Nomination for Plymouth Rock

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form 10-300 (July 1969) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM (Type all entries - complete applicable sections) PH0026441 STATE: Mass. COUNTY: Plymouth FOR NPS USE ONLY ENTRY NUMBER 10.1.20.0005 DATE 7/1/1 NAME COMMON: Plymouth Rock AND/OR HISTORIC: 5 LOCATION STREET AND NUMBER: Water Street CITY OR TOWN: Plymouth Cong. District 12 STATE REGIST NATONAL 3. Mass.

CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY (Check One) District Site x Object CODE 025 COUNTY: Plymouth CODE 023 OWNERSHIP STATUS Building Structure * Public - Private Both Public Acquisition: - In Process Being Considered Occupied Unoccupied - Preservation work in progress ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC Yes: Restricted Unrestricted No PRESENT USE (Check One or More as Appropriate) Agricultural Commercial Educational Entertainment Government Industrial Military X Museum Park Private Residence Religious Scientific Transportation [*Other (Specity) historical site - Comments OWNER OF PROPERTY OWNER'S NAME: Commonwealth of Massachusetts IDepartment of Public Works STREET AND NUMBER: 100 Nashua Street CITY OR TOWN: Boston STATE: Mass. 5.

LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC: Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Treasurer's Office STREET AND NUMBER: State House CITY OR TOWN: STATE CODE 025 Boston Mass. CODE 025 REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE OF SURVEY: Inventory of the historic assets of Massachusetts DATE OF SURVEY: 1963 ff. - Federal State DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: Massachusetts Historical Commission STREET AND NUMBER: Office of the Secretary, State House CITY OR TOWN: Boston STATE: Mass. - County Local CODE 025 STATE Mass Plymouth ENTRY NUMBER 70.720.0005 DATE 1/1/76 FOR NPS USE ONLY DESCRIPTION Excellent CONDITION *Good (Check One) -Fair (Check One) - Deteriorated Ruins - Unexposed (Check One) * Altered - Unaltered DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (it known) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

X Moved Origiral Site Plymouth Rock is situated at the foot of Cole's Hill on the edge of Plymouth Harbor where it is protected from the water by a granite seawall. In 1774, when an aitempt was made to move the Rock, it split nearly in half. One portion re- mained in the original location; the other portion was moved twice, until the two halves were brought together near the original site in 1880. McKim, Mead and White designed a classical canopy to be placed over the stone for the tercentennary celebration of the landing of the Pilgrims. This gray granite canopy, dedicated on November 29, 1921, is 34' x 18' and 25' high. Sixteen monolithic columns support its full entablature which is surmounted by a parapet. RECEIVED 121 191 APR 29 1971 LII NATIONAL REGISTE TVT SNOIDOAYI S -

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD (Check One or More as Appropriate) - Pre-Columbian | 16th Century 15th Century 17th Century SPECIFIC DATE(S) (lf Applicable and Known) "1620" AREAS OFSIGNIFICANCE (Check One or More as Appropriate) Abor iginal Education Prehistoric Engineering Historic Industry Agriculture Invention Architecture Landscape Art Architecture Commerce Literature Communications L Military Conservation Music L 18th Century 19th Century - 20th Century 174I Political Religion/Phi- losophy Science Sculpture Social/Human- itarian Theater Transportation - Urban Plannirig/ Other (Specify) settlement STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Statement of significance

Plymouth Rock, a large granite boulder now incised with the date 1620, is the traditional symbol of the landing of the Pilgrims to found the first permanent English settlement in New England. The Rock was identified in 1741 by the 91-year old Elder Thomas Faunce, who said that some of the original Pilgrim settlers had pointed out this rock as the site on which they had come ashore. No mention of a specific landing plaoe is made in the official Pilgrim records; however, the value of the Plymouth Rock as a historic symbol over-rides the question of its authenticity as the landing place. In 1774, an attempt was made to move the Rock from the beach to the Plymouth town square for the annual celebration of "Forefather's Day, " honoring the first settlers. The Rock split, breaking roughly in half.

The free half was placed on the on the square where it remained for several decades; the in-place half was forgotten. The Pilgrim Society was formed in 1821 to honor "those intrepid men who first stepped on Plymouth Rock, " The Society on July 4, 1834, again moved the upper half of the Rock, from the town square to a position in frent of Pilgrim Hall, the Society's headquarters. The two halves of the Rock were brought together in 1880; they now rest at the foot of Cole's Hill under a canopy designed by McKim, Mead and White and presented to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by the National Society of Colonial Dames. T9LI0 112 ATEITETE g 9.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Ferris, Robert, ed. Explorers and Settlers, Washington, D.C. 1968. Willison, George F., Saints and Strangers, New York, 1945. Pratt, Richard, Houses, History and People, N.Y: M. Evans & Company, Inc., 1965 U.S. Dept. of the Interior, National Park Service, Plymouth Rock Massa- chusetts. Washington, D.C. 1966. 10.

GEOGRAPHICALDATA LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY CORNER LATITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds LONGITUDE Degrees Minutes Seconds R LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES DEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PROPERTY OF LESS THAN TEN ACRES Degrees 41 LATITUDE Minutes Seconds - 57 - 29 LONGITUDE Degrees Minutes 70- 39 Seconds "45 " NW NE SE SW APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: " " STATE: CODE STATE: CODE Tess than an acye11 BOUNBARTES 29 1971 COUNTY: NANONAN REGISTER COUNTY: I8TE CODE CODE CODE CODE FORM PREPARED BY NAME AND TITLE: Anne R. Wardwell , Survey Director ORGANMassachusetts Historical Commission DATE April 20, 1971 STREET AND NUMBER: State House CITY OR TOWN: Boston 2.

STATE LIAISON OFFICER CERTIFICAIION STATE CODE MASS ATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION 025 As the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na- tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service. The recommended level of significance of this nomination is: National State Local I hereby certify that this property is included in the Nationa 1 Register. Tnuest A lCannally Chief. Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation 7/1/70 Name IxDarara Socretary the Commonwealth Chairman, Massachusetts Historical Title Commission Date TTEST: VorkamMuutat. Date April 20, 1971 Date INS TR UCTIONS I lebuarce Honeration ....

1Ccaor 6/1/70 4/18/40 site woret 7774/20 kda Bamble 6/24/10 Ok Chanle 1./25/30 EVED J0: 111370 -TIONAL REGISTE: 11V/70,30 8/4/70 6-11.201- 6l1-702 Advance naminatiin 8/19/11 RECEIPT DALA PAGE 4/29/11 PHOTO (S) PHOTO DESCRIP (S) MAP (S) MAP DESCRIPTION LOGGED ACKNOWLEDGE 4/29/71 PROF YES Plymouth NO Plymouth Rock S: NUMBER 10.7,20.0005 mass 1/1/40 - I wonldnt mind dercusang tus on seneral prangeles hefore sayeny yes or no tor aue. Very lal tN Exeption F >ok bermn 119'1 HISTORTAN Wouldaccelande efceptien F ANCHITECT Exception F was made for this. ASS1. KEEPER KEEFER ENTRY CHIEI, OAHP EDITORIAL PROCESSING, EDITOR Federal. Register Entry 9/1/71 Annusl Edition Entzy Logged Card CONMENTS: 110) TTg Dc 8-5 what about oh the rock?

7/13/71 Date WORKING NUMBER 6.11.70.2 L/6L 68 4dy CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: #/2 Plymouth, Mass Plymoith Rock Wale Sr NPS Number 70-7-20-0005 11t20: Plymenth Rock Photo: 4/71 - MHC-71.247 1oo. legaanth Co, Mass. Neit and Sauth meis PROPERTY OF TUE NATIONAL REGISTER th Cliff M 24 eeservon PLYMOU No Baltam wh.te Flat oLight CoP Channel Goise Point Tidal Flat Lighto Long Beach North, °39/45* PLYMOUTH 129/51 HARBOR Rack 41°57' 29" Cales Hill Tidaf Flat Greem watson Hinh Holmes SPaint MtPleasan Sch Plymouth Rock U.S. G. S. PLYMOUTH, MASS Scale: 1:24,000 1962 Browns PLYMOUTH BAY 10 12. 16 4648 4647 - 57'30" 4646 Poverty Pt (MANOMET) Cove irren MANOMET 4.4 115 MI. TO U.S. 4645 80 Lout )Pond. 5,0Pr IForm 10-301 (Dec.

1968) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY MAP FORM (Type all entries -attach to or enclose with map) STATE Mass- COUNTY Plymouth FOR NPS USE ONLY NTRY NUMBER DATE 40.7.20.0005 Tp170 NAME COMMON: AND/OR HISTORIC: LOCATION STREET AND NUM BER: Water Street Plymouth Rock CITY OR TOWN: Plymouth STATE: Mass- MAP REFERENCE SOURCE: U.S.G.S. Plymouth, Mass. SCALE: 1:24,000 DATE: 1962 REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. Property broundaries where required. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference. CODE 025 COUNTY: Plymouth CODE 1023 (9) 8.0.8.0 000, AS:I :elso8 S881 The Commonvealth of Massachusetts - Office of ho Sontiny Fed. Reg Peate House, Boston 02133 HAM SVB LIRE John T. X. Daveren Pecretary of the Commonwvealik June 4, 1970 Dr.

William Murtagh Keeper of the National Register O: Depariment of the Interior 801 19th Street NV Washington, D.C. 20006 RRCENED JUN IL 1970 NATIONAL REGISTER Dear Dr. Murtagh: TC In Massachusetts we wish to avail ourselves of pre-subnission of state-owned properties for the hegister. These four properties have been passed on by the Massachusetts Historical Conmission at their March 17 meeting. 70.7.20.000y 1. Quincy Homestead, 34 Butler Road, Quincy, Norfolk County, which is already a state landmark 70.7.20.0005 , Plymouth, Plymouth County should, for obvious reasons be separately listed in the Register. Then come two properties which are not Iocated by streets, but which can be located by latitude and longitude. 70.720.0000 3. Moswetusset Hunmock, Quincy, Norfolk County, 42 deg 17 20 N, 71 1 20 W, the Indian seaside site which, with a changs in spelling, gave the Commonweaith itsname.

Street eet nartheast i intersctem iuuth , C. 1,000 10.7-20.000/ 71 06 42 W., is famous for its mysterious inscriptions ever since Cotton Mather transeribed them in. - Bayviero ave. in Bughton Redh sonue pal mile west ol State Thèse sites are in the following Congressmens' districts: 1, Quincy- Representative James 4. Burke 2, Plymouth-Representative Hastings Keith 3, Quincy--Representative Burke 4, Dighton--Representative Margaret Heckler (ora) ENH/s Richard Acting Massachusetts Historical Conmission H3O-iR JUL 6 1970 Hon. John F. X. Invoren Secretary of the Corsorweaith Chaiztoon Massachusette Iistorical Conniasion Eoston, iasonchuaetts 02133 Deer lr. Devorens We nre pleased to infaru you that the listorie progerties listed on the enclosure have been ploced on the lintional Reglater or llistorie Placen. Senators Edverd M. Kennedy and Edvand W.

Brooke azi the approprinte Representatives bave slno been not1fied. Plesce with- hold any publieity on this until you have received a carbon cogy of the Consressionsl corzeupondence. Sincerezy yours, Squd Ernest Allen Connally Citet, Office oi Archeology and Ilistoric Preservation JUL 1. 1970 Enclosue Entered in the lational Register CC: HR RGamble :mm 6/26/70 BASIC FITE ROPAIIED IN HR Propertles edded to the lacional fegdster or ilatorfenl Plecen MASSACHUSE Quincy Honestead Pymouth Rock Moswetusset Ilanoca Digaton Rocic Horzolk County, Mosscchusetts Plynouth County, Measochucetta Iorfolk County, Maesachusetta Bristol Couniy, Nossachuetta JUL 14 1970 ere of tepre nestat aattngton, D.

6 Denr 1% Kedths ve ie gleseed to fatore yon fant Plymati foek fa Plynoata Couty, Hasssehuetts, hes been noutacted by the state tanioon Ostleez BASIC FILE appolnted by the dovernor tor the doptesentation of the lebionn) 1sstorde 2re vettos hrognan in Masceciusetts has beoa eabered into the lettomt fegtatez of matorte 2laces. Deastors Ihrard Mr Kennedy und Saeed 1, Irooke lave aieo been provided witz tita tatorantion. copy of thie letter, the state tetson Ortteess 6/26/70 Iod Joln I= Ievonen, lecretary of the Comsoeresteil, Chetronsa Iotortenl Comdenion, Boston, Isssnetusetts 02233, hae 2trine been notarted. A Seattet esplaining the Betfonel Begieter 1s eneloned- ce: Director, Northeast Region LL-Mr. Melvin RGamble tnm GIRETE itacenety gours, (SGD) GEORGE B. HARTZOG, JR.

JUL I 1970 dste CC: aot Jonn i* 2e Davoren, becretery of the Connonrerith, Chodamen, hensecnusetts tstorical Comntesion, Boston, Measechusetts 02133 PE John F. X. Daroren Peoretary of the Commonwealth The Commonwealth of Massachusells Cffice of the Secretary - Piate House, Boston 02133 July 16, 1970 Miss Elizabeth Dipple Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation National Park Service Department of the Interior 801 19th Street, N. W. Washington, D. C., 20006 Dear Miss Dipple: This is to confirm the data I telephoned to you. Moswetusset Hummock's address is Squantum Street, Quincy, about 1000 feet northeast of, its intersection with Mor- rissey Boulevard. Dighton Rock: Dighton Rock State Park, Berkeley, one mile west of Bay View Avenue. Also enclosed is a photocopy of the clipping from the Worcester Telegram about Elm Park, about which I spoke to you.

It reached me by chance from friends in Worcester. Thank you for your help on this. Sincerely, Quhad Kea! Richard W. Hale Jr. Acting Chairman Massachusetts Historical Commission Enclosure RWH/st GAE BET ChACI John F. X. Daroren Secretary of the Commonwealth The Commonvealth of Massachusetts Office of the Secretary Prate Hlouse, Boston 02133 The Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation National Park Service 801 19th Street, N.W. Washington, D. C. 20006 Attention: Mrs. Sally Marusin REGISTERED MAIL Dear Sirs, Enclosed are National Register submissions for: Ty Plymouth Rock, Plymouth, Massachusetts These have been declared eligible for submission by the kassachusetts Historical Commission, the State Review Board, and have been signed by Secretary of the Commonwealth, John F. X. Davoren, Chairman, Massachusetts Historical Commission and designated the State Liaison Officer.

Sincerely yours, RWH: aw Qihned W. Hale fu Richard W. Hale, Jr. Acting Chairman Massachusetts Historical Commission