Plimoth Plantation and the Wampanoag

Remember learning in school about that first Thanksgiving? The big feast between seventeenth century pilgrims and the native Americans who joined them? Is it just me – or is the actual event really hard to picture?

Our country has changed so dramatically since then. What did they actually eat? How did they prepare it? And what was the interaction really like between the two very different people groups?

There’s an amazing attraction in Plymouth where you can actually experience both a seventeenth century English village and a Native American one. It’s one of the amazing colonial tours available around the country, and this one is perfect for this time of year.

The Native American village introduces you to the Wampanoag people. The men and women you’ll see in traditional dress are not actors here. The Wampanoag people have been in New England for more than twelve thousand years. In their authentic seventeenth century homesite, you’ll be surrounded by soft furs, woven mats, and flickering firelight. You’ll find a Wampanoag stew simmering on the outside fire and your group can help scrape out a boat with original Wampanoag tools and techniques. Most importantly, you’ll see the arrival of the pilgrims through the eyes of an indigenous people.

The English Village is a fascinating look at the first permanent English settlement in 1627, just seven years after the settlers landed on the Mayflower. This village tour is self-guided. You and the other members of the group might stumble onto a Pilgrim supper in one of their timber-framed homes or into the midst of an interesting discussion on the street. You’re encouraged to join in, ask questions, and probably even answer some of your own since your language and vocabulary will vary quite a bit from theirs.

Besides the villages, you’ll find a reproduction of the famous ship itself, the one that brought the English people to the country. It’s called the Mayflower II, and you’ll find costumed actors here as well, anxious to share their amazing stories.

This time of year Plimoth Plantation offers an authentic “Thanksgiving” feast so you can picture what that day might really have been like. Some of the foods you’ll be served may not even sound familiar. For example: Ciderkin, a sallett, and stewed pompion. Don’t worry, though, there’s cheesecake for dessert and plenty of items (like the above) that you’ll love whether they are familiar or not. At the very least, the experience is a fascinating one, as is a visit to this amazing settlement at any time of the year.

Photo by Smart Destinations on Flickr.

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