21 Facts About the Mayflower Voyage and the First Thanksgiving

21. Another Mayflower appeared in 1956

In the mid-1950s, using the records of the Mayflower in the hands of both American and British historians, a replica of the famous vessel was built. Private donations paid for the construction. Although not an exact reproduction of the Pilgrim’s ship, it appears as faithful to the design of the original as possible with the information available to its builders. Its timbers were of English oak, its sails crafted in the same manner as in the 17^th century and its cordage made of hemp, coated with tar from Sweden. In April 1957, the vessel, christened Mayflower II, sailed to Provincetown, the site of Mayflower’s first anchorage in America in 1620. Since then the vessel has been maintained by Plymouth Plantation, an American non-profit which maintains the colony museum in Massachusetts.

On the 350^th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ arrival, in 1970, protestors led by Native-American activist Russell Means temporarily seized the vessel. They did not damage the ship, and released it peacefully after calling attention to the history of the treatment of American Indians. In 2012, the first of a series of scheduled upkeep periods began. They were scheduled so as to ensure the ship, which remains seaworthy, appeared in perfect condition for the celebration of the 400^th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ arrival in 2020. Circumstances forced cancellations of many events regarding the anniversary, but the vessel figures prominently in planning for celebrations of the 400^th anniversary of Thanksgiving in America in 2021.

Where do we find this stuff? Here are our sources:

“The Mayflower”. Editors, History.com. Online

“The Story of the Pilgrim Fathers”. Edward Arber. 1897

“The Mayflower”. Rebecca Fraser. 2017

“Voyage of the Mayflower”. Caleb Johnson, Mayflower History. Online

“Mayflower Bastard: A Stranger Amongst the Pilgrims”. David Lindsay. 2002

“The Mayflower and her Log”. Azel Ames. 1907

“Of Plymouth Plantation: Sixteen-twenty to Sixteen-forty-seven”. William Bradford, ed. Samuel Eliot Morison. 1952

“Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War”. Nathaniel Philbrick. 2006

“Samuel Fuller of Plymouth Plantation: A Skillful Physician or a Quacksalver?” Norman Gevitz, Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences. 1992

“Governor William Bradford’s Letterbook”. William Bradford. 1906

“Mourt’s Relation or Journal of the Plantation at Plymouth”. Edward Winslow. 1622