Massachusetts

Plymouth 400 Kicks Off With Announcement of 2020 Events

Officials announced Tuesday the 2020 commemoration events of the historic Mayflower voyage and founding of Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts.

The chair of the Plymouth 400th Commission and Conventures’ founder Dusty Rhodes lead the press conference annoucing a year-long schedule of events chosen to celebrate the historic anniversary.

"The cultural contributions and American traditions that began with the interaction of the Wampanoag and English peoples have significantsly shaped the building of America and continue to provide lessons for our future," Rhodes said in a statement. "Further, the inclusion of the Native American perspective is one of the truly unique aspects of this commemoration as, historically, this perspective has been mishandled and misrepresented."

Plymouth Colony was founded in 1620 and significantly influenced the shaping of the United States.

The signature events announced on Tuesday are expected to honor the historic voyage, pilgrims and members of the Wampanoag tribe, and will include an Embarkation Festival in September, an Indigenous History Conference and Powwow in late October and multiple events during the week of Thanksgiving.

Some of the ongoing programs leading up to the quadricentennial include a trail of sites throughout eastern Massachusetts and Boston and an educational exhibition created by Wampanoag tribal members in Aquinnah and Mashpee.

Click here for more on Plymouth 400 events and learn how to volunteer.

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