Plymouth Rock

Plymouth Rock is a granite boulder resting at sea level under a columned portico within Pilgrim Memorial State Park along the harbor waterfront. The structure shelters the stone, which visitors view from above without direct contact.

In 1741, Thomas Faunce first identified this stone as the landing spot of the Pilgrims, based on his father's accounts. Since then, the rock has been moved several times and was eventually returned to its original location near the water.

Families and school groups visit year-round, and many travelers pause to photograph the stone, which serves as a symbol of new beginnings. The site often becomes a starting point for conversations about early settlement and its impact on the indigenous people who lived here.

Access is from Water Street, and the site remains open from April through November, with guided programs during summer months. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes, as the harbor setting can be windy and the ground occasionally damp.

The stone broke into two pieces during an 1774 relocation attempt. Today, the reunited halves display the carved date 1620, though the original size was much larger before souvenir hunters removed fragments.