Pilgrims land in Plimoth

On December 18, 1620, passengers on the British ship Mayflower come ashore at modern-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, to begin their new settlement, Plymouth Colony.

The famous Mayflower story began in 1606, when a group of reform-minded Puritans in Nottinghamshire, England, founded their own church, separate from the state-sanctioned Church of England. Accused of treason, they were forced to leave the country and settle in the more tolerant Netherlands. After 12 years of struggling to adapt and make a decent living, the group sought financial backing from some London merchants to set up a colony in America. On September 6, 1620, 102 passengers--dubbed Pilgrims by William Bradford, a passenger who would become the first governor of Plymouth Colony--crowded on the Mayflower to begin the long, hard journey to a new life in the New World.

Today Plymouth Mass is a quaint seaside village about an hour south of Boston. Visitors can board a replica of the Mayflower and explore recreated Plimoth Village. There’s a great view of the Atlantic from one of the blockhouses. Stop in to enjoy a pint or two of original recipe ‘Pilgrim Ale’ in the restaurant.

Rumor has it that the original Pilgrims ran out of beer and stopped here looking for fresh water so they could brew up a new batch!