The rock was split in two during a move in 1774; the top portion was displayed at Pilgrim Hall Museum for over a century before being reunited with the base in 1880.
The date '1620' was carved into the rock in 1880, though the original landing likely did not occur on a single specific rock.
During the 1774 attempt to move the rock, a large piece broke off and was placed in a local town square to boost revolutionary fervor.
The portico protecting the rock was built to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the landing.
The rock is physically much smaller today than it was in the 1700s, primarily due to souvenir hunters chipping away pieces of it over several decades.
Plymouth Rock is the traditional landing site of the Pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower in 1620. The rock is protected by a neoclassical granite portico designed by McKim, Mead & White, constructed in 1921. It is located on the shore of Plymouth Harbor at the base of Cole's Hill. The stone itself is a glacial erratic made of Dedham granodiorite. Historical accounts of the rock's significance only emerged in 1741, 121 years after the landing, when a 94-year-old elder identified it as the landing spot. The rock has been moved, fractured, and rejoined multiple times throughout its history. It is currently embedded in the sand at the water's edge within the portico. It serves as a symbolic centerpiece for the Town of Plymouth and is a National Register of Historic Places site.
From the water-side gate of the portico looking down at the rock with the harbor in the background.
Visit during low tide to see the rock clearly at the base of the portico enclosure.
Combine your visit with a walk up the stairs to Cole's Hill for a view overlooking the harbor and the rock from above.
Check the Pilgrim Monument nearby for additional historical context regarding the 1620 settlement.
Expecting a large or dramatic geological formation; it is a relatively small, embedded rock.
Respectful behavior is expected as it is a designated monument; do not attempt to climb over the protective fencing.
