Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Thanksgiving in Plymouth

Well, not really. But close. I spent part of the weekend at Plimoth Plantation as part of a Girl Scout program. I was very interested--because I love history, and I'm working on freelance project about colonial America. I've been researching since June--and my weekend made it very clear to me that my extensive research has merely scratched the surface.

PP has a living museum--with live "pilgrims" in a reproduction of the 1627 settlement. They also have a Wampanoag village with native American historians describing daily life.  The craft center is amazing as craftspeople create reproductions of the time in the same manner they were originally created--hand sewn, hand carved, etc.



If you're in the area, I highly recommend the trip to Plymouth.  We also had a chance to tour the Mayflower II.  Incredible to think of a four month voyage with 100 of your closest friends on that boat. 

It's even harder to imagine the living conditions and the basic daily comforts that they lacked.  My daughter thought the Native Americans had it better because their wetus were warmer than the colonist's houses.

For the most part, the Pilgrims and the Native Americans at that time got along pretty well.  But I start to get emotional when I think of the violence and the grief that both groups suffered as time progressed.  And of course the Native Americans lost everything in the end.

We should celebrate the things we are thankful for this week.  But we should also remember the people who came before us and the things they suffered for us to be where we are.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

6 comments:

MG Higgins said...

Well said. It's easy to forget the sacrifices others have made. Your project sounds fascinating! I bet you're having fun with it. Happy Thanksgiving!

Tina Laurel Lee said...

I second that - your project sounds fascinating. Thanks for the reminder of the sacrifices.

Kristine Asselin said...

Thanks MG and Tina. It's been an interesting project. I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Julie Musil said...

Kris, I'll bet that museum was AMAZING! It's so true, we take so many little things for granted. I love how you got to actually be there, in that place, and see the history for yourself. Awesome.

I wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!

Kristine Carlson Asselin said...

Thanks Julie! You as well!

Laura Pauling said...

My family was just talking about taking the kids there next year either before or after Thanksgiving. Field trips there were a part of my childhood. Kris, now you just have to go on the colonial reality tv show! :)