National Monument to the Forefathers

National Monument to the Forefathers
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Location:	Allerton Street, Plymouth, Massachusetts
Coordinates:	41°57′36″N 70°40′34″W
Built:	1889
Architect:	Hammett Billings
NRHP Reference#:	74002033

National Monument to the Forefathers, formerly known as the Pilgrim Monument, commemorates the Mayflower Pilgrims. Dedicated on August 1, 1889, it honors their ideals as later generally embraced by the United States. It is thought to be the world's largest solid granite monument. Located on an 11 acre hilltop site on Allerton Street in Plymouth, Massachusetts, this impressive 81-foot-tall granite statue stands to honor those who arrived here nearly 400 years ago in 1620.

statue design

The plan of the principal pedestal is octagonal, with four small, and four large faces; the small faces project four buttresses. On the main pedestal stands the heroic figure of "Faith" with her right hand pointing toward heaven and her left hand clutching the Bible. Upon the four buttresses also are seated figures emblematical of the principles upon which the Pilgrims founded their Commonwealth; counter-clockwise from the east are Morality, Law, Education, and Liberty. Each was carved from a solid block of granite, posed in the sitting position upon chairs with a high relief on either side of minor characteristics. Under "Morality" stand "Prophet" and "Evangelist"; under "Law" stand "Justice" and "Mercy"; under "Education" are "Youth" and "Wisdom"; and under "Liberty" stand "Tyranny Overthrown" and "Peace". On the face of the buttresses, beneath these figures are high reliefs in marble, representing scenes from Pilgrim history. Under "Morality" is "Embarcation"; under "Law" is "Treaty"; under "Education" is "Compact"; and under "Freedom" is "Landing". Upon the four faces of the main pedestal are large panels for records.

Front Panel

The front panel is inscribed as follows:

"National Monument to the Forefathers. Erected by a grateful people in remembrance of their labors, sacrifices and sufferings for the cause of civil and religious liberty."

Rear Panel

The rear panel, which was not engraved until recently, contains a quote from Governor William Bradford's famous history, Of Plymouth Plantation:

"Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing and gives being to all things that are; and as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation; let the glorious name of Jehovah have all praise."

Right Side Panels

The right and left panels contain the names of those who came over in the Mayflower.

PASSENGERS OF THE MAY FLOWER

1. JOHN CARVER WIFE and Servants???
2. WILLIAM BRADFORD and WIFE
3. EDWARD WINSLOW and WIFE
4. GILBERT WINSLOW
5. WILLIAM BREWSTER WIFE AND SONS
6. LOVE AND WRESTLING
7. MYLES STANDISH AND WIFE
8. JOHN ALDEN
9. SAMUEL FULLER
10. CHRISTOPHER
11. RICHARD WARREN
12. JOHN HOWLAND
13. JOHN ALLERTON
14. THOMAS ENGLISH
15. EDWARD DOTEY / COTEN
16. EDWARD LEISTER
17. STEPHEN HOPKINS WIFE AND CHILDREN: GILES, CONSTANCE, DAMARIS, AND OCEANUS
18. HUMILITY COOPER
19. WILLIAM BUTTEN
20. ROBERT CARTER
21. HENRY SAMPSON
22. JOHN BILLINGTON AND WIFE AND CHILDREN: JOHN AND FRANCIS
23. THOMAS ROGERS AND SON JOSEPH
24. WILLIAM HOLBECK
25. JOHN LANGMORE
26. JOHN HOOKE
27. WILLIAM LATHAM
28. ISAAC ALLERTON WIFE AND CHILDREN BARTHOLOMEW REMEMBER AND MARY
29. RICHARD BRITTERICE
30. GEORGE SOULE
31. RICHARD CLARKE
32. RICHARD GARDINER

Left Side Panel

PASSENGERS OF THE MAY FLOWER

1. JOHN TURNER AND TWO SONS
2. JOHN CRACKSTON AND SON JOHN
3. MOSES FLETCHER
4. JOHN GOODMAN
5. FRANCIS EATON WIFE AND SON SAMUEL
6. JAMES CHILTON WIFE AND DAUGHTER MARY
7. DEGORY PRIEST
8. THOMAS WILLIAMS
9. EDWARD MARGESSON
10. PETER BROWNE
11. EDWARD FULLER WIFE AND SON SAMUEL
12. WILLIAM MULLINS WIFE AND CHILDREN PRISCILLA AND JOSEPH
13. EDWARD TILLEY AND WIFE
14. FRANCIS COOKE AND SON JOHN
15. THOMAS TINKER WIFE AND SON
16. JOHN RIGDALE AND WIFE
17. JOHN TILLEY WIFE AND DAUGHTER ELIZABETH
18. ELLEN MOORE
19. JASPER MOORE
20. RICHARD MOORE AND BROTHER
21. DESIRE MINTER
22. WILLIAM WHITE WIFE AND SONS RESOLVED AND PEREGRINE
23. SOLOMON PROWER
24. ELIAS STORY
25. EDWARD THOMPSON
26. ROGER WILDER

ROBERT CUSHMAN WHO CHARTERED THE MAY FLOWER AND WAS ACTIVE AND PROMINENT IN SECURING THE SUCCESS OF THE PILGRIM ENTERPRISE CAME IN THE FORTUNE 1621.

References

• Mayflower and Her Passengers by Caleb Johnson - Genealogical research on all Mayflower pilgrims. 292 pages (Pulb 2006).
• Wikipedia:National Monument to the Forefathers
• MainTour Plymouth Village
• SeeplyMouth.com - Local Attractions
• Mayflower Compact - Mayflower Historical Society
• Society of Mayflower Descendants
• Familypedia:Plymouth Colony