Press Kit - Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?
| For Immediate Release | Contact: Jennifer Monac |
| (508) 746-1622 x8206 |
Invite History Home For The Holidays! Guess Who's Coming To Dinner With Help From Ebay And Plimoth Plantation!
Plymouth, MA, Plimoth Plantation – September 29, 2008
Ever wonder what it would have been like to have attended the fall harvest feast of 1621? Now thanks to Plimoth Plantation, history is actually coming home for one lucky eBay auction winner this Thanksgiving! The famed non-for-profit, living history museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts, dedicated to the indigenous Wampanoag and the colonial English of 17th Century Plimoth Colony, is putting two of its world-renowned interpreters up for auction, for 10 days on eBay this October 2-11! The prize…a Pilgrim and a Wampanoag go anywhere in the United States, in character, for Thanksgiving.
About Our Time Travellers ...
Edward Winslow
Edward Winslow was born in October, 1595 in Droitwich, England. He lived in Holland traveling to Plymouth on Mayflower in 1620.
Over the next 26 years, he served Plymouth Colony in various capacities, including Governor.
He returned to England in 1646
and died in 1655.
Hobbamock
Hobbamock was the Pokanoket Wampanoag man who acted as Massasoit’s liaison with Plymouth Colony, being their interpreter, guide and advisor in dealing with the Native
people.
He and his family lived adjacent to the English colonists (often called the pilgrims) from 1621 until his death sometime before 1643.
“Plymouth is where it all began. People come from all over the world to spend Thanksgiving with us at Plimoth Plantation, to learn more about the true history of America’s most beloved holiday and enjoy the spirit of the season,” said museum Executive Director, John McDonagh. “But not everyone can make the pilgrimage to Plymouth for the holidays… so we decided to produce a once in a lifetime opportunity to bring 1621 Plymouth anywhere in America.”
Whether it be a single-family, a large group, or even a corporation, the winning bidder will discover Thanksgiving by sharing their Thanksgiving meal with a contemporary Wampanoag man dressed in authentic, 17th-century styled clothing, along with one of Plimoth Plantation’s award-winning colonial interpreters, clothed in his reproduction 17th- century wardrobe. Both will arrive “in-character” to begin the special holiday experience.
The two men will arrive at the winning bidder’s destination of choice, dressed for dinner, as if it were the year 1621. Here's a video of Hobbamock and Edward Winslow addressing the modern-day press at Plimoth Plantation.
Pass the pompion (or squash as we know it today) and hear all about the three-day harvest feast of 1621. Plimoth Plantation’s professional role players will explain the history from the 17th-century perspective of Native, Hobbamock and Pilgrim, Edward Winslow (for up to two hours). Winning bidders might need to explain to their time-traveling visitors what is being served on today’s very modern Thanksgiving table.
Once dinner is over, the winners can retire to the living room, where, Hobbamock and Edward Winslow will emerge as modern day historians to answer questions from a 21st-century perspective. For the next two hours, the winner and guests will discover everything Plimoth Plantation historians know of that famous encounter, including when the harvest feast of 1621 was transformed into a historic meal and furthermore the roots of our National holiday: Thanksgiving!
Interested parties are encouraged to bid early and often on this once in a lifetime chance to invite a Wampanoag man and a colonial English Pilgrim to the table. Curious spectators and active bidders are advised to visit www.plimoth.org for links to the eBay online auction listing and to view a short, entertaining promotional video introducing the Hobbamock and Winslow characters to the 21st century. This promotional video, which can be seen here, was created by students of the Center For Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University, as part of their educational practicum. Plimoth Plantation is grateful for their work.
The winning bidder will be responsible for the purchase of coach airfare, or (ground transportation with in New England), accommodations and transportation for our museum interpreters in close proximity to the Thanksgiving location. Plimoth Plantation is not responsible for weather, or travel conditions that may prohibit travel during the holiday. In the event the interpreters are unable to make it to the winning bidder’s destination on Thanksgiving Day for reasons out of normal control, the meal will be rescheduled at a mutually beneficial time convenient to both parties. Please see the terms and conditions of the auction for additional information.
More ways to win! For those who are unable to bid on the Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner History Comes Home For The Holiday eBay Auction, Plimoth Plantation is offering an additional promotion throughout the duration of the 10-day auction. Anyone purchasing a ticket to visit Plimoth Plantation and Mayflower II between October 2-11, will have an opportunity to enter to win tickets to a 1627 Harvest Dinner for up to 6 people at Plimoth Plantation the week of Thanksgiving. Winners will be announced on October 14, 2008.
Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner is a unique opportunity to bring history home like never before for people young and old! As Plimoth Plantation is a non-for-profit, privately funded organization, the winning bid will provide much needed support to the living history museum and its mission of presenting the bicultural story of the Wampanoag and colonial English Pilgrims of 17th-century Plimoth Colony. Plimoth Plantation is a Smithsonian Affiliate museum. Visit www.plimoth.org for more information about the museum.
Download the Terms & Conditions
Download the Press release PDF
Download the Press Kit, including the release and full terms and conditions, plus hi-resolution photos and bios of Hobbamock and Winslow here.
Plimoth Plantation is a non-profit, educational institution that is supported by admission fees, contributions, memberships, function sales, and revenue from our dining programs/services and museum shops. The museum receives support from private foundations, corporations, local businesses, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
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