Karen Rinaldo is a celebrated artist based on Cape Cod. Working in a variety of mediums, she distills the essence of quiet Cape landscapes, landmarks, and visual histories.

For years, Rinaldo has dreamt of capturing the visitor journey to Plimoth Patuxet Museums in a single frame, an artistic representation of the guest experience. Formal conversations between Rinaldo and the Museum began in June 2025 which led to a collaborative relationship during the artistic process. The artist proudly unveiled the resulting montage at the Museum in March 2026.

Rendered in pen, ink, and watercolor, the work captures each site at Plimoth Patuxet Museums—from the Historic Patuxet Homesite to Mayflower II—while also infusing historical moments including a representation of the 1621 Harvest Feast known as the First Thanksgiving and a portrait of the Museum’s founder, Harry Hornblower. The result is a work of art that is both modern and timeless, evocative and tangible, and commemorative yet personal. Vignettes are rendered against lush green landscapes, and sparkling blue seascapes, allowing the work to exist in an eternal Massachusetts summer’s day where the stories of the people who shaped, and continue to shape, this land reverberate. The work of art is on  display in the Visitor Center for all to enjoy and will be entered into the Museum’s permanent collection.

“This remarkable work captures the spirit of Plimoth Patuxet Museums in a way that is both deeply personal and universally inviting,” said Tom Begley, Executive Director of Plimoth Patuxet Museums. “Karen Rinaldo has woven together the landscapes, stories, and people that define this place, creating a visual journey that reflects the experience of our guests while honoring the generations whose histories we are privileged to share.”