Pilgrim Hall Museum Reviews

Not a very big museum, but a walk around the exhibits gives you a real taste of the Pilgrims lives in 1620,there is also a small screen presentation that outlines the overall story of the reasons why these people left England to find a life in the New World.

This was an excellent museum which explored the reality and myths around the Pilgrims. There was a contemporary exhibit on the history of the wedding dress which was very well done, but better hurry, only runs through Dec. 2017!
One can do this museum in 1-1 1/2 hrs. There is a bookstore/gift ship with a great array of books covering early American history. This museum would be my first stop in Plymouth.

My wife and I included a visit to the museum in our itinerary partly as a tribute to my mother-in-law, as she was a devout student of the Mayflower and was never able to make this visit. The family traces directly to Mayflower passenger Richard Warren, who was also a signer of the Mayflower Compact. Upon entering, the docent almost apologized to my wife for not having Richard's handkerchief on display, as it was currently in storage. The museum, looking rather grandiose from outside, is somewhat deceiving inside as it can be traversed within two hours. The artifacts are pretty amazing - especially viewing William Bradford's 1592 Geneva Bible. There are huge paintings in the upper gallery, with even a small touchable portion of Plymouth Rock. A display on Pilgrim's clothing was interesting, as the attire is not what is usually depicted. Much of the displays naturally include interactions with the Native Americans. The gift shop, while rather small, is full of interesting souvenirs.

You start off seeing a film.the narrators were very good.it gave a good story of the pilgrims,and how they made history.there is a chart to show you how many pilgrims started out and how many survived only after a few months.they had there wardrobes displayed,artifacts a library of books and Thanksgiving menus from all dates in the early 1900s.it was really fun,and interesting.really enjoyed it.again the staff were amazing

We stopped here on the way to Cape Cod. The film was good. My kids even enjoyed it. The rest of the museum was very small. It only takes about 20 minutes to see and read everything (with kids). It was pricey for our group and I’m not sure it was as good as the price.

Husband and I went here midweek and it was not busy at all. Make sure to watch the 15 minute video first. It was refreshing to witness how people in the 1600's-1700's were able to persevere in the face of such primitive conditions. I was mesmerized by the poster listing the original 100 plus passengers on the Mayflower that dwindled to less than half that by the time they arrived in Plymouth. It is a small museum but filled with artifacts from that time period. The temporary exhibit on wedding dresses was most interesting as well. We spent about 90 minutes there.

Lynn and I and friends recently toured the Pilgrim Hall Museum. This Plymouth attraction was highly recommended by several local merchants. There were many artifacts from the Pilgrim's arrival in 1620. In addition to clothing and other items from their journey there was an excellent movie about the Pilgrims trip and there're arrival in the New World. The museum is located in a beautiful old historical building. If you are really interested in America's history, this is a must visit.

This is the oldest museum in existence. Very well organized. Staff very informative. Everyone enjoyed listening to the tour guides we has pre-arranged for. A lot of history on the Pilgrams and Indians and how they lived, worked and played. There is a small fee to visit but it's worth it.

Lovely museum contains actual Pilgrim artifacts. Artist depictions of pilgrims comical as the subject matter was not fully understood when paintings were composed. Descendants
of pilgrims need to make a point of stopping in here.

Nice little museum documenting the pilgrams history in Plymouth. Be sure to watch the video presentation it helps as you later go through the exhibits.

I'm not a big fan of museums and don't enjoy reading little placards about artifacts, but the Pilgrim Hall Museum had a lot of historical items from our nations beginnings. Even if you didn't read the placards, you understood what you were viewing.

The best part was touching a piece of Plymouth Rock and the gift shop where I purchased a beautiful photograph of the first Thanksgiving and a book on Haunted New England.

Great for history lovers and anyone who is doing the historical tour of Plymouth.

Spur of the moment side stop while on our way back to Boston from the Cape. Wonderful collection of items from the Mayflower. So glad we stopped!

This is a small museum that is nicely appointed. Allow for 1.5 hours. It consists mainly of 3 exhibits. The downstairs has a video, presentation of Colonial artifacts and some colonial portraiture.

The upstairs has a rotating exhibit, which this time focused on the American Indian experience of colonial settlement.

The third hall has paintings to rival much larger museum. The depictions are mostly focused on 19th century interpretations of the Mayflower departure from England and arrival in Plymouth. There is also several mannequins dressed in colonial garb; as I am considering having a costume made for the 2020 celebration, it was an informative display.

I spent 3 hours in this small museum. Staff are so welcoming and really enjoy working there and answering questions. Everything is well done, large print, and not overwhelming like many museums today. I loved the movie part .. they should auto play tho vs having to get up and push button to see next.

The visitor's center told us about the museum. What I liked best was the storytelling. The video was well done -- not boring. And i was surprised to see the original items from the Mayflower there. If you like history, you'll love this place. Plan on spending at least an hour here. Fascinating.

If you go here first, it will make your Plymouth experience more enjoyable. Everything you need to know about the Pilgrims is here. The video is very creative. The room of paintings is a must see! It even has an archive.

Pilgrim Hall Museum contains artifacts and information related to early settlers, known as The Pilgrims. This is a wonderful museum that presents the history of the early settlers in an interesting and engaging way. The most interesting part of the museum is the Mayflower Compact and how it united the settlers. The early Bibles on display are amazingly well preserved. We also enjoyed the exhibit of early American house framing on display showing how New England homes varied in construction and style.

It has the friendliest volunteers. The museum is small but the artifacts are quite interesting if you take your time to read the facts and listen to the nice volunteers who serve up nice tidbits of history. It has a scavenger hunt for the children which is a good learning experience.

We really enjoyed the movie about the pilgrims, but the information from one of the volunteers Andrew Osborn was amazing it brought everything to life

Relatively small museum but with a lot a 'punch'.

Great introductory film at the start of the museum.

It has artifacts (furniture, bibles!, legal documents) belonging to the pilgrims. Incredible that they've lasted and wonderful to see.

Also some exhibits on the local Native American tribes which is missing from the history I grew up with.

Very gratifying and well worth the visit !

Being from the UK and therefore not American, I had heard of the Pilgrim Fathers but never really understood what it was all about. This museum gave a wonderful insight into the history of it all and together with some unique and important exhibits provided an excellent and entertaining 2 hour visit.

This is apparently the oldest museum in the US.
The basement area contains exhibits and information about the Pilgrim landings and settlement. There is a film telling the story of the Founding Fathers, although the experts telling the story were a little monotonous and it wouldn't appeal to young people.
The upstairs temporary exhibit was all about the town of Plymouth celebrating the tricentenary of the landings in 1921. Although mildly interesting I feel the space could've been better used with more information and/or exhibits of the original event in 1621.
An interesting museum, but with limited content.

It was the end of a long hot day when my wife suggested the Pilgrim Hall Museum. I was tired of the construction, the crowds, and tired kids, but thought we would give it a chance. Easy free parking in rear. AC works well and very clean bathrooms. The docent gave my 8 and 5 year old a clip board with questions that they could explore throughout the museum. I would highly recommend watching the video in the lower level first. Not exactly sure why but my kids really gravitated toward this museum and were determined to answer all the questions. They still remember many of the stories and still talk about some of their own discoveries. Many original artifacts and stories are displayed throughout that bring the Pilgrim story alive in a way that I never truly understood or appreciated until exploring this museum. Docents were excellent during out visit.

If you like American History, this is the place for you to visit! This museum is full of real artifacts from the early days of the original pilgrim's colony here. I wasn't aware that artifacts such as these still existed. This is such an interesting museum to see.

small yet vet informative as to life for the pilgrims and the local natives, can be done in less than 2 hours, a must see especially if your a history buff

Great for when you have visitors from out of town. Right in downtown Plymouth Massachusetts. We enjoyed it.

It cost $10 to see the history of pilgrims in Plymouth which is, for me, much cheaper than the plantation. I read reviews about Plantation before but most of visitors agreed that the place was not worth visiting anymore due to unstable services and qualities of actors/actresses. This museum would be a perfect option for someone who wants to learn about the "beginning of America". They also have a cool collection of bride's dresses.

Wonderful exhibit on 400 years of wedding fashions. Very "do-able" museum. Children can take a scavenger hunt. Museum shows period articles of clothing as well as cooking and hunting items. Very welcoming.....

A very good museum on two floors, there is an elevator. They have a very good video showing which is worth watching. The exhibits are mainly original but some are reproduction. The list of passengers landing against the list of those that made first thanksgiving make sobering reading. There was also an exhibition of wedding dresses on show when we were there, how fashions change. well worth a visit, it helps put everything in context. There is limited parking to the rear of the museum.

This gem of a museum has lots of artifacts and exhibits that were actually used by the Pilgrims, which I think is really neat. The museum also shows how the "Pilgrim Brand" was created and how it differs from real life in the 1600's. There is an excellent movie (maybe 20 minutes) that does a very good job of giving background, the voyage, relationships with the local Wapanoag Indians as well as the settlement. The entrance fee is reasonable at $10 each adult. The museum is wheelchair accessible. The staff is motivated and passionate.

Great place to learn about the history of the Pilgrims. The video on the first floor in a must. Seeing artifact form time period was good.

This museum is excellent. Seeing the actual artifacts was very helpful in imagining the Pilgrims life. We also enjoyed the art exhibit about the changing depictions of the Pilgrims in American art. This place is a must see in Plymouth.

I read all of the reviews and won't repeat but do agree with what everyone wrote. I had to go as I am of the William Brewster line and thought it would be great to see items that belonged to him in 1620. These were the wooden trunk and the chair. Needless to say I was thrilled!

It's a great place to visit . My family came over on the Mayflower so it was great. I love history. The gift shop had a great variety .

Good exhibition about the history of Plymouth and the pilgrims. Worth a visit – but only on a rainy day ;-) Staff is very friendly. Special quiz game for younger kids

This is a must see in Plymouth. Here there are actual personal belongings of the Pilgrims. It is quite stunning to see William Bradford’s Bible. The museum was our favorite spot in Plymouth.

I think it's impossible not to visit this important place. You can touch the history itself. I'm fond of embroidering and I was fascinated by the precious cross stitch work of Captain Miles's Standish daughter Loara. While visiting this museum everybody can discover a great picture of the Pilgrims' way of living.

This museum is small but it tells the story of the pilgrims in a great way. We loved the section on the women of Plymouth.

A great snapshot of life of early Pilgrims, chronicling their journey on the Mayflower, contact with the Indians, survival and death during the first Winter, much more. A short video describes the difficult journey of these separatists, and their resilience during the 72 year span of the settlement in America. There are actual artifacts , housewares, and objects used by the Pilgrims, along with large, and beautiful paintings depicting the landing and early life in America. The museum was easy to navigate, uncrowded, allowing us to take our time viewing everything.

The museum has paintings, artifacts, and videos that will provide you a true look at the history of the Pilgrims. Our family visited on a Tuesday and my daughter was given an age-appropriate scavenger hunt that held her interest for the hour or so that it took us to tour the museum. When she turned in her completed hunt, she was given a prize. This is very appropriate for history buffs of all ages.

we spent two hours here. great exhibition, and the video about Mayflower passengers was awesome. also the treasure hunt by kids was a well designed activity for the young ones. wonder why this place is not widely promoted.

Lots of information about the Pilgrims, but a bit sparse on displays. Original artifacts are great (and amazing they've been preserved), but there isn't a lot to see here. Convenient parking lot in back of the museum.

First Landing , a great historical location. A must to visit and not only visit but also to feel. Lota to read about as well.

A very good study of Pilgrim life with many different aspects shown. The 15 minute video is a must-see before touring the museum.

This museum has a great little film and wonderful artifacts to see. It really gives you a view of life as a pilgrim. This is a great museum with really well-done displays. It is not very big.

They had a family rate for us with our 2 children so it made the price reasonable. We spent about an hour here.

Nice little gift shop and restrooms.

Fascinating, fun for all ages. Clean, well lighted. Welcoming staff. Teens and pre-teens loved the interaction and scavenger hunt program. Highly recommend it for all ages.

bus tour - we were fortunate to have a docent who really brought to life the trip to the new world for these 106 people. I wish we had more time to really look and read all the displays. These were very brave people and I have a whole new respect. Thank you to our docent.

Visited specifically to view special exhibit about wedding dresses thru time. A small but unique exhibit illustrating how drastically the styles of our wedding garbs have changed over the last 200+ years. My mother in law and I greatly enjoyed it. Did have a suggestion for the curator which I shared with the docent which was many of the dresses had elaborate detail on the back of the gown which wasn't viewable as displayed. Suggested they put mirrors on the walls so the back of the gowns can be seen. We also wandered around to see exhibits on the Pilgrims which includes artifacts and a informative movie. I would definitely go back with visitors from out of town since the actual Plymouth rock itself is somewhat underwhelming.....

This is a really interesting museum that tells the story of the Pilgrims voyage across the ocean and eventually arriving in Plymouth. We didn't realize all the hardships this group of people had. The film is excellent and the artifacts that still exist are amazing. This museum made me really think about how difficult it was for the Pilgrims to arrive at the start of winter and start a brand new life in an unknown land. I want to educate myself further about the Pilgrims after visiting this museum. Very interesting and well done!

We saw a concert here. Every seat had a great view , sound was great, too Cletus price very affordable, we recommend it, great night ,

Start your visit by watching the 30 minute video on the ground floor. It beautifully frames the rest of the exhibit. The ideological seeds for everything that came after and made this country so capable of greatness were sewn in the Mayflower Compact--still so relevant today.

I came here as a chaperone with the 8th grade class from our school. The students stayed occupied learning at each of the exhibits. The artwork on the walls is beautiful and the replica of the pilgrims attire is true to the time period. The book/gift store is filled with wonderful finds.

Visited on a Saturday afternoon and it wasn't too busy. The museum is pricey ($12 for adults) and small so while the artifacts are high quality I'm not sure it was worth the price. I felt like they did a better job than other museums I've seen in documenting the Native American experience of the Pilgrims settling in this area, and there were some amazing artifacts. Of particular interest to me were some of the original documents they had displayed.

A small museum, which shows in a captivating way the history of the pilgrims. Educational and entertaining.

This was an informative museum with lot of historical pieces.

There is a video in the basement section that is about 10-15 minutes long. Very informative.

Lots of stories are told about the pilgrim fathers. Most of them are presented here and discussed fairly with reasons. Best info I have seen with lots of relevant artefacts. Great place to find out what really happened.

It is worth a stop and inexpensive. If you do all the history stuff in the area it is supportive of the local history. Some nice artifacts about the pilgrims and also a nice video showing the history. very slow paced and only worth about an hour of your time

We stopped for a quick visit. As we were heading out of town. I enjoyed the short 15 minute video they offered, it was filled with interesting information I had not know. Seeing items that were actually on the Mayflower was fascinating. I love history so I really enjoyed this museum. They had a special exhibit of wedding gown dating back to the 1700s.

The other reviews are accurate that this is a small museum. It is geared to one historical event and I did find it informative on that matter. They do offer a treasure hunt for bids and even had a version for kids up to grade 9 (there were 4 age categories and hunt geared toward each). It cost $20 for me and a 13 year old... not so bad. Small museum, yes, but the pricing isn't that steep and the fee goes to preserving and keeping these artifacts for future generations. We learned a lot and enjoyed being able to touch a piece of Plymouth Rock. It was fascinating to see this huge chunk of granite, as well as he artwork, period clothing, and various items from the period. Worth a visit to add to the educational experience of the area.

Spend about an hour viewing various items owned by the Pilgrims along with some artwork related to them. Also includes a short film.

We accidentally happened to walk by the Pilgrim Hall Museum after lunch today. The 6 of us decided to see the museum, even though we had a 4 year-old grandson with us. We had to keep him occupied and reasonably quiet during the visit. We did get a family membership and found that there are museums and the zoo in Houston, Texas, that have reciprocity with this museum. Don’t miss this museum when you are near Plymouth. It is excellent ‘

This is a must see if you're going to Plymouth for his15ory. There's a 15 minutes film that is essential and would be great for children as well. Beautiful paintings, artifacts and helpful people. and a great gift shop! Thanks to Betsy for all the help.

If you are limited on time in Plymouth, I would recommend visiting this museum and then going to visit Plymouth Rock by the water. This museum does have a big piece of Plymouth Rock that you can touch - which is a cool experience. The museum has parking for its visitors only.

This is one of the nicer museums we have visited, a very well done display of the Pilgrim experience. The people working there were friendly and helpful, and they have a gift shop filled with good quality souvenirs, books, and other items.

It took about an hour to visit this small museum. It was very educational about an important piece of history. I really enjoyed the 15-minute information video.

The admission is $12 for adult and $8 for kid.

Highly recommended if you are in the area.

This venerate museum collected relics and stories from Plymouth's Pilgrim descendant families long before such was popular. That means authentic artifacts from the Pilgrim Era have been saved and are on display along with the stories of their owners and descendants. The continuity is amazing. Well done. A "must" to see for every Plymouth visitor.

Not the largest museum in the world but very insightful on the history of the Pilgrims and Plymouth. A fair amount of original artifacts that came over on the Mayflower which was pretty neat to see and the museum set the stage for a better understanding of the rest of the things we visited throughout the day in Plymouth.

There was a fair amount of information and well done in this museum. The film/video was interesting as far as the history of the Pilgrims. I wouild recommend seeing this over the reproduction of the Mayflower II.

It is a great start to the history of Plymouth settlement. Artifacts are interesting, quick movie for information. Gives the basics to start your adventure here.

Great little museum to see actual Plymouth history. Great movie gives overview of the history of Mayflower. Real artifacts on display. also has a nice little gift shop. spend about 1- 1.5 hours. I'm not sure little kids would appreciate the museum.

This is a nice little museum with plenty of information. It is a good glance of history during the pilgrim period. One should starts the visit with the short video, which provides a good summary. In addition to the museum, there are also many books at the gift shop. For someone interested in genealogy, this can be a value-added reward.

We should have given ourselves longer here. I could easily have spent two/three hours watching the audio/visual then looking at all the original artefacts from the 17 Century. We rushed through the shop as the museum was closing, but I still had time to treat myself to an excellent book about William Bradford, one of the earliest pilgrim settlers and Governor of the Colony for many years. I was very impressed with the Pilgrim Hall Museum.

What a wonderful museum , which tells the story of the pilgrim fathers ,extremely well with lots of artefacts ,names of people involved , liked items shown from the period ,we spent a couple of hours looking round but could have spent longer ,very good value for the money

Fairly small museum with a few artefacts relating to the Pilgrims arrival in Plymouth.
Many of the items have minimal description such as 'chair' with perhaps a guess at a date and origin such as 'Massachusetts or England'. A more detailed description would have been useful as other museums seem able to do.
There is a piece of 'Plymouth Rock' which you can touch.
Came away feeling disappointed as this could have been so much better had the items been more fully described.

A fabulous little place, and an absolute must see in Plymouth - offers a great history and a lot of information on this vitally important American town. The staff were just wonderful and even offered visitors free birthday cake!
Highly recommended!

a visit here you will learn all about the pigrims....plenty of displays to see read ....parking in the rear

Nice place and nice people. Interesting little film about the pilgrims and some interesting artifacts that actually came with the pilgrims on the mayflower. Some nice paintings also was something to do inside as it was raining out but not over the top exciting

Great little stop with some interesting pieces. Great place if you love history. The architecture is also very interesting.

It's pretty generic, with some period items, a couple of videos, a small gift shop, and a large library of books & journals that can be seen but not touched. They have a few items related to the Indians, and there were some truths written, such as the Human Cargo. Still, like our history books, many of these museums are missing so much information, so many truths. Maybe someday there will be museums dedicated to the Native Americans, who were here long before the Pilgrims. Anyway, I didn't think this was worth $10. I had more fun walking the waterfront!

It is a small museum but it was amazing to be in the presence of so many artifacts from the first pilgrims.

This museum is $10 a person, which seems a little steep for the exhibits inside. My favorite exhibits were some of the changing perceptions of Pilgrims throughout American history, and how our national myth around them has changed. It was pretty cool.

They also have a ton of very large paintings about or involving the Pilgrims.

Better than most of the tourist stuff you'll find in this town.

I was a little disappointed with my visit here. Maybe it is because I grew up around here, maybe not. Very small on space. A few good display items and some really enormous paintings upstairs. I guess if you are from out of state or from out of the country, it would be a different point of view than mine. Seemed like they had a few informative videos which was nice. We did get in for free since we live in Plymouth, but the admission fee seemed reasonable, and they had a cute scavenger hunt for the children. Was a great place to spend an hour escaping the summer heat and learn a little bit of history.

This was so wonderful. This museum was so helpful in it's history and interpretation of the pilgrims. I loved the videos, I loved the exhibits, I loved the staff. This does have a fee but it was worth it. The gift shop is great as well. The museum has actual artifacts of the pilgrims so wow just wow. The museum also tells the story of the sadness of greed and godless nature of the Winslow's son(2nd generation American) and how he broke the peace with the Native Americans after his father died. A must see in Plymouth.

This is a "Must See" if you are visiting Plymouth. There are items which actually belonged to the pilgrims including the White Cradle. There are numerous rooms filled with exhibits and a very nice video presentation. There is also an outstanding gift shop.

You will learn lots about the Pilgrims here and see wonderful paintings and artwork representing the lives of the Pilgrims. Current traveling exhibit when we were there was about architecture and construction of many pilgrim-occupied houses. There is a short 15 minute film that sets the context for your visit.

We were looking for things that related to our ancestors who were on the Mayflower. The front desk lady told us much about the history of the museum and she even printed out a paper showing what things in the museum belonged our great uncle in 1620s. Though we did not find anything from our great grandfather on the Mayflower, his name was still at the museum. We even saw a picture of Edward Winslow, the great uncle in the family. We enjoyed the short video on the Mayflower also.

If you don't have a sense of the history behind the Mayflower and its people, visit here first. Then go to the plantation. It was amazing to see original documents and artifacts from that time period.

Smart companion visit to the Mayflower. Well worth 2 hours of your time to view and learn the accurate history of Pilgrims coming to America. We especially liked the huge paintings/renderings of what the Landing might have looked like.

whilst in Plymouth we had a walk around the Pilgrim Hall Museum it's worth a look we found it interesting.

Made us realise how little we knew about this event in history;good intro film and the displays were well laid out and interesting.Well worth the entry fee.

The museum is well kept up, has fantastic exhibits and is a great learning experience. I would highly recommend watching the movie before looking at the exhibits in the first big hall. It really helps give the items context.

For a family price of $30, it is a great value. That covered 4 kids! The kids loved the scavenger hunt and little post card prize at the end. Lots of history and great information. Loved the actual collections of things they had from the pilgrims. Definitely worth the visit if you are in that area. We spent a good 2 hours there and could have stayed even longer if we didn't have to leave for our parking meter.

A lovely museum filled with history on the pilgrims of Plymouth. The treasure hunt made it more exciting watching my 5 and 6yr old look for items that had meaning. A quick movie and museum to get the idea of how it all started

Walked through this very nice museum. good displays that provided insight into history of Plymouth and the activities that occurred when Pilgrims came to this country.

Very nice, well kept, small museum on 2 levels (has elevator). Very well done and nice balance of art work and artifacts. Very good 15 minute film available running continuously. Allow 2 hours. No photos allowed. Adult fee $8. Free parking on street.

This museum is great and much less expensive than the Plimouth Patuxet museum. It gives a good overview of the history of the Mayflower and Pilgrims, as well as the Native Americans living in the area. The workers were very nice and informative. There were super old items from the early 1600s here, as well as William Bradford’s Bible and the baby cradle of the first pilgrim child born in America.

We parked for free opposite the museum (two hours max) on a Saturday morning and spent less than an hour there, including watching the 15min film, which is very informative. Good displays and you will get a good impression of the early days of the settlers and what happened to these families. I had seen where they lived in Leiden, in the Netherlands, so it is nice to see how they arrived here and settled.

It was a little pricey for the size, but on the plus side parking is free behind the museum building and that is a plus in this little town. There was a lot of great information and nicely done display. We spent about an hour and felt that was enough time. For two adults that was $20 for admission. If you are doing the pilgrim information search in this darling little town, you had to start here.

This museum is a good spot for a small dose of historic Plymouth. It has interesting exhibits, some stunning paintings, and a well-curated gift shop. An hour will be about right.

Wonderful introduction and overview of the pilgrims. Well curated with friendly and attentive staff. Well worth the time during your Plymouth visit .

Pilgrim Hall is conveniently located in downtown Plymouth. There is free parking behind the building, Plymouth residents get in free, and others pay a modest entry fee. This is a good place to start your exploration of the Pilgrim story or, if you only have limited time, a small and concise overview.

Pilgrim Hall dates to 1824, making it one of our nation’s oldest museums. It gives a great overview of the Pilgrim experience in making the trip to America, it has excellent exhibits of Pilgrim artifacts, Native American artifacts and a room full of Pilgrim paintings. The museum details not only the voyage itself but the 72 years following the voyage when Plymouth was an independent colony in America. The musuem’s only weakness is it is totally a traditional read-and-look museum. It doesn’t have interactive displays for children or anything remotely similar. Location: 75 Court St, Plymouth. 9:30-4:30, Feb 1-Dec 30. Restrooms on site. Handicap access. Adults:$12

Expensive for what to is, but support is essential for these places and it was raining. Interesting place to to see some artefacts from the early families. We spent about an hour in there trying to dry out. Two small floors with exhibits up to the modern day. Interesting to an adult who can read the notes and watch the film to get something out of the visit.

We received tickets as part of our stay at the John Carver Inn down the road. This was a nice stop on the way and was interesting to see the history that we have all heard about. I'm not sure small children would find this interesting. There are lots of shops up on this road as well that you can make a nice little time of walking and places to eat.

It's a lovely building with nice staff but Iwas underwhelmed with the exhibits. I was expecting more original artifacts. Having said that I'm from the UK so the examples of furniture are things I'm quite used to seeing. There were some nice paintings and everything was well organised but not everyone's cup of tea.

We had a great experience at the Pilgrims Hall Museum. The ladies there was very nice and helpful. I enjoyed the beautiful stained glass at the entrance and the docent explained it very well. There was a exhibit on the women of the time when we were there. Lots of very interesting items throughout. Don't miss the tapestries! They are beautiful and it is a work in progress. The docent explained how that came about and the importance of the scenes that were on display. AMAZING! I can't wait to return to see how they have progressed. Definitely a must see!

We went to this museum as opposed to Plymouth Plantation which is more theatrical and it was a great visit. The museum has a wealth of artifacts and history on the Mayflower and was really enlightening. The admission was only $10 which was a bargain given the quality of the museum. Well worth the trip.

Although we only had an hour to spend, we were amazed at the age of the objects in the exhibit and the quality they were in! Too see actual objects that came over on the Mayflower was thrilling!

We saved the Pilgrim Hall for a wet day and we must have spent over an hour there watching the film and exploring the exhibits. The “pilgrims” must have had a great PR agent because many people think that European colonising of North America started with them and the Pilgrim Hall goes a long way to perpetuate the pilgrim story. Strangely, the religious dissidents on the Mayflower never called themselves pilgrims, that name was only given to them in the early 1800’s. There are a few artefacts the museum claim could have arrived on the Mayflower many of the artefacts on display are family pieces. There are many paintings on display but some of these only portray what the artist thought happened 200 years before, having said all that it is well worth a visit, the gift shop is good if a little crowded.
There is even a bit of the Plymouth Rock" you can touch.

Almost everything anybody may wish to know and see concerning a seminal episode in America's history, and this right at the place where events unfolded. If you visit the area, do not miss it.
And should you plan a bit ahead, the town is preparing and girding up for "Plymouth 2020" marking the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower's landing.

For a family price of $30, it is a terrific value. The kids loved the scavenger hunt, which really lets them explore them museum and learn at their own pace (they also loved the postcard prize at the end!). Neat artifacts too!

We have Mayflower ancestors, so have been to Plymouth many times over the years. We've been to Pilgrim Hall before, but just for a quick, hurried visit. This time we gave it the time it deserves. This is not a large place--after all, neither is Plymouth! Don't think this is a boring, scholarly place--it's not. You'll enjoy it, I promise. It's great for all ages, and arranged so it's easy to see, fun to enjoy. You'll see things like the ancient chairs various Mayflower folks sat in, other souvenirs of their lives...even a big hat that was worn by one of our ancestors!

The lady at the front desk was great, too. Friendly, helpful, and smiling.

After the Plantation, this is a must see. It's easy to find, there's plenty of parking in back, and a great gift shop. I bought a Christmas Tree ornament that is a miniature "Plymouth Rock" with the "1620" engraved on it. A GREAT place! GO!

Quick walk through with some interesting exhibits. It is only about an hour tour so if your in the area I think it was worth checking. They won't let you take any photo though!

The staff is helpful, the video presentation is informative and just long enough, and there are many Pilgrim artifacts to view. I was thrilled to see pieces from my ancestors, John Alden and the Fuller family.

We have been to Plymouth many times before and never knew it was there. It is Plymouth's best kept secret. It is a fantastic museum. They have many historical artifacts on display including art work,tools and numerous historic items. Inexpensive and not crowded. A great place for the entire family.

One my third trip to Plymouth, MA, I was finally able to visit the Pilgrim Museum. It is small compared to museums I have visited in the past, BUT so full of information. It was interesting to see artifacts that were used by my Great+grandparents and to also view Grandpa+ Myles standish's will. The gift shop is very nice, having some unique articles for sale. The staff were very pleasant and helpful. I will visit it again.

This is your appetizer to set the stage for the pilgrim story and the foundation of Plymouth. The museum is small and quiet, but has a nice collection of artifacts of the pilgrims and items they brought along on the Mayflower. A pleasant surprise was seeing the Wampanoag tribes represented in this presentation. This is a museum that tells a simpler story we would all be familiar with from history class without delving into very much detail or analysis. It’s very good for providing that level of depth, average if you’re looking for a lot more.

I was excited to visit this since they’re supposed to have the largest collection of Mayflower artifacts available. Instead, it was a lot of things that looked like pilgrims. Or pictures of pilgrims. Or videos of pretend pilgrims. The artifacts were interesting, but few and far between.

We visited the museum today and really enjoyed the introductory video in the lower hall and seeing all the original possessions and artefacts including a baby's cot, an original needlework sampler, lots of high backed chairs and much much more. Upstairs there are paintings of the pilgrims including the first thanksgiving meal where venison actually featured more than turkeys! And how amazing that the native Indians were so willing to make a lasting peace with the foreigners. Mutual respect and regard - I have been to similar places in Oz and NZ where peace was less easily achieved. An easy museum to visit with the information very accessible. An absolute must for visitors to Plymouth.

We loved the history lesson and how the museum described the struggles of some of our first settlers and how the peace with our native american friends saved them!

There are many wonderful relics here including Bibles belonging to some of the Pilgrims, household items, etc. There is a 15 minute video entitled "One Small Candle" which is really good and gives good Pilgrim history... I very much enjoyed this place.

Small with a moderate amount of artifacts. The volunteers are currently working on a tapestry that is beautiful. The staff was friendly and informative. It is handicapped-accessible. Not a place for small kids, they will be board.

Our family wandered into the museum mostly to escape the heat and discovered a really nice historical synopsis of the Pilgrim experience. It complements the outdoor Plimoth Plantation exhibits and story in a way that reinforced the period history for people of all ages. Clean facility and exhibits. Good narratives. 30-60 minutes to take it in and move on to other Plymouth history lessons. Thanks to the historical society !

This wonderful little museum was built in 1824 and is the oldest continuously operating museum in America! Very well curated exhibits and actual artifacts of the pilgrims, and the staff was a delight! It was the highlight of our visit to Plymouth.

Outstanding museum with a 15 minute. Ideo that covers the history of this historic place. Really enjoyed it.

This Musuem was very interesting and informative, and I learned a lot from the displays there. They had artifacts both from the Pilgrims' time as well as artifacts from people who wrote about or studied the Pilgrims. It's not as interesting for very small children, but I think school age children who have learned about the Pilgrims would enjoy some of the exhibits. It would have been nice if there had been one more room of exhibits or a slightly cheaper price.

To really learn about the Pilgrims, the hardships, the reasons they came & so much more, this museum is a must. They also have many interesting artifacts including part of Plymouth Rock.

That's right, part of Plymouth Rock that you can touch & have a pic taken with. Definitely worth the admission price on $10.

This was a much more affordable option for us, as opposed to Plymouth Plantation. It was $28 for the whole family. The younger kids were provided with scavenger hunts to help engage them in the museum and they were perfect. It's not too big to be overwhelming, but it's very comprehensive. Watch the short video before you commence your visit-it's on the first floor.

The exhibits are excellently prepared and the docent was very kind. There is a small gift shop with trinkets and books. A great stop and very educational.

After living in Plymouth for nearly 5 years, it took visitors from out of state to nudge me into visiting the museum. I'm glad I went. It presents an informative and balanced history of these early settlers and includes many fascinating artifacts that give us a glimpse into what their life was like. One that truly amazed me was an early bible, set in what must be 6 point type (or smaller) and perfectly readable. Definitely worth visiting.

Very nice museum with great displays, including a temporary display of wedding dresses over many centuries. I wish it was bigger with more in depth displays on more of the pilgrims not a select few. But very enjoyable time spent inside when it was so hot outside.

This place is well worth the 1-2 hours you should spend looking. It gives a great insight to the area.

This museum was a great introduction to Plymouth and the pilgrims. The movie is really informative and then they had many rooms of genuine artifacts from the passengers of the Mayflower. The staff were really friendly and helpful. We left well educated! (Plus there is free parking in the back of the museum!)

The lower level of the museum presents artifacts from Mayflower and 17th century Plymouth history. The short 15 minute movie, One Small Candle, features well-known historians (including Nathaniel Philbrick who wrote "Mayflower") what drove the Pilgrims out of England to Leiden and eventually Plymouth. Museum artifacts were fascinating including Constance Hopkins hat that has survived since 1640.

What we learn in school is so limited that visiting this Museum fills in the gaps and makes history come alive. The video presentation should not be missed.

This Museum is a great place to start while you are in Plymouth. It gives you so much history and a better understanding of what the Pilgrims endured so that we could reap the benefits.

This museum was my favorite attraction in Plymouth. It has many of the Mayflower passengers' possessions. It was really cool to see. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. They have a scavenger hunt for kids to do. This is a "must see" in Plymouth. You'll get more of a Pilgrim experience here than at any other attraction in Plymouth.

This is a great starting point to get a foundation of information before going to Plimouth Plantation. There are many interesting artifacts and stories of Pilgrim life which makes one really appreciate what these people went through to get to the new world.

We went to Plymouth, MA to look for ancestor graves and explore the history of the first colony. The museum was great and the artifacts were wonderful as well as the movie.

Typical local historical museum but with a great exhibit about the Native Americans in the region at the time of the first settlers.

This is a great little museum that does an excellent job in describing the Pilgrim story. They have a great little video and many well done displays. There is a great display case with original artifacts that came over on the Mayflower. Among them are a woven reed cradle, a cannon, a matdhlock gun, wooden tankard and other items. There is also a very interesting chart showing silhouettes of each of the Pilgrims that came over on the Mayflower, then the same chart a year later showing the 50% who died. A great little museum to give you a good overall view of the Pilgrims.

The real curated museum with Pilgrim artifacts. Good displays and amazing paintings of many interpretations of the landing in 1620. Take the time to walk up to Court Street.

A nice Museum with some authentic artifacts from the early period. We were trying to visit the Plymouth plantation but unfortunately it was not open so this became an alternative and we enjoyed our visit. Our grandson was given a scavenger hunt worksheet which he used to search for different pieces throughout the Museum. He enjoyed searching for the items and we did as well. They had some good exhibits which helped explain the history.
They also had a gift shop although it was not big and did not offer many options.

This museum is a must see when you go to Plymouth. If you know the basic history of Plymouth it is not enough, this museum will educate you about the pilgrims and the surrounding area and answers all questions about the first settlers... awesome!

It was ok but I thought it was anticlimatic. Big building and a few artifacts. If you run out of time, catch it next time. Still interesting.

Having grown up in the area I've been to Plymouth Plantation countless times but just recently went to the Pilgrim Hall Museum for the first time. While I went to see a specific exhibit, I was so glad to see the whole museum (and wish I had gone sooner!). I guess it was never the typical school field trip destination (always Plimouth Plantation!) but it was so interesting to see the actual belongings that the pilgrims brought over with them on the Mayflower (loved Peregrine White's cradle!!). I would definitely recommend a trip here. Might not be so exciting for kids (my 10-year old wasn't as impressed as I was - definitely not as interactive as other attractions in the area) but adults for sure.

Excellent take in for everyone, this is the Gristmill an ingenious device and necessary part of existence for the settlement. The tour is informative and well presented, did not see it operate that happens on Friday and Saturday.

This museum offers a short movie about the pilgrims from the Mayflower. There are original items owned by Mayflower passengers on display. If you have Mayflower ancestors, this really makes it a more meaningful experience, though it is also an excellent history experience for the young.

We stopped by here as so many others were still closed prior to memorial day. There were a lot of intresting artifacts and it was cool to see some of the items that were used by the people that came over on the Mayflower. It was smaller than I thought it would be but we still enjoyed it.

Worth a visit. Beautifully maintained & very informative. Scavenger hunt in operation for children when we visited. Great way to encourage them to read the information panels. Not overly expensive.

This is where American History starts. I'm not typically a museum goer, but this museum was great. Loved the video overview and the artifacts from the Mayflower. I would highly recommend.

This two-story museum took us about an hour to visit. We enjoyed the video about the Pilgrims and the museum was full of relics, paintings, and information about the Pilgrims.

A decent amount of artifacts, a TON of artwork, a short movie, and friendly staff. All in all a nice museum!

This is a fantastic museum. Recommend to those interested in the true history of Plymouth and the settlers.

This was a very good museum to learn about the history of the pilgrims. It doesn't take a long time to see everything so would be good for children. My husband and I learned some new historical facts about the pilgrims too. Museum staff was very friendly and made excellent recommendations about other things to do in Plymouth.

Perfect venue to start our historic visit. Would not recommend for children as there is a lot of reading! Adults in our group enjoyed it.

A very well done history museum. Had a very nice visit and learned things my history teacher left out. Much more in depth. It was awesome to see actual articles from that time period. For $8 you can't go wrong.

This is a very interesting and well laid out museum which explains the history of the 'Pilgrim settlement' in an accessible way and with a large number of artifacts linked to named Mayflower passengers and their descendants. It also seeks to explain how this settlement impacted on Native Peoples.

Enjoyed our visit to an informative and pleasant addition to our information-gathering time around the Pilgrim settlements in Plymouth from 1620 onwards. Well laid out, good signage and display boards, authentic artifacts, historical paintings in a spacious gallery, small but useful gift/bookstore. A useful and interesting way to spend and hour and more. Good value too.

We visited this museum in nov 2018. It is a great museum to visit with lots of information about plymouth and pilgrims and puritans who initially landed in plymouth in 1620.....definitely worth the visit!

Loved the museum. Lots of art and artifacts from the time of the Pilgrims. And lots of very old books. Great place to learn some history.

We had family from the UK visit us it was going to be slow just the older folks. So the museum was a good choice,as things here are more for older people,not that some of the younger people woundn"nt like lt. Everone was in awe of fhis museum, It is some more of the story well worth the time.

This is the real thing. Real artifacts, real paintings, and real history.

If you want the story and the history of the Pilgrims this is the place. Everyday they provide a complete depiction of a key event and time in the history of the area. Three times a year they provide a new and special (even unique) historical display.

Every October and April they have scholarly presenters share some their knowledge. This is not the place to go for the ghost tour.

You start with an excellent video setting out the history of the Pilgrims before seeing some of the artefacts which were brought over by them in 1620. Fascinating stuff.

When we arrived in Plymouth we wanted to go to the plantation but it was raining, so we looked up other places. This museum is well worth a visit. A new history of wedding dress exhibition just started, but also the permanent exhibition helped me understand the historical significance of Plymouth a lot better. (I'm not American, so my knowledge about it was very limited.)

We definitely felt it was a good activity for a rainy day!

Great historical collection of artifacts. Friendly and helpful. Worth the price and the time. No disappointment.

It was an okay place to stop and get out of the rain. We were led on a "scavenger hunt" but our guide never gave enough time for the kids to look for the answers. We were also accosted about having backpacks & water bottles with us but were never told they weren't allowed no was their signage.

Our kids loved completing the treasure hunt and learned a lot about early US History to boot. Win-win as far as I'm concerned.

We were out of time, so we just strolled through this area and didn't go into the museum. The grounds had a lot of interesting monuments and plaques. There's a fee for the museum, but there is no fee to check out the surrounding area and grounds.

It is on the hill opposite of Plymouth Rock. Lots of steps to climb. If steps bother you, you can walk around to the side to access the grounds. It's a little further to walk, but it's not as steep.

I honestly enjoyed this more than I thought I would. There is a short film to watch which goes into the history of the Pilgrims, before they left England and why, and then also what took place when they arrived here. There are a lot of artifacts to look at, which was fascinating. Also, being a descendant of 2 Mayflower passengers, I loved that they had artifacts listed by the family they belonged to, so you can see actual belongings of your specific family members. Another favorite was looking at the OLD bibles.

The museum was smaller than I had anticipated but had a couple of interesting relics. My life wasn't changed for seeing the exhibit but didn't feel like it was a waste of time, either.

We had a great time going through the museum. It's fascinating to learn about the pilgrims and to see some artifacts. They also had reenactments the day that we visited.

Lots of history in this museum. Well worth the small entry fee. You'll spend an hour or two here seeing everything and reading about the history.

Without this very interesting museum the trip to Plymouth would have been a complete waste of time. Much of the rest of the town was shut on a Tuesday!

Walked in and immediately was impressed with the beautiful stained glass I’m the entrance to the museum. The staff here are very helpful and friendly. Tickets were $12. It included a 15 minute video on the history of the Plymouth pilgrims. They have some interesting artifacts and impressive artwork. They also have a small gift shop on site. Worth a stop!

The museum is small but packs a good amount of info, history and exhibits. $28 is the entry fee for a full family of 4. Currently, there is a temporary exhibit of wedding garments dating back a few hundred years in America as well as a permanent art exhibit. I particularly liked the paintings of the first Thanksgiving.
The Pilgrims exhibits provides excellent history of the early settlers to America, their reasons for coming, the hardships they endured and how they succeeded.
The museum is very well done.

The museum had a few artifacts, but I'm not sure any came from the original settlement. There were many paintings, but the dates were from the 19th century. It took about an hour to see. I would not go again. Senior rate was $8.00.....I am not sure it was worth it.

Also, there is a museum sign down by the Mayflower. Everyone was taking the 37 steps to the structure by the sign, only to learn it was not the museum. (It is a actually 1 block further up and 4 blocks over at 70 Court St.)

This really is worth doing! We really enjoyed the artifacts and rich history of the area represented here. The discussion of mourning was fascinating. The only downside was you may not take photos. I dearly wanted a pic of some of the info plates so I could look things, people, places up later. The online collection doesn't really help for future research either.

This is a very interesting museum, the oldest in the country. We watched the video first which was well made and informative. They have many artifacts, some that actually came over on the Mayflower. It was well worth the small entrance fee.

We went on a free Friday by accident. They had scavenger hunts set up for everyone to do (all ages) so the learning was more hands on.

I would recommend as part of a visit to Plymouth.

My boyfriend loves history so we went in, I myself not so much. $8 each to get in, not a lot to see I didnt think. It was interesting though. No pictures can be taken. We did buy a really nice pilgrim poster to go home with.

We loved this museum. They have several pilgrim artifacts, and currently have a temporary Wampanoag exhibit, which was very informative. The staff were friendly and informative. Unlike many other museums, the price was fairly low.

We had no plans to visit this museum until my daughter saw a sign for it. We decided to check it out and we’re so glad we did! The artifacts were wonderful to browse. We especially liked the 15 minute video. You can tour this museum for an hour. Definitely worth it.

I really enjoyed this museum. Especially the 15 minute movie (a must see) they show to explain why and how the pilgrims arrived in America.

We visited this museum on September 29. There is free parking behind the museum. In the basement is the exhibition of items of the first immigrants and a movie of the journey of the Mayflower. Further more you will find temporary exhibition of women and immigration. In the oldest part you get an impression about how people trough the ages looked at the Mayflower and the pilgrims.

It was our first visit to the Plymouth area and as such we wanted to make sure we visited the unique historic sites in the area. It is a very nominal $10 entry fee to get in but the Museum but it had a bit of split personality, in my opinion. On the upper floor the day we went was a display of Wedding Dresses, ranging in periods from 1775 to 1988. How that exactly that tied into the Museums lower floor displays of Plymouth Rock history and Pilgrim period items during the formation "land contract" period of Plymouth I'm not really sure.
At any rate the lower level historic display's area was well worth the stop. It included a short informative video, numerous antique and historic items and some interesting tidbits on how that areas settling rights and land contracts really worked.
Overall if it is your first visit to the area and you like history it is worth the hour or so it will take you to see the museum

Highly recommend visiting this museum. They have a piece of Plymouth Rock that you can touch as well as items that came across on the Mayflower. It was very informative and gave me a new appreciation of what these pilgrims went through to get here. The fee is only $12 per person but does offer discounts for students and senior citizens. It is within walking distance (up hill) from the visitor's center/paid parking area.

I found the museum intriguing, interesting, and very informative! If you think you know everything about what the pilgrims experienced, and you believe all you would talk to grade school about the pilgrims, you must visited to the find the truth! They have a lot of artifacts, which are either directly from the pilgrims staying in Plymouth, or from that era!

Many artifacts from the Pilgrim families and Pilgrim era. Self guided but well documented. Usually a special exhibit re the period and or the Pilgrims.

Been here many times. Not the largest museum in US. It is well run and well staffed. Interesting place, with much history on 1620 America. Good asset for history researchers. Great place to spend more than a few hours

We visited Pilgrim Hall as a recommendation from a family member who lives locally. It is an informative museum, has lots of room to move (except the gift shop), educational programs for children, many paintings of the pilgrims (maybe too many), and was overall, a good experience.

The museum is well done not only with a permanent display about the Pilgrims but also a temporary exhibition. On our visit it was about wedding dresses going back hundreds of years. There is a short video presentation that tells the whole Pilgrim story. The exhibits are authentic and very informative. It's not so large that it takes an afternoon to see. That's nice if your trying to see a lot in one day.

Interesting artifacts and historical information of the lives of those who helped found New England. Don't miss immersing yourself in history by including a trip to Plimouth Plantation and definitely don't miss the National Monument of the Forefathers - the hidden gem of Plymouth .... have fun!

An excellent tribute to the Pilgrim colony. There are friendly and informative people working there to help you enjoy your visit. Many artifacts and antiques on display. The displays seem to change so there is always something new to see. Museum sheds new light on the life style and dress of our founders.

My wife and I enjoyed visiting the Pilgrim Hall Museum. The museum is a wealth of information for those desiring to learn more about these adventurers that came to America seeking a better way of life.

Plymouth is pretty, but wasn't really worth the visit. Costs $10 to enter. We wouldn't go again. You can walk down to see the rock for free.

A good place to visit it on a rainy day. This is an excellent first museum experience for children. History buffs will find it fascinating.

The museum is on a in a prominent position in the centre of town. Although its not a particularly big exhibition, there is enough to keep you interested for about one hour.

We enjoy museums and this one was small but displayed very interesting artifacts. The plaques told the real story. We especially enjoyed the videos of the pilgrim women and Native American women. Their stories were not what we were taught in school and very enlightening. Please don’t miss the videos.

Well done interesting exhibits. Tells the Pilgrim story very well. Not just a few old items. Good book store and gifts. Good for kids that like history but adults will like it best.

After the visit to the Plymouth plantation, rock, waterfront exhibit, downtown, etc., I ran out of time to visit this museum, but then decided to go the next morning and I am so glad I did!

It has an excellent story display of not just what it was like for the planets put their native Americans and an exhibit of actual Plymouth residents’ objects.

DEFINITELY sit through the movie on the bottom floor. It’s very interesting, informative and worth it!

Also, if you have an ancestor like me who came over, they will highlight the our checks they have from your family. Very cool!!

The museum is a well set out place that is worth the reasonable entry fee.
The story about the Pilgrims was detailed in many aspects but there is not much detail on the time in Leiden.

The date of our visit and delay in writing the review is a little misleading. First, I discovered I never finished this review I began nearly ten months ago, so hence the delay. Second, we've been to this museum many times over the years. We are from Colorado but make Plymouth a stopping point each year we come to New England (about eleven years now). Exhibits do change a little, but it seems every time we come we learn something new. Since we, like many Americans and Brits, have a deep genealogy with the Pilgrims, it's touching to see old journals, bibles, and original artifacts belonging to them. Take the time to stroll through the museum and, just for a few moments, leave the modern day behind and travel back in time to life in the 1600's. It has a way of putting today in perspective, at least for us.

Very informative 15-minute video downstairs towards the back. Watch that first before going through the museum. $10 admission price per adult with parking behind the building. We walked around a few streets once we were done with the museum. The museum took us about one hour.

If you'd like to know more about the area natives and their early encounter with Europeans this place should interest you. When I went there was a special exhibit about the pilgrim women and their impact on the colony. I don't think it is a particularly interesting museum for children unless history is their thing. The museum staff was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Parking is behind the building and free.

nice perspective on the pilgrims voyage, nice facilities and well presented, interactive displays. would recommend as it can be completed quickly without feeling rushed.

Where else are you going to see an actual tankard for ale that came over on the Mayflower? This museum is the oldest continually operated museum in the U.S. It's a beautiful building and the exhibits are worth the $10 admission. There is a short film on the history of the Pilgrims voyage on the Mayflower and it kept us engaged the entire time. We spent an hour here and that was plenty of time to see everything. Go and enjoy!

Pilgrim hall is where they keep a lot of the real pilrgrim things that they brought with them it is really great to see and it doesn't cost that much to get in. they have things for kids to do in the summer. i live in plymouth and went to vist and learn a lot i didn't know. i hope people will vist this museum when they vist plymouth. i lived in plymouth all my life and enjoyed this museum a lot

Very impressive museum with many artifacts from the Mayflower. Several excellent video presentations. Staff is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. I was amazed that they had the cradle of Peregrine White - the first child born here just 9 days after the Mayflower anchored at Provincetown.

Anyone remotely interested in how the pilgrims settled in Plymouth and established the Mayflower Compact should visit this small but fascinating museum in the centre of the town.

It is well worth the modest entrance fee to see some of the artifacts the pilgrims brought with them, including chests, crockery and cutlery and even a baby's cradle; all remarkably well preserved.

In preparation of the the 400 year anniversary of the landing of the pilgrims, there is currently an excellent exhibition about the indigenous Wampanoag people who have lived in the area for thousands of years and whose way of life was also changed forever by European exploration of the area. It details how they were able to live side-by-side with the pilgrims, teaching and learning from each other, despite having less than positive experiences when, only 4 years earlier in 1616, explorers had kidnapped Wampanoag men to sell as slaves.

A definite must see! So much history. Sit through the brief film for some interesting information about the journey and the settlement. Many original items from the period.

This was our first visit here although we have been to Plymouth many times. I did not know they had so many artifacts of the history of the area. Even the short film caught your attention. I would recommend a visit here especially for first time visitors.

This is a small museum with a short video repeating much of the history divulged at the Jenny museum. The boarded displays are clear and well laid out. There are many artefacts to view. Upstairs is a small display describing the indigenous Indian population and their relationship with the settlers. The $12 entrance fee is probably not justified.

Really well done. Depending on how interested you are this could be a one hour visit or 3. The scavenger hunts arranged for the kids were some of the best I have experienced at a museum. Our 10 & 7 year olds got different hunts geared towards reaches level. It absolutely made them find out more information as they hunted down each item. It also made them think and compare their modern lives to those of their ancestors. It was quite interactive and changed what the kids thought was going to be boring looking at old paintings to a delightful afternoon. Also, the lady at the front desk seemed genuinely interested in making everyone have an enjoyable experience.

attended this museum with my 10 year old son and a friend. This place is so worth the drive. If you are interested in history its for you. The scavenger hunt was amazing and very educational, the museum store was awesome as well. My son enjoyed every minute of it and the people are beyond kind. We are planning another visit in a few weeks and cant wait to explore again!

This small but really well curated museum had lots of interesting artefacts and commentary about the settlers . It had lots of interesting detail about the different groups of Europeans and their impact on the Wampanoag people.

Visited with family. Museum is really small, not much to the exhibits and not enough to justify the cost. Also the counter lady was rude. Just not a good experience.

You can learn the history of Plymouth and the early stage of America here. The video playing inside is a good information to learn the history just in 10 minutes. Especially, you can get the question and review book for your children at the front desk, which will be very helpful to teach them and make them to be interested in and concentrate to the museum.

Visited with 2 other families including children age 5-14. We had a great time looking through the museum exhibits. The kids took away a lot of information. We plan to go back & build on what we already learned.
Staff was extremely helpful and gave us things to look for based on the childrens' ages.

David, the person who manned the front desk as we entered, was very knowledgeable about the museum's history (it is thought this is the first, continuously operating museum in the states). Others may have a longer pedigree, but it comes from a repurposed building into a museum.

There is a terrific 15 minute video that sets the stage for looking at all the artifacts in the museum. Do sit in the replica Bradford chair - gives you a sense of how the Pilgrims had such great straight posture.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit here and recommend it highly.

Beautiful Stain glass windows when you enter. Start with the movie before you look around. There is a piece of the Plymouth rock here that they encourage you to touch.

I mentioned this in the review of Isaac's restaurant. We came here first before going to lunch. Interesting information regarding the Pilgrims arriving to the New World. An enjoyable take.

No visit to Plymouth and The Rock would be complete without a visit to this museum. A complete look at the real history through art and artifacts. Don't miss it....it's small and complete.

Having been very bummed with Plimoth Plantation, we went to Pilgrim Hall hoping to see artifacts from my husband’s Standish and Alden ancestors. The moment we entered, we were cheerfully greeted by Mrs. Mitchell, who advised us to start on the lower level and work our way up. Sage advice! There was a fantastic, very informative 15 minute video to view. We learned a ton, and it cast a great deal of light on the collection and Pilgrims, as well as the Wampanoag. We thoroughly enjoyed the visit and recommend it. It’s also incredibly cheap as museums go, at just $12 per adult. A pleasure to help sustain this crucial piece of our nation’s history.

If you want to learn, what and how things really happened, please visit this small and very important informative Museum.. It may take you from 1-2 hours depending on your curiosity. They have artifacts that were in the May Flower along with other things that belong to the people from long ago. They offer an Scavenger hunt for kids and adults, a perfect activity I must say. Start downstairs by watching a 15 min film.
The lady at the front desk was very nice and knowledgeable about this area history.
The Museum is not free but they have a special fee for families, the also have free parking in the back. Highly recommend a visit here if you are in the area and want to know the truth about historical facts.
If the women exhibit is still going, spend a couple of minutes there, you will not regret it.

Loved this museum, but we love authentic history. Spent a lot of time in awe of William Bradford's Geneva Bible and Constance Hopkin's tall hat. Great history books in the museum store, as well.

Great place for children. Treasure Hunt helps children interact. Check out the poster of people who came over on Mayflower and which ones survived the first winter

Plymouth Rock highlights where they landed and this museum provides more of the background and completes the narrative. The artifacts are fascinating and one cannot help but be taken with how difficult and dangerous the journey was. The diversity of exhibits makes it so that younger children can grasp the story. Check out my photos for more details.

Went to Plymouth to do research on the Pilgrims. Thought thus museum, being the biggest museum on the Pilgrims in the country, would be highly beneficial. But it was a dinky, small place with no value whatsoever apart from the furniture and some of the portraits. Everything was either inaccurate, compeletely wrong, or guess work. Even their depictions of how the pilgrims dressed was innacurrate. It was a complete disappointment and waste of money.

This was one of several Pilgrim Fathers related venues in town. Spread over two floors and with lots to see including some personal mementoes from some of the founders this is well worth your time for a visit

This museum delivers the personal side of the pilgrim story. Here you'll meet the men, women and children who started the colony. Fascinating artefacts and personal items which bring it all to life. Well worth a visit.

there is not much in this museum, but it is interesting. While walking around downtown this would be place to go.

I would highly recommend this museum if visiting Plymouth. I only knew the little bit we learned about the pilgrims in grade school but this really explains so much more.
It is presented with very interesting materials. I suggest watching the 15 minute movie before you start the museum. This is a small museum and will probably take about an hour and a half to see it all.

This museum has a wonderful video about the Pilgrims and the native people. A number of household possessions are on display and lots of background information. I checked the museum website and found a huge amount of well-presented historical information there.

Enjoyed the museum! The staff was very friendly. The paintings are amazing. The literature along the way was very informative. There was a 15 minute video that we enjoyed. After visiting the museum we went to the Burial Hill Cemetery which is the resting place of some pilgrims. Definitely was surreal to see paintings of history then to walk by their graves. The cemetery sits behind the first Plymouth church.

I wish there were more "free" museums so everyone could enjoy the historical sites. Even at $10 per person it is hard for families to afford.

This museum has actual objects from the Pilgrims such as a doll, cradle, child's shoes, housewares, etc. I enjoyed the earliest known sampler made in the New World which was made by Miles Standish daughter, Loara. Also several original Bibles used by Pilgrim leaders were very interesting. One wall has a time line of explorers to the New World until the 1620 landing of the Pilgrims along with a map showing the routes taken. The museum emphasizes why the Pilgrims came, who they were, and the hardships and sacrifices they faced as they be built their lives in a new land.

This was the highlight of my trip. I went to Plymouth seeking more information on my Pilgrim ancestors. This museum is a treasure trove of artifacts and information. It was awesome! I also enjoyed shopping in the museum gift shop and the staff was so helpful!

We stopped in Plymouth on our way from Cape Cod to the airport in Boston. Lovely city with sooo much history. Very informative museum with fascinating artifacts and a very good movie. I wasn't aware that one really know all the names of the first settlers and who has survived the first winter and who not.

I am a local resident that never took advantage of some of the wonderful tourist attractions in my "back yard". My husband and I spent a morning here reading everything and learning many new things about the Mayflower, the pilgrims and the local history.

... and what do aliens know about 'Pilgrims?'
Not much.
Remember Canadians along with the rest of the off
shore visitors, are aliens in the US.

So the Pilgrim Hall Museum has wonderful description boards
combined with extant objects from the 'Mayflower' and environs.
This is probably a Tourists' (alien) necessary first stop
in the town of Plymouth giving an excellent review and
a little education on the origins
of the U.S. of A.

Like Cooperstown, the Pilgrim rock is about myth rather than fact.
The fact is that all the Mayflower history gives basis to
the American Dream.
So do not myth the Museum.

This was a great way to spend an afternoon. There was a treasure hunt scaled to the ages of my three children that really encouraged engagement with the exhibits. I loved the piece of Plymouth Rock that you're allowed to touch and take pictures with. It was the last day of the year that they were open and we practically had the place to ourselves. The price for non-residents didn't seem prohibitively expensive for the amount of time that we spent there.

It was a very touching visit and it made us understand the deep faith this group of men and women had. The museum is very interesting, especially the video that tells all the story of Pilgrims and the difficulties they had in the new country. Even if it's a small museum it's worth to go there.

A great look into our history with many historic pieces and an informative video. There are also some beautiful pieces of artwork.

The small museum contains a fascinating slice of America's history. The collection includes paintings, clothing, artifacts, documents & more. Found the lower level's video & artifacts to be particularly interested. Also, am personally grateful to the gift shop volunteer who helped me research my own Pilgrim ancestor through a for-sale volume (which I ultimately purchased for further reference).

This museum is filled with genuine artifacts. It provides an excellent introduction to the Plymouth experience. Plan on spending at least an hour here. There is much that will interest school age children.

We started by enjoying a reading of General Bradford journal.Fun!
The next day we went back to see the museum.Very informative video to get us started.

We went here as a family having pilgrim ancestors so the displays were pertinent and meaningful. Despite the imposing size of the building, the exhibit space is not large and one can walk around in a half hour or so unless you read and listen to everything. I especially liked the 6 videos portraying women of the time period, including native women. There is a small gift shop. There’s a small poster showing who lived and who died on the voyage and in the first winter, demonstrating clearly what a struggle these pioneers endured.

Lots & lots of information on our Pilgrims arrival and how life was for them. Great artifacts to look at. Nice short video too!

Want to experience authenticity? Care to dig deeper into history? Here's where your visit to Plymouth takes one off the tourist-beaten waterfront and brings you one block up onto Main St. in town to roll up your sleeves and investigate the real stuff. Enjoy the exquisite new addition, speak with those informed, learn so much more. A "must stop" for history lovers.

We really enjoyed our time at the museum and wished we had scheduled a longer visit. There is a great deal to see and we will be back!

it was a clearly laid out museum. The 15 min film really explains everything in clear, precise terms. It made one feel very humble that these pilgrims just got on a ship, not suited for purpose and headed off to a new country. Well worth the admission fee.

Good movie and some great artifacts, but the museum seemed focused on the tercentenary of the landing rather than the landing and pilgrim experience.

The entry fee is a bit pricey for the size of this museum, but it contains lots of 17th century artifacts, which made it worth it, imo. For example, see a chair and bible belonging to William Bradford, Mayflower passenger and longtime Governor. Impressive paintings, costumed mannequins and a brief film are also featured.

The museum had good exhibits that had great expanations. The history was very interesting. There is also a museum parking lot in the back that's free.

This is your opportunity to touch the rock. Also, a very nice museum with items actually brought on the Mayflower. Very nice museum.

This is a beautiful museum that is packed with history about the Pilgrims. They show a video that has a lot of information in it. I wasn't expecting it to be as nice and was pleasantly surprised. It was one of the highlights on my trip to Plymouth I would recommend from school age children through seniors.

This was part of our home made Plymouth walking tour. A very well laid out museum which taught us a great deal about the Founding Fathers. Good video to start with. Excellent paintings and good use of genuine artefacts.Not to be missed.

What a great museum that does a wonderful job explaining the strength and fortitude of the pilgrims as they came to America. The artifacts on display are incredible and well preserved, including many beautiful bibles and other woodwork items.

I particularly enjoyed the 15 minute documentary that aired explaining the various challenges the pilgrims faced as well as their initial interactions with the Native Americans that were so crucial to their initial survival. The museum apparently plans on enhancing the exhibit with additional Native American perspective to more comprehensively address their key role in their interactions with the pilgrims.

Pilgrim Hall Museum was conceived in 1820 as part of the Bicentennial celebration of the landing of the Pilgrims in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and the museum building was born in 1824. They celebrate its birthday with a huge birthday cake every year on September 1. This gem of a museum, along with including personal articles that came over on the Mayflower with the Pilgrims in 1620, also offers over 400 years of history told through the hand-me-downs from the families of these 102 passengers, half of which managed to survive the first winter. The best exhibit though (OK a big hunk of Plymouth Rock that you can touch is cool as are the many grandiose paintings from a Victorian POV) is the video, told by Plymouth historians including "Mayflower" author, Nathan Philbrick. In under 15 minutes you get a really good idea of the Pilgrim and Wampanoag story and an emotional peek into what they went through to get here to begin their new lives and plant the seed for today's USA. Open yearly, February 1 - December 31 (except Christmas Day). So worth a visit.
PS, Be sure to check out the poster showing silhouettes of families that made up the 102 passengers followed by the same images where those not in silhouette indicate the 52 deaths, spine chilling.

This museum tells the story of the Pilgrims coming to America and what life was like for them here. There are artifacts from the time period, and paintings of the Pilgrims. The entrance fee is reasonable. The displays are on 2 levels. Visitors can watch a short video about the Pilgrims. Free parking is available behind the museum.

We enjoyed our time visiting the oldest museum in the USA. Wasn’t overwhelming, great way to spend 45 minutes or a couple hours.

We really enjoyed this museum. The information about the crossing of the Atlantic and landing is s great histor lesson. The information video is Excellent and short enough to keep everyone's attention

We waited at least ten minutes for a docent to check us in. What I expected was a large amount of Pilgrim artifacts - which, now I understand, was slightly unrealistic. However, what artifacts they did have were in the basement and I guess I didn't understand that was it. In the main room, you find a lot of paintings, or reproductions of paintings, representing pivotal moments in the journey they made. I had wanted an intimate chance to really view objects touched by their hands. The experience was underwhelming and disappointing. I think my expectations were too high.

Museum contained many small items related to the Pilgrims and their story. Great oil paintings hang in the main hall. Our 8 year old grandson was a bit bored, but the museum had a scavenger hunt the day we were there, which helped to keep him entertained.

Situated on Court Street in the centre of Plymouth, the museum is perfect for those who love history.

The museum opens from 09:30 hrs - 16:30 hrs and it is closed all January.

The museum is Americas oldest museum and was built in 1824 - you can get to touch a piece of Pilgrim rock and see some of the Pilgrims possessions and see a really good film at the start of the tour.

William Bradfields bible
Peregrine Whites cradle
Myles Standish's sword

There are parking facilities on site and a gift shop for memorabilia.

It's good for a cold or rainy day activity

Worth the cost of admission, some very interesting history lessons, artifacts and displayed nicely, takes about 1-2 hours if you want to see everything

Interesting museum with a good introduction to the arrival of the pilgrims, local history of the whaling and shipwreck rescue, etc. Enjoyable.

Tried to visit the hall on a Monday in June and it was closed! Closed in the summer on a weekday?? The actual town business area is disappointing also, plenty of pride displays not many US flags around!

Quite small, but the only place where you can see items that actually made the trek here on the Mayflower. Very good as an introduction and to introduce children to the story. Worth a visit just because it's America's First Museum...make sure you watch the short film in the downstairs gallery.

Pilgrimi Hall makes agenuine contriution to the historical story of the Plymouth Colony. Lectures, tours, newsletters, educational eventsg. Are some of its contributions.

It's not a very large museum, but its impact is quite impressive. If you love history and appreciate the Mayflower story and odyssey of the Pilgrims, then you'll enjoy this museum. There are a number of impressive paintings paying tribute to the Pilgrim landing at Plymouth, the signing of the Mayflower Compact, and other events related to this colonial era. There are numerous artifacts including tools, weapons, furniture, and bibles, and you can even touch a piece of Plymouth Rock. We spent about an hour here and it was well worth the price of $26 for two adults and one child. They even have a family deal of $28, so it makes it affordable if you have more than one child.

Plan to spend a couple of hourst at this destination. There is a lot to see and some videos to watch while you are there.

learned alot more about the pilgrims and the indians that i had nor previously known. prepare to do alot of reading. also a bunch of little tools and weapons from that period to look at.along with furnite and other things.

Very informative and interesting. The staff were very helpful. We learned a lot about the history of Plymouth.

Great museum to give you more information on pilgrims and plymouth. Wonderful staff. Lots of artifacts and information as well as a room full of paintings about plymouth and the pilgrims. not to miss this place it is worth a visit.

I really enjoyed this museum. It is small, but what they have is really cool- Bradford's Bible, various furniture from the Pilgrims, Native artifacts, a headstone from Josiah Winslow, and more. There was also a special exhibit of wedding dresses from Plymouth from the 1600s on. The gentleman at the front desk was very helpful. The museum was very clean and well-maintained. Even though it is an old building, the displays are modern. An easy and worthwhile stop.

It is not a huge place, but is packed with information about the Pilgrims. I found the artifacts they have that are actually from Plymouth Colony and the Pilgrims to be quite interesting. The video is a must see. Visiting really puts the hardships the Pilgrims faced into perspective. The grand rooms and architecture in the older part of the museum are interesting in and of themselves as well. The education I received was well worth the time spent.

The building is beautiful. On a main street but parking ewas not bad. The articles are displayed in an organized and thoughtful way. Always love items from our past to give us a true sense of our backgrounds and history

Fantastic museum and where can you touch a piece of history - Plymouth Rock? Right here!! Scavenger hunt for the children was an awesome idea. Loved hearing the interaction between parents and their little ones. Clean restrooms, free parking in back, and gift shop. Thoroughly enjoyed

I was let down simply because you are not allowed to take video or pictures at this location. I realize they want to protect the integrity of the place by not having a lot of pictures of what is inside floating around. Seeing that pictures have been posted with reviews I can tell not everyone follows that rule.

The museum does have a lot of neat exhibits that you will not see anywhere else. It would have been nice to be able to remember those by taking a picture of them even without flash.

Overall this place has some nice exhibits just don't plan on being able to take any pictures of them.

Def stop by this museum. Good idea to get a handle of the beginning life in America and learn about the sacrifices made by our early settlers.

Nice little museum with a good movie downstairs. 2 hr free street parking plus a small lot with an uphill climb.

You can literally camp out in the artifacts and historical displays in this museum. Don't rush through it. Immerse yourself in the history and imagine 1620.

Pilgrim Hall Museum is a nice place to visit because it offers interesting insights of the the lives of the pilgrims who arrived @ Cape Cod on the Mayflower from Europe.

It takes no more than an hour to view the exhibits and videos. No photography allowed. Free parking behind the museum.

$25 family pass was worth it for about an hour of really interesting interactive history. Very much recommended if you are visiting Plymouth for the history or even just on a rainy or windy day.

Only a small museum, but a good way to understand the history of the Mayflower and the Pilgrim Fathers, and some interesting artefacts to see that connected with some of the pilgrims. Well worth a couple of hours to visit. It was especially interesting to learn about some of the pilgrims that came from my home town Dorking in Surrey. Good value.
Note toilets very clean, no restaurant or café on site, car park just behind the building.

This is a wonderful small museum with art, artifacts, a film and the size is very manageable. Children love it because they can see the clothing and toys children if that time would have had. The museum also has scavenger hunts (age appropriate) that kids love. Great history lesson.

Excellent small museum. Well done. Very good history of the pilgrims and Plymouth. Also some beautiful artwork

A simple; yet interesting museum full of priceless artifacts. About an hour long tour. Price wasn't bad either. Staff was also very helpful.

An amazing collection of the Pilgrim families' actual possessions. Enlightening short videos and knowledgeable staff members help make this an outstanding museum located right in the center of Plymouth.

We enjoyed the attendant's explanation of what we would see. It was well done and easy to make connections to family ancestors, with the items preserved.

Decided a trip to Plymouth was in the cards for this visit to Massachusetts. Looking for attractions to see, came upon this museum. I really didn't have much expectation of it being anything grand, but was pleasantly surprised at all it had to offer.

My visit coincided with the special exhibit of burying rituals of the Pilgrims. Given my interest in old cemeteries, and that I would be visiting burial hill after I was done here, it fit perfectly. It was very interesting and informative.

I liked how the exhibits gave some facts about the Pilgrims that are not in keeping with the cliches we hear about the first Thanksgiving and how they got along with the natives. No glossing over just to make it sound better. You don't hear about this side of things, generally speaking.

I highly recommend this museum for anyone with an interest in the first settlers. It's a real learning experience.

We really enjoyed the tour. The staff was very informative and friendly, they had alot of information that was not in your history books. I recommend starting hear to get the whole picture of Plymouth and the Pilgrims before you start moving around the other areas.

The Pilgrim Hall Museum is not filled exclusively with Pilgrim artifacts, but it deeply tells the Pilgrim story. It is medium-sized and manageable for children. So glad I visited!

The woman who sold me the ticket was very informative and helpful. Some great works of art and history to be learned. A piece of Plymouth Rock is there for you to touch.

They had quite a few interesting artifacts and a good continuous film. Of course, most of the info. is geared toward the virtues of the Pilgrims. We now know that they were a pretty intolerant bunch.

Wonderful artifacts from our forefathers.lots of wonderful tidbits about the natives and pilgrims. Must see for the whole tourist experience.

The oldest museum in the country tells the Pilgrin story. There are many original possessions of that group who came in 1620. There is a new exhibit about the Waumanoag natives.

There are some great displays explaining the pilgrims voyage and start in the new world. They had a scavenger hunt of pictures for the kids to find which helped them engage. They absorbed lots of information.

Very cool display of wedding dresses covering 4 centuries! Very cool and historic building as well with an awesome library. Well worth seeing but not for kids.