Pilgrim Hall Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Pilgrim Hall
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Pilgrim Hall Museum, the oldest public museum in the United States
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| Location | 75 Court St Plymouth, Massachusetts |
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| Architect | Alexander Parris |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001298 |
| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1972 |
The Pilgrim Hall Museum is a special place in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It's the oldest public museum in the United States that has been open non-stop. It first welcomed visitors in 1824.
Contents
History of Pilgrim Hall Museum
How the Museum Started
The Pilgrim Society started the museum in 1820. This group helps tell the story of the Pilgrims. The museum teaches about the Pilgrims and their home, Plymouth Colony.
Building the Museum
A famous architect named Alexander Parris designed the museum building. It was built using strong Quincy granite. The museum first opened its doors in 1824.
In 1834, a wooden porch-like entrance was added. It had columns that held up a triangular roof. This part was designed by Russell Warren.
Changes Over Time
The museum got a big update in the 1880s. Later, in 1904, a new section was added for a library.
In 1922, the old wooden entrance was replaced. A new, grander entrance with six columns was built. This new design was made by a company called McKim Mead & White.
More recently, in 2008, the museum added a new section. They also put up new signs and started more activities. The museum building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. This means it's an important historical site.
What Can You See at Pilgrim Hall Museum?
Amazing Collections
The Pilgrim Hall Museum has many cool things to see. It has old artifacts, beautiful artwork, a library, and old documents. These items help tell the story of the Pilgrims.
Special Pilgrim Items
You can see real items from the Pilgrim era. One very special piece is the original Brewster Chair. This chair belonged to Elder William Brewster, a Pilgrim leader.
The museum also has the only known painting of a Pilgrim made while they were alive. It's a portrait of Edward Winslow from 1651.
The Sparrow Hawk Ship
The museum owns parts of a ship called the Sparrow Hawk. This ship wrecked off Cape Cod in 1626. It's the only known part of a 17th-century ship that crossed the Atlantic Ocean. The pieces of the Sparrow Hawk are kept safe in storage.
A Piece of Plymouth Rock
For many years, the top part of Plymouth Rock sat in front of the museum. This was from the 1830s to the 1880s. Then, it was put back together with the bottom half at the Plymouth waterfront.
But the museum kept a small piece of the Rock. Visitors can still touch this piece today!
Gallery
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Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor, by William Halsall, 1882.
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Signing the Mayflower Compact, by Edward Percy Moran, c. 1900, is now in the collection of the Pilgrim Hall Museum
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The museum's 1651 portrait of Edward Winslow, the only known portrait of a Pilgrim painted from life
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The museum owns The Landing of the Pilgrims., by Henry A. Bacon, 1877
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The museum owns the original Elder Brewster Chair and Peregrine White cradle
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Pilgrim Museum in 1910 postcard
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Embarkation of the Pilgrims by Robert Weir, a copy is also located in the United States Capitol rotunda, Washington, DC
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the 1626 Sparrow-Hawk wreck is displayed at the museum
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A portion of Plymouth Rock on display at the museum
See also
