New England is rich in many things; among them prevail history, art and many diverse cultures. There are museums throughout the region that narrate the past in many contexts. The best museums in New England are, in fact, packed with all kinds of fascinating artifacts, books, wares, furniture, and memorabilia from Native Americans, presidents, statesmen, the works and wisdom of our founding fathers, farmers, manufacturers, art , science. and the sea sailing, to name just a few.

For the purposes of this article on the best museums in New England, I have chosen a Massachusetts “living history” institution for its exemplary exhibits and realism.

Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, Massachusetts serves as a microcosm of what life was like when the Pilgrims arrived here in 1627.

The sense of history here at the Plantation resonates in every part of it. There is a great and reverent balance here. It’s not just about the English settlers (the Pilgrims), the first settlement of Massachusetts, or the first Thanksgiving.

The curators have taken great care to emphasize the important role the Wampanoag natives played in the opening act of American history.

Additionally, the curators explain the evolution of Thanksgiving from its true origins, the food on that first Thanksgiving table, and explore its evolution from how it began to the turkey and football event we know today.

The Plantation includes six main attractions: The Pilgrim Village from 1627; Hobbamock Dwelling Site; The Mayflower II; Nye Barn; Thanksgiving: Memory, Myth and Meaning; and the Craft Center.

The Pilgrim Village of 1627 has been recreated in great detail and staff members, in period costume, go about their daily business as if the Plantation were still the epicenter of the New World.

The thatched-roof buildings offer a wealth of period artifacts that provide a broad perspective on how English settlers lived, dressed, ate, and interacted in 1627, as well as how they survived against daunting odds. Staff members are very knowledgeable about Plimouth’s history and can cover virtually any relevant topic at length.

The Hobbamock Homesite gives visitors a very realistic look at how the Wampanoag people, who have lived in southeastern New England for thousands of years, went about their daily lives. A traditional wetu (house) provides the same level of detail found in English houses and realistically shows how different the native lifestyle was from that of the settlers.

When one compares the luxury and spaciousness of today’s ocean liners to the Mayflower II, an exact replica of the original Mayflower, one wonders how the English colonists made the voyage safe and sound.

The size of the ship and the cabins of those who sailed aboard it are highly suggestive of a claustrophobic encounter of the worst kind. Imagine 1 of 102 passengers and 18 crew on a 106 foot long ship with a 25 foot wide beam for one day, much less months.

Nye Barn preserves much more than just history and architecture. Plantation staff members are the keepers of animal breeds common during the 1600s, but extremely rare now. Breeding stock for these beasts of burden is very low, but the Plantation is doing an exemplary job helping the animals thrive and multiply.

The Craft Center offers basketry, pottery, cabinetmaking (furniture making) and tailoring as the settlers did. Skilled artisans will be happy to answer your questions about how they ply their trades, many nearly extinct, as well as how their craft was made in a time when there was no electricity.

There is a realism here that is neither artificial nor dispassionate. Everyone involved in the day-to-day activities makes it truly living history, and it’s a New England museum worth every second of the visit.

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