Nestled by the sea in Plymouth, Massachusetts is Plimoth Plantation (still spelled in the traditional way), where the Pilgrims’ 17th century way of life is preserved nearly 400 years after the famed “harvest celebration” (what we think of as “the first Thanksgiving”) in 1621.

You might be surprised to learn that the first “harvest celebration” was not an annual event, but a one-time, three-day celebration the colonists held to give thanks for a successful harvest. That first celebration actually has nothing to do with our modern-day concept of Thanksgiving.

The first national Thanksgiving holiday was not celebrated until 1863, almost 250 years after the Pilgrims feasted with the Wampanoag! Plimoth works hard to expose the “myths” of Thanksgiving, while honoring the authentic stories of both the Pilgrims and the Native people who found themselves learning about very different cultures from their own in the 1620s.

As one would expect, this is a very busy time at Plimoth!

Thanksgiving Day is particularly special for this museum. Each year, thousands of visitors make their own pilgrimage to Plimoth for the “quintessential Thanksgiving experience.” Plimoth boasts several sites, including the 1627 Pilgrim Village, Hobbamock’s Homesite, and the Mayflower II. The museum’s award-winning exhibition “Thanksgiving: Memory, Myth and Meaning” explores the history of this beloved holiday.

You can even eat an “old fashioned” Thanksgiving Dinner at Plimoth! But, tickets went on sale June 1, and reservations always fill up quickly. If you can’t go this year, why not make plans for next year? (See below for a full list of dining options)

In the Pilgrim Village, you will encounter costumed role players who portray the Plimoth colonists, more popularly known as “Pilgrims” (a word, you will find, the colonists themselves have never heard of!). It is an immersion experience in the Pilgrim Village, as you are transported back to the year 1627. Each role player you encounter is based on a real live Pilgrim.

Learn about the Wampanoag people at Hobbamock’s Homesite, where modern-day Native staff “practice and preserve traditional skills.” The Wampanoag have lived in the area for 12,000 years, encompassing hundreds of generations! Here, you will not meet first person interpreters, but instead will learn from modern-day Native people, sharing the history of their ancestors.

Imagine that early voyage to America as you board the replica ship Mayflower II. This full-scale re-creation of the original Mayflower helps teach about the dangers of maritime travel, early tools of navigation, and the cramped quarters the Pilgrims shared on their long voyage.

Visitors can also see rare, heirloom breeds of livestock at Nye Barn, and learn about traditional crafting at the Crafts Center.

In addition to the Thanksgiving exhibit, Plimoth also features “13 Moons: A Seasonal Food Cycle” in the Crafts Center, and “Provisioning a Ship” at the dock of the Mayflower II.

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Thanksgiving Dinner options at Plimoth Plantation (from their website):


* THANKSGIVING IN THE COURTYARD

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Available from 11am - 4 pm in the Visitor Center courtyard on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservation required

Just walk in and enjoy a delicious and wholesome Thanksgiving meal of:

· Roast Turkey
· Cornbread Stuffing
· Butternut Squash
· Mashed Potatoes
· Cape Cod Cranberry Sauce
· Choice of Coffee or Soda
· Soups and Desserts available a la carte

Cost: $16.99 per person


* ALL-DAY THANKSIGIVNG CELEBRATION

Breakfast, lunch and snacks available throughout the museum.
No reservation required

Enjoy a satisfying meal, a cool cocktail or a warm cider as you stroll our grounds. Available from 9am - 5pm.

A La Carte Selections:

· Homemade Clam Chowder
· Deli Sandwiches
· Home-Baked Breads & Muffins
· Pies, Cheesecakes and Desserts
· Wood-Pressed Apple Cider
· Hot Chocolate
· Full Cocktail Bar


* THANKSGIVING DAY BUFFET

Thursday, November 24, 2005
By reservation only beginning June 1, 2005

Oh the delights of the season! From hearty vegetable soup to tender roasted native turkey, from savory stuffing to sweet pies, our buffet has it all.

Bill of Fare:

· Vegetable Soup
· Garden Salad
· Roast Native Turkey with Giblet Gravy
· Carved Roast Sirloin of Beef
· Cornbread Stuffing
· Mashed Potatoes
· Butternut Squash
· Creamed Onions
· Cape Cod Cranberry Sauce
· Freshly Baked Cranberry & Pumpkin Breads
· Hot Crusty Rolls
· Wood-Pressed Apple Cider
· Apple Pie
· Pumpkin Pie
· Coffee & Tea

Adult: $55.95
Child (12 & under) $36.95
Adult Member: $39.95
Child Member: $26.95
Prices include museum admission and tax.
Museum admission includes: Hobbamock's (Wampanoag) Homesite, 1627 Pilgrim Village, Mayflower II, Crafts Center, and Nye Barn.
Advance reservations required. We begin taking reservations at 9:00am on June 1. Call early to avoid disappointment!
800-262-9356 ext. 8364, 8365 or 8366
Master Card and Visa only
All sales are final. Tickets are non-refundable.


* A VICTORIAN THANKSGIVING DINNER
Thursday, November 24, 2005
SOLD OUT!!!!!

Celebrate the quintessential American Holiday at our Victorian Thanksgiving Dinner. Victorian hosts will take you back to the mid-19th century to experience a delightfully familiar holiday feast. Enjoy the sweet harmonies of period singers and remember your Thanksgiving experience with a complimentary posy and souvenir program. Join us for an unforgettable taste of the good old days!

Bill of Fare:

· Fall Harvest Fruits
· Assorted Nuts
· Victorian Relish Tray
· Escalloped Oysters
· Split Pea Soup
· Roast Native Turkey with Giblet Gravy and
· Traditional Bread Stuffing
· Mashed Potatoes
· Butternut Squash
· Steamed Cape Cod Turnip
· Harvard Beets
· Creamed Onions
· Cranberry Relish
· Hot Crusty Rolls
· Cider Cake
· Gingerbread
· And your choice of: Indian Pudding, Pumpkin Pie or Apple Pie
· Wood-Pressed Apple Cider
· Coffee

Adult: $70.95
Child (12 & under) $52.95
Adult Member: $56.95
Child Member: $43.95
Prices include museum admission and tax.
Museum admission includes: Hobbamock's (Wampanoag) Homesite, 1627 Pilgrim Village, Mayflower II, Crafts Center, and Nye Barn.
Advance reservations required. We begin taking reservations at 9:00am on June 1. Call early to avoid disappointment!
800-262-9356 ext. 8364, 8365 or 8366
Master Card and Visa only
All sales are final. Tickets are non-refundable.


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Or, you can try some historic recipes at home!