News & Press

Mayflower II’s Newly Restored Shallop to Set Sail on June 10 from Amesbury to Gloucester; Expected in Plymouth Harbor June 19

The vessel is expected to make several port stops with public viewing and demonstrations as well as special activities for the Plymouth arrival

Plimoth Patuxet Museums is delighted to announce that the Museum’s shallop will set sail on June 10 for her return journey to Plymouth Harbor following a restoration by Lowell’s Boat Shop in Amesbury, Massachusetts. The shallop will make several port stops before arriving in Plymouth Harbor on June 19 (see schedule below).

A small crew will depart Lowell’s in the 33-foot vessel at approximately 9 a.m. on June 10 and make their way down the Merrimack River and into the Atlantic. After rounding Cape Ann, the shallop is expected to arrive in Gloucester on the evening of June 10, where a flotilla of Gloucester schooners, crews, workboats and gig boats will escort her to the MaritimeGloucester pier. Maritime Gloucester, a maritime cultural site and educational campus on Gloucester’s historic working waterfront, will host the shallop for two days of public viewing and demonstrations with Plimoth Patuxet’s maritime experts.

“We are thrilled to be bringing the shallop back to her home port and extremely grateful to the generous donors who provided for the vessel’s restoration,” said Ellie Donovan, Plimoth Patuxet’s Executive Director. “This project brought together an impressive team whose skills have made the boat seaworthy for another generation to learn from and enjoy.”

The Shallop’s Port Stop Schedule

Please note that all plans for sailing and public viewing are subject to change based on weather conditions.

  • June 10 Depart Amesbury, arrive in Gloucester
  • June 11 & 12 Visit www.maritimegloucester.org for a complete list of activities.
  • June 13 Depart Gloucester, arrive in Hull
  • June 14 Public viewing approximately 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Pemberton pier
  • June 15 Depart Hull, arrive Hingham for private events
  • June 17 Depart Hingham, arrive Duxbury (at Two Rock mooring field)
  • June 18 Duxbury Bay Maritime School (private viewing)
  • June 19 Depart Duxbury 9:00 a.m., arrive Plymouth Harbor at approximately noon

Plimoth Patuxet will welcome the shallop and her crew home with special activities at the Mayflower II exhibit and Pilgrim Memorial State Park, including crafts for children, demonstrations from the Museum’s maritime experts, a pop-up shop and a live broadcast hosted by WATD.

About the Shallop

Stowed aboard the first Mayflower during its trans-Atlantic journey in 1620, the original shallop was a wooden boat that could be rowed or sailed and was used by the Pilgrims to explore the coast. Plimoth Patuxet Museums’ founder, Harry Hornblower, commissioned William Avery Baker – the renowned naval architect who researched and created the plans for the Museum’s Mayflower II – to design a reproduction of the shallop. The 33’ historical reproduction was built in 1957 at Plymouth Marine Railways. When Mayflower II arrived in Plymouth in June 1957 the shallop carried Captain Alan Villiers and his crew to shore, where they were welcomed by an estimated 25,000 spectators. Despite routine maintenance, both Mayflower II and her shallop succumbed to the deterioration process expected of any organic material exposed to natural elements over the course of 60 years. Plimoth Patuxet, committed to ensuring the future seaworthiness of these historic vessels, partnered with other mission-driven organizations on preservation efforts. As Mayflower II was undergoing a multi-year restoration at Mystic Seaport Museum, the expert boat builders and young apprentices at Lowell’s Boat Shop worked to bring new life to the shallop.

About Lowell’s Boat Shop

Established in 1793, Lowell’s Boat Shop is a National Landmark and a non-profit working museum dedicated to preserving and perpetuating the art and craft of wooden boat building. Located on the North bank of the Merrimack River, it is the oldest continuously operating boat shop in America and is considered the birthplace of the legendary fishing dory. Today, skilled craftsmen continue to build a full line of wooden dories and skiffs for oar, sail or power. Innovative educational programs and exhibits are offered to the public throughout the year. Learn more at lowellsboatshop.com.

About Plimoth Patuxet

Plimoth Patuxet is one of the Nation’s foremost living history museums. Founded in 1947, the Museum creates engaging experiences of history built on thorough research about the Indigenous and European people who met along Massachusetts' historic shores in the 1600s. Major exhibits include the Historic Patuxet Homesite, the 17th-Century English Village, Mayflower II, and Plimoth Grist Mill. A private, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational institution, Plimoth Patuxet is supported by admission fees, donations, memberships, and revenue from educational programs, gift shops and dining. Plimoth Patuxet receives support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, private foundations, corporations, and local businesses. Located less than an hour’s drive south of Boston, and 15 minutes north of Cape Cod, the Museum is open daily from early spring through the Sunday after Thanksgiving. For more information, visit plimoth.org. Follow the Museum on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.