N A T I O N A L   M O N U M E N T   T O   T H E   F O R E F A T H E R S

Plymouth, Massachusetts

Saturday, October 23, 2004

Monument: #5

Dedicated: 1889

Highlights: 81 foot granite monument, main figure (Faith) and four ancillary figures (Morality, Education, Law, and Liberty), four bas-relief scenes of the Pilgrims' history.

Lowlights: A little graffiti.

Location: Pilgrim Memorial State Park, Plymouth, MA

Hours: Open April through November.

Admission: Free!

Phone: (508) 747-5360

Link: Official Website

Rating:

(5 max)

I arrive at Pilgrim Memorial State Park. In the distance, rising 81 feet above the highest ground in the park, I spy the National Monument to the Forefathers. As I approach, the details of the giant granite figures, who eloquently grace this magnificent work of art, become more and more apparent.

At the base of the monument I find this placard that tells me the monument was added to the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service in September, 1974.

Here is the entry from the National Registry:

National Monument to the Forefathers (added 1974 - Object - #74002033)
Allerton St., Plymouth

Historic Significance: Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Billings, Hammatt
Area of Significance: Art
Period of Significance: 1850-1874, 1875-1899
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Monument/Marker, Work Of Art (Sculpture, Carving, Rock Art)
Current Function: Recreation And Culture
Current Sub-function: Monument/Marker, Work Of Art (Sculpture, Carving, Rock Art)

Now that's odd, it says the monument is privately owned? Hopefully the owner doesn't have plans to relocate the monument to his/her front lawn, next to a well-established flock of plastic pink flamingos and a horde of ceramic garden gnomes.