is fully handicap accessible. The museum is open seven days a week from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm until December 30th. They are open on Thanksgiving Day, but are closed for all of January. Admission is $8.00 for adults, $7.00 for senior citizens ages 62 and over, $6.00 for AAA members, $5.00 for children 5-17. Families of two adults and two children can get into the museum for $25.00. Guided tours are given to schools or large groups with reservations.

There is a Museum Shop that is open the same hours as the museum that sells books, merchandise, reproductions of artifacts within Pilgrim Hall, educational materials for teachers and home school teachers as well as other gift items.

Some of the exhibits that have been at the museum or could be coming are: Girlhood Embroidery, Spoons, Salts and Saucers, Death & Mourning, Freedom & Empire, Bringing up Baby, Arms & Armor of the Pilgrims, Patriots & Pilgrims, On the Waterfront, In Their Own Write, and Long Road to Freedom.

The Pilgrim Hall Museum offers a list of books that give visitors more insight into the world of the Pilgrims. Visitors interested in finding out more about their lives should look for The Voyage of the Mayflower & Speedwell, Who were the Pilgrims? The "First Thanksgiving'' at Plymouth, Native People: Religion and Land, King Philip's War and Affluence & Style.

Pilgrim Hall Museum has many opportunities and ways to learn about the Pilgrims. Teachers of grades 6 through 12 can find a curriculum online which include studies on Painted Pilgrims or William Bradford. The museum offers tours of the facility so that students can learn from the docents with programs designed with age appropriate materials. Books can also be purchased at the gift shop to take home.

Another attraction that goes hand in hand with the Pilgrim Hall Museum is Plimouth Plantation and the Mayflower II. They offer the chance to see how the Pilgrims came to America and how they lived once they were here.