Revolutionary Ideas Started Here: Commemorating Massachusetts 250 in Plymouth

Plymouth, Massachusetts (March 11, 2025) – Plimoth Patuxet Museums opens for the 2025 season on Saturday, March 15th. Throughout the year, in commemoration of Massachusetts 250, the Museum will recognize this national anniversary with its “Revolutionary Ideas Started Here” initiative, to inspire residents of the Commonwealth, regional visitors, and Americans at large to begin their Revolutionary Journey in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Here, they will find new experiences and exhibit enhancements across the Museum’s historic sites that highlight Plymouth’s foundational role in the history of the United States of America.

The conversations and ideas that took root in historic Patuxet and Plymouth, Massachusetts, carved a path to the American Revolution with the founding idea of forming a civil body politic. The Mayflower Compact was signed on November 11, 1620. This historic moment was the birthplace of self-government in the British Atlantic world and played a critical role in the United States’ constitutional tradition. It marked the beginning of a groundbreaking seventy-year experiment in civil government that paved the path to America’s Revolution a century later.

But this story is not only about the Pilgrims. When remembering the events of 1620 and 1776, it is important to acknowledge the Indigenous Peoples who have lived here since time immemorial and are a vital part of our national heritage and cultural landscape – then and now. At the Museum’s Historic Patuxet Homesite, visitors can explore a less familiar and more nuanced story of this founding moment. The legacies, lifeways, heritage, and communities of the Wampanoag and other Indigenous Peoples of the Northeast help to expand understanding of American history and the pursuit of a more perfect union for all.

For more than 75 years, Plimoth Patuxet Museums has shared stories of the events that took place on the historic shores of Massachusetts during the 17th century. These events created the cultural landscape that coalesced into the United States of America. Anticipating increased tourism related to 250th commemorations beginning in 2025, the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT) generously awarded Plimoth Patuxet two grants in support of initiatives to update guest-facing amenities and exhibits.

“We are grateful to MOTT for their confidence in and support of ‘Revolutionary Ideas Started Here’,” said Kate LaPrad, Deputy Director of Strategic Partnerships. “America's 18th-century history cannot be understood without its 17th-century roots. Before Philadelphia in July 1776 - or even Boston in 1770 - revolutionary developments in self-government and diplomacy were happening here in Plymouth and Patuxet.”

As the living history museum of 17th-century New England, Plimoth Patuxet Museums understands how important it is to reflect on the experiences, perspectives, and history of all the people who met along these shores of change 400 years ago. “‘Revolutionary Ideas Started Here’ is centered on the people who lived in this region during the 17th century,” noted Tom Begley, who will become the organization’s Executive Director in May. “It is inclusive of both the residents of Plymouth Colony as well as the Wampanoag and Indigenous Peoples who have lived on this land from time immemorial and continue to live here today. The Wampanoag People did not just witness these historic events, they were integral to them - and they used the revolutionary moment to transform their own rights and to question the new country’s commitment to equality. We look forward to welcoming the public to explore these important stories with us.”

At Plimoth Patuxet, visitors can explore four historic sites. Mayflower II enables guests to imagine the harrowing transatlantic journey of 102 English colonists in 1620. The 17th-Century English Village affords a glimpse into the worldview, faith, and lifeways of the Pilgrims. The Historic Patuxet Homesite provides an experience of the history, heritage, culture, and lifeways of the Wampanoag and other Indigenous peoples of this region. The Plimoth Grist Mill delves into the environment and the agricultural and technological evolution of Plymouth Colony. Each historic site offers hands-on learning experiences and thought-stirring conversations that create a lifetime of memories, historical empathy, and understanding.

Plimoth Patuxet Museums will open for the 2025 season on Saturday, March 15th. Open daily 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. through Sunday, November 30th. To learn more about program offerings and events, please visit www.plimoth.org.