Plimoth Plantation To Rebrand For 400th Anniversary

PLYMOUTH, MA — Plimoth Plantation, the living history site depicting the pilgrims' 1600s settlement in the New World, is about to see a major change, just in time for a major milestone.

In honor of the site's 400th anniversary, the museum will be changing its name, to better honor its history and that of the settlers who arrived there in 1620. The name change has been in the works for "some time," museum leaders said, since it represents a skewed version of American colonization.

"Although our educational mission is inclusive of Indigenous history as well as European colonial history, the name of the museum underscores only half of the story. The history we explore is one we, as Americans, are all still living," the organization said in a post on Facebook. "For more than a year, museum trustees, leadership and staff have been in conversation about a new, more balanced name demonstrating that the history and culture of the Indigenous people of this region are as integral to the museum’s educational mission as the history and culture of the English colonists."

The museum was founded in 1947 by Henry Hornblower II, aimed at allowing visitors a chance to learn more about the pilgrims and honor their legacy. The site, called Patuxet by the native population, was named Plymouth by the pilgrims.

The museum has voiced it support for the Mashpee Wampanoag Nation, which has fought to maintain the tribal land inhabited by indigenous people for 12,000 years.

"This Museum seeks to represent all of the people, Indigenous and European, first-generation or with deep roots, who lived, worked, loved, fought, planted, and traded on this land in the 17th century," their statement read in part. "In 1620, Mayflower arrived to a land virtually unknown to its now famous passengers, who, in seeking a better life for themselves, thought they were entering an almost vacant wilderness. In fact, they encountered a complex and interconnected network of Indigenous communities. The Wampanoag welcomed these émigrés, formed alliances with them, and showed them how to survive on a land that was new to them – land on which the Wampanoag continue — to this day — to fish, hunt, govern sovereign communities, and raise their families."

Before the new name is announced, the museum will use a special logo commemorating the 400th anniversary celebration, featuring the names Plimoth and Patuxet.

"Regardless of its name, this Museum will continue to hold a space for humanity: the community table," the post continued. "An open invitation to come together and talk. We create space for conversations and experiences interwoven with elements that are immersive and participatory, inclusive and social, personal and relevant. We will continue to strive for inclusion, and we invite you to join the conversation."