Pilgrim Hall, 1749 Courthouse, and Burial Hill in Plymouth

Gravestones on Burial Hill overlooking a church and Plymouth Harbor in Massachusetts — Gravestones on Burial Hill above Plymouth, Massachusetts

This past summer, we ended up in Plymouth. The point was to go to the Pilgrim Hall Museum and see the artifacts. We did, and it was very interesting. Then on the way back to where we had parked, we got distracted and ended up in the 1749 Courthouse (it was free!), and then we took a detour over Burial Hill. That was a lot of history, all with free parking!

Quick Stats

Round Trip Length: Varies Trail Type: Exploring a town Elevation Gain: Varies Pets: Leashed or No Fees: None to $15/adult

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Blooming lily pads in the Alms House Pond in Plymouth, Massachusetts — Lily pads in Alms House Pond near the Free Parking lot

I looked up free parking in Plymouth and saw a place called Free Parking. It really is free, too; a largish-lot next to the Plymouth Grist Mill and the Arms House Pond (41.95238797, -70.66534356). Most people who park here seem to want to access the trail (which was closed for renovations, much to the regret of our friend). From there, we walked about half a mile down to the Pilgrim Hall Museum.

The outside of Pilgrim Hall in downtown Plymouth, Massachusetts — The facade on Pilgrim Hall – I gather the exterior of the building was added after the rest of the building, which is part of why there are stained glass windows inside

The last time our friends had visited the museum, it was free, so they were quite excited to take us there. Now, they charge $15/adult. I felt that was a bit steep given what you get, but if you really want to see artifacts from the Pilgrims and learn their history, it’s a great place to go.

A stained glass window of Pilgrim men in the reception area of Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth, Massachusetts — Stained glass window in the reception area of Pilgrim Hall

The museum is designed to be explored by going to the left of the admission desk into a room with history of the native people and also some of the Pilgrims. I felt the museum did a fantastic job of being very fair to both sides (no easy feat; I’m not easily satisfied on this front).

A Pilgrim wooden cradle and baby shoes in the basement of Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth, Massachusetts — A Pilgrim baby cradle and baby shoes

From there, you can go down there stairs (I believe there is an elevator, too), past the restrooms (and a map of the early explorations of the American continents), and into the circular pathway that takes you past many, many artifacts from the pilgrims.

A wooden cabinet with dishes and other things from the Pilgrims in Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth, Massachusetts — Cabinet display with several items from the Pilgrims

There are dishes and furniture, clothing and weapons, books and journals, replicas and much more.

Eyeglasses and a wooden set of drawers from the Pilgrim era in the basement of Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth, Massachusetts — Eyeglasses (with their case) and a chest of drawers

I especially enjoyed seeing the Algonquin language Bible from the Pilgrim era. Being part Algonquin (a very, very small part Algonquin), it made me happy to know that even then, people cared about the locals instead of just considering them “savages.”

The first Bible in the Algonquin language (Eliot Bible) and a colonial-era memoir by Benjamin Church at Pilgrim Hall in Plymouth, Massachusetts — The Eliot Bible, translated into the Algonquin language (and also (above it) a memoir by Benjamin Church, a colonial-era soldier)

There is even a baby’s cradle!

A wicker cradle used by the Pilgrims at Pilgrim Hall in Plymouth, Massachusetts — The wicker cradle (tradition says) used by the first child of the Pilgrims born in what is now Massachusetts

The most sobering part of the museum is a poster tacked up on the wall showing the Pilgrims who sailed on the Mayflower and the Pilgrims who were still alive for the first Thanksgiving. Most families lost at least one member in that first year in what is now Massachusetts.

Two posters showing the Pilgrims on the Mayflower and those who were still alive at the first Thanksgiving — Posters showing which of the Pilgrims lived to the first Thanksgiving (remember, you can click on the photo to make it bigger)

We walked up the opposite staircase, forwent the book shop for the moment, and walked left into a room with a lot of paintings of the Pilgrims. Most are not terribly accurate, but hey, it’s interesting to see how the Pilgrims were portrayed over the years. The room is a work in progress, so I’m sure it will grow and change over the years.

A famous painting of the Pilgrims on Plymouth Rock displayed in Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth, Massachusetts — Painting of the Pilgrims on Plymouth Rock

Closeup of a famous painting at Pilgrim Hall in Plymouth, Massachusetts — Someone added a head of another person here – the picture has been restored to its original design

You can then exit through the gift shop. We wandered out onto the street, where most of our group headed back to their cars (they had parked much closer… and it was also free parking. Oh, well.) Three of us headed back to the official Free Parking area. But on the way, I saw that the 1749 Courthouse had free admission. It was much too good an opportunity to walk right by!

The 1749 Courthouse in Plymouth, Massachusetts — The 1749 Courthouse Museum all decked out for 4th of July

The downstairs of the courthouse is crowded with various artifacts. One of my group members was fascinated by the old fire engine (you can see how the pump works on the inside!) Later, we remembered visiting the courthouse back in the late 90s – he was fascinated by the pump then, too!

The old fire engine in the 1749 Courthouse Museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts — The old fire engine in the 1749 Courthouse

There is also a hearse and other varied things to see.

An old hearse in the 1749 Courthouse Museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts — The old hearse

The upstairs (sorry, no elevator) is the old courtroom. John Adams practiced law here early in his career. You’re welcome to sit in the pews, enter the judge’s area, etc. – please touch!

The courtroom of the 1749 Courthouse Museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts — The old courtroom upstairs

I also liked the view of the Church of the Pilgrimage across the street as seen through the windows.

View of the Church of the Pilgrimage through the window of the 1749 Courthouse Museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts — Church of the Pilgrimage through the courthouse window

From there, it was easy to turn left out of the courthouse and walk over Burial Hill. The view is pretty good from up here, though the ocean is mostly blocked by the buildings, especially the church spires.

A tombstone on Burial Hill above Plymouth, Massachusetts — A tombstone from 1773

We found gravestones from the 1600s into the early 1900s. I found it interesting that the earlier gravestones (1600s and maybe early 1700s) sometimes depicted a skull and crossbones, while the later ones had carvings of angels and cherubs. Strange how culture changes sometimes!

Very old tombstones on Burial Hill in Plymouth, Massachusetts — I couldn’t read these tombstones

We found a path and a sidestreet that took us back in the direction we wanted to go, then enjoyed the flowers around the pond before leaving our parking space!

Black eyed susan flower near Alms House Pond in Plymouth, Massachusetts — Pretty yellow Black Susan flowers between the Free Parking lot and Alms House Pond

Round Trip Walking Length: At the end of our trek, my trust OrganicMaps App was reading 2.2 miles and 46ft. of elevation gain (most of that was the walk over Burial Hill).

A wooden tankard from the Pilgrim era in the basement of Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth, Massachusetts — A wooden tankard, probably made in the Baltics, from the Pilgrim era

GPS Coordinates for Free Parking, Pilgrim Hall, and the 1749 Courthouse in Plymouth

Free Parking: 41.9524875°, -070.6653120° (41°57.14925′, -070°39.91872′ / 41°57’08.9550″, -070°39’55.1232″)

Pilgrim Hall: 41.9589550°, -070.6681930° (41°57.53730′, -070°40.09158′ / 41°57’32.2380″, -070°40’05.4948″)

1749 Court Building: 41.9555159°, -070.6645112° (41°57.33095′, -070°39.87067′ / 41°57’19.8572″, -070°39’52.2403″)

Closeup of a mother Pilgrim and her two children from a painting in Pilgrim Hall, Plymouth, Massachusetts — Closeup of another painting in Pilgrim Hall

Getting to the Attractions in Plymouth

I am not going to try to describe how you get to the Free Parking or Pilgrim Hall – there are too many streets and wild ways Google will try to take you! Instead:

Click here for directions to Free Parking.

Click here for directions to Pilgrim Hall.

Click here for directions to the 1749 Court Building.