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Guidebook
Plymouth County
Location/Region: Southeastern
Massachusetts
Geographical Description: New England,
Massachusetts, nestled on Cape Cod Bay between Boston & Cape
Cod.
Climate: Summer 80-90*, Fall 40-60*,
Winter 0-40*, Spring 60-80*
Population: 487,366 (2003)
Area History:
Plymouth: landing place of the Pilgrims in
1620, home to the first female lighthouse keeper and contains the
oldest wooden courthouse in America and Pilgrim Hall where Pilgrim
artifacts are on display.
Pembroke: birthplace of the ship “Beaver”
of Boston Tea Party fame.
Brockton: home of boxing champs Rocky
Marciano and Marvin Hagler and also the first department store
Santa.
Elmwoodsection of E. Bridgewater:
commissioned by Abraham Lincoln to insure quick delivery of shoes to
Union soldiers
W. Bridgewater: first assembly-line
operation (shovels)
Whitman: home to Ruth Wakefield the
creator of the Toll House™ Cookie
Marshfield: home to Statesman Daniel
Webster
Hingham: home of Old Ship Church, the
oldest wooden meetinghouse (church) in America.
Cultural info:
Art Museums in Duxbury, Cohasset and Marshfield and
Fuller Craft Museum the only contemporary craft-only museum in New
England in Brockton. Brockton Symphony’s in Plymouth Philharmonic
Orchestra and Plimoth Plantation where history comes to life in the
recreated 1627 Pilgrim Village, Native America Homesite and on board
Mayflower II.
Current info:
Plymouth County offers something for everyone year
round, Winters are perfect for a getaway at a B&B or Oceanside Inn,
crowds are gone and the best thing to do is relax and enjoy the quiet
while dining at restaurants that cater to the select few who visit in
the winter. Spring is when the season kicks off and attractions kick in:
whale watch cruises, historic sights, museums from grist mills to
lifesaving, boating, biking and so much more to do and these activities
continue right into summer where you can pick up a professional baseball
game at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton or stroll the quaint streets of
Onset, Marion and Mattapoisett on our south shore which is old Cape Cod.
Fall brings the cranberry harvest season which floods the eye with
colorful leaves and the deep red of the cranberry, fills the air with
the crisp smell of falling leaves and inundates the ear with the
marching bands that accompany the Thanksgiving Parade that sends
Plymouth into it’s most celebrated season where feasting abounds,
families unite and America celebrates its own special original holiday.
You can’t beat November in Plymouth.
What to see and do:
The Pilgrims established the first permanent English
settlement in New England when the Mayflower landed in 1620. Because of
its role in American History, Plymouth County continues to be a popular
destination.
Plimoth Plantation is a re-creation of the Pilgrims’
settlement in 1627. Related sites include a crafts center, a Wampanoag
Homesite, an indoor exhibit taking visitors through 3 centuries of
Thanksgiving, and Mayflower II in Plymouth Harbor.
But Plymouth history is just the beginning of what you
can discover in Plymouth County… the nation’s oldest public museum, a
wax museum, wineries, numerous centuries-old historic houses, and a
reconstructed 1636 gristmill. Other area exhibits are Hull Lifesaving
Museum, Scituate Lighthouse, and Edaville USA with train rides through
harvesting cranberry bogs.
Plymouth County has a wealth of natural resources too
including State Parks, salt- and fresh-water beaches and scenic parks
and marshlands. Deep-sea fishing excursions are available from a number
of harbors and with 26 golf courses, some designed by the world’s finest
course architects, the County is well know as a golfer’s destination.
Daily seasonal whale-watch cruises or daytrips to Cape
Cod, narrated harbor and Canal tours blend well with contemporary art
museums located in Cohasset, Duxbury and Brockton. The South Shore
Natural Science Center in Norwell is an educational opportunity nature
lovers will enjoy.
Discover the spirit of salty tales and lighthouse
legends as you explore our historic coastline and proud maritime
heritage. Stay & Play in Plymouth County with lodging, dining and
shopping for all tastes and budgets.
You’ve heard of the Pilgrims, the Mayflower and the
First Thanksgiving but are you aware of other treasures awaiting your
discovery in Plymouth County where just south of Boston and north of
Cape Cod opportunities to discover bits and pieces of New England await.
The South Shore is known for its scenic coastline,
quaint villages, comfy B&Bs and impressive lighthouses. Visit museums
that share the history of lifesaving or the Irish Mossing industry, not
to mention centuries-old homes that now offer seaside dining.
Cranberry Country takes you through the back roads of
the cranberry industry and the influence it has had on Plymouth County.
You can drive yourself, hire a professional driver to take you to places
you may not find otherwise or even ride a narrow-gauge train through the
heart of the bogs where this truly American berry grows.
Metro South, although alluding to its proximity to
Boston, which makes it a perfect hub for exploring the area, is really
quite a city in its own right. Known as the City of Champions due to its
prize-fighting heroes like Rocky Marciano and Marvelous Marvin Hagler,
it also contains the only contemporary craft museum in New England and
many cultural venues.
Tips on visiting:
Season runs April-November with limited attractions
open December-April. Year round bus & train service available from
Boston to Plymouth. Thanksgiving week book early so make arrangements by
mid September. Plimoth Plantation has lots of school children visiting
in the mornings Sept-Nov and April-June so afternoon visits are less
crowded.
State/Area Trivia:
John Ames, (D) first assembly-line operation
(shovels) W Bridgewater
Kate Bosworth, Actor, “Blue Crush”, “Horse
Whisperer” Cohasset
Marc Brown, Author of "Arthur the Aardvark"
series Hingham
David Chokhachy, Actor (Bay Watch, Witchblade)
Plymouth
Chris Cooper, Academy Award Winning Actor,
“Adaptation” also “Silver Fox” “Seabiscuit” “American Beauty”
“October Sky” “The Patriot” Kingston
Rich Cronin, Musician, boy band LFO Kingston
Geena Davis, Actor “Thelma & Louise” plus born
Wareham
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information about accommodations, recreation, dining and much
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