This tour will take you to two 17th century homes, one of which the feet of Mayflower Pilgrims walked. Because the hours are limited for the homes, particularly for the Old Fort House, I recommend you do this on a Saturday in the summer. Start with a late breakfast at local favorite Water Street Cafe (you can park on Union Street for free). Then wander up to the Jabez Howland House, then continuing on to the Green and hitting the Old Fort House last, which doesn’t open until 1pm (as of this writing).
After you’ve visited the Old Fort House, take Union Street back to your car, passing Stephens Field, the Yacht Club and the cute old homes of the Bradford-Union Street Historic District, where 19th century maritime workers dwelled.
This is a lovely way to start a pleasant Saturday, and you can follow with another tour or go off to a water adventure.
Jabez Howland House
It’s fair to assume that Mayflower passengers John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley Howland walked the floors of the Jabez Howland House in visits to their son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren, so touring this home is a special experience and the closest you can come to reaching across the centuries to connect with a Mayflower passenger.
The older part of the home was built in 1667 and purchased two years later by Jabez Howland. The “newer” addition was added in 1750. The home remained a private residence for nearly two and a half centuries, until 1912. Subsequently acquired by the Pilgrim John Howland Society, it was opened as a museum.
Plymouth Training Green
South of Plymouth Center, in a seemingly innocuous area along Sandwich Street is a pretty little park with a civil war memorial in its center, surrounded by attractive residential homes.Â
It’s easy to miss, but its historical significant belies its unassuming nature. Beginning in 1711 and into the 19th century, this little park was a muster field for the local militia and is one of the oldest continuously used parks in America, and the walkways and curbing had the hand of none other than the famed landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmstead.
The Soldiers and Sailors Monument, honoring the lost heroes of the Civil War and the War of 1812, was added in 1869. Built of granite from Hallowell, Maine, the handsome 58 foot high monument is topped by a large eagle, also in granite.Â
And don’t miss the towering Memorial Tree, planted in memory of the Plymouth boys who lost their lives in the first World War.
Harlow Old Fort House
The 1677Â Harlow Old Fort House is so named, because it includes salvaged materials from the fort house on Burial Hill. But rest assured that it wasn’t contraband, as settler William Harlow received permission to use the materials. And a good thing, since the fort house on Burial Hill is long gone, at least some of it is preserved in this excellent 17th century home.
