Mayflower II, Museum ship in Plymouth Harbor, United States
Mayflower II is a full-scale replica of a sailing vessel moored in Plymouth Harbor, Massachusetts. The ship spans 90 feet (27 meters) with three decks, masts, rigging, and a stern cabin that reflects conditions during early 17th-century crossings.
English craftsmen built this vessel in Devon in 1957 following 17th-century plans and techniques. The finished ship then crossed the Atlantic in a reenactment of the 1620 voyage to honor the arrival of the Pilgrims.
The name comes from the English wildflower that traditionally marks spring and new beginnings. Visitors today hear on board about navigation challenges and the simple tools early sailors used to cross the Atlantic.
Visitors climb a gangway and board from the dock, with steps to lower areas steep and narrow. Costumed interpreters are on site daily from April through November and answer questions about shipbuilding and life at sea.
The builders used real oak timbers from British forests and joined them with wooden pegs and hemp rope, just as was done in the 17th century. Some of the wood came from trees that had already stood for centuries when they were cut.
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