Forefathers Monument Guidebook

The Forefathers Monument Guidebook: A Guide to the Monument Through the Eyes of the People Who Inspired It.

Discover the Forefathers Monument in America’s hometown of Plymouth, Massachusetts—the largest free-standing solid granite monument in the nation. Dedicated in 1889, it was built to honor the first Pilgrims who sailed to America on the Mayflower and established Plymouth Colony.

​​Learn the fascinating history of this unique monument—from the first idea for a Pilgrim monument in 1819, to a regional competition among artists for its design—awarded to one of Boston’s most celebrated architects. Follow the monument’s national fundraising campaign which spanned the Civil War and drew a personal donation from a sitting American president—culminating in Plymouth’s own rousing dedication ceremony in 1889. Through rare historical photographs, see how the monument looked during construction—as expert carvers and stonecutters from Maine’s famous granite quarries brought each of the figures to life! 

​Unlock the symbolism of Faith, Morality, Law, Education and Liberty through the eyes of the people who inspired it—the Pilgrims. In their own words, hear why they left England to live as exiles in Holland, and why, a decade later—they risked everything again to cross the Atlantic for a new life in America.