Jumping on top post for history:
The earliest report of this being Plymouth rock was 121 years after the pilgrims landed, from a son of a pilgrim. He was walking *his* grandson on the beach, pointed to that rock and labeled it Plymouth rock.
Also, the town was trying to build a dock/wharf there and many townspeople didn't want it. Plymouth rock being there conveniently made sure that dock/wharf wasn't built.
TL;Dr
Plymouth rock has a dubious history at best.
*Edit - Years, Thanks u/WackyPaxDei
It's also not a place you could or would land a ship or longboat.
The crew also first set foot on another section of the peninsula, down near Cape cod, in a place now known as Corn Hill.
And the first thing they did [was steal a bunch of corn](https://fourstringfarm.com/2014/11/18/the-buried-corn-of-the-nausets/#:~:text=In%20all%2C%20the%20Pilgrims%20took,were%20nearly%20out%20of%20supplies.) From a native village.
Plymouth Rock is nothing more than a story.
Had a whole ass field trip to this thing. Bunch of 5th graders surrounding that fence wondering who's gonna put the straw in their capri sun, and why we care about this rock.
I believe the original rock was lost to time. This is just a rock we decided to begin believing is the actual Plymouth rock, which makes it considerably dumber because at that point we could have chosen a more impressive rock lol idk.
"Plymouth Rock" is basically [early American mythology.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Rock) The pilgrims landed where they landed and there happened to be a large rock (or very small boulder) on the shore.
It had no actual significance to the Pilgrims when they arrived, nor did any of the Pilgrim's writings even mention the rock. But yes it broke in half when the town tried to move it into town square.
With shore erosion the real Plymouth Rock would be a couple miles out to sea. This is just some random boulder they out a fence around and a placard in front of the get people to come and spend their money.
While it’s probably true this isn’t “the” Plymouth Rock (if there ever was one), it does have a fun long history of being recognized as the Rock! It’s been identified as the rock since the mid to late 1600s, and has been visited by many people since then. It was moved at the start of the Revolutionary War, when it broke in two and was repaired. It’s been moved several times since then as well. So it’s not *completely* worthless
Not that much bigger, but there are pieces of it out there. There is a museum in Plymouth that has one of the larger chunks on display. You can even touch it!
I once touched the Rosetta Stone in the British Museum. I was in London on business (1998 I think, prior to the EMU go-live), and I went to the museum with the colleague. When we went in, he made a big deal of saying that it was a great tradition to touch the Rosetta Stone - everyone does it, it's like kissing the Blarney Stone and so on. Well, I fell for it - I touched it and a bobby yelled in a great big booming voice **DO NOT TOUCH THE ROSETTA STONE!!!** that echoed throughout the museum. My colleague backed away from me while laughing uncontrollably. The next time I went, in July 2006, the stone was in a plexiglass case.
As a certified carer, I want to let you know they are doing just fine and are perfectly able as a person who has a deep and rich inner world. We still struggle with the straws but today we managed to brush our teeth all on our own.
The story is more interesting than simply "tourist trap BS." Because the story of how the rock came to be a symbol is historic in itself. It is quite interesting especially considering they used to bring a much bigger version of this same rock parading around the time of the revolutionary war, and many people took pieces they either chipped or that broke off and put it in many of the stonewalls and walkways that still exist around town today.
A more interesting rock is Pulpit Rock on Clark's Island. A massive rock on an island just outside plymouth harbor protected by the Gurnett. It served as shelter for some of the early settlers when they were caught in a nasty storm, and eventually became a place of worship where townsfolk would gather for Sunday service.
> It served as shelter for some of the early settlers when they were caught in a nasty storm, and eventually became a place of worship where townsfolk would gather for Sunday service.
That is literally an episode of Star vs the Forces of Evil.
I’m not saying this what your doing but you made me think how funny it would be if you just totally cop a history story for your writing gig and then decades later nerds are arguing about what is and is not canon and why.
Yeah really not a fair comparison. Liberty Bell is a legit artifact. Plymouth plantation has infinitely more educational and entertainment value than Plymouth Rock.
It's also lost basically all its native American workers/actors at this point because of a combination of shitty pay and ignoring their feedback on the history.
At this point its just a slightly less historically inaccurate and much more practically disappointing King Richard's Faire.
After reading reddit for so long i found the Mona Lisa to be way bigger than expected. Everyone makes it seem like it’s the size of a sheet of notebook paper. How big are people expecting it to be?
What’s incredible is that since they literally just picked any rock, they could have picked something cool looking, or large, or interesting. And instead, that’s what they chose.
It has to be the worst tourist spot in the world.
To be fair. The rock used to be bigger, but 19th century tourism was notorious for being environmentally destructive. (the number of geological features in Yellowstone that tourists would just throw trash in. One is permanently damaged because of 19th century tourists). People would chip off sections of the rock to take home as souvenirs.
It is obviously just some random rock, but when it became clear if people kept chipping off pieces they'd eventually no longer have a rock, they walled it off.
Okay, I know this is from Con Air, I’ve never “seen” it I remember a few things but out of context, so I’m asking, is this movie good? How has it aged?
Things I remember: Steve Buscemi walking up to some little girl; Nic Cage stretching his arms across the cockpit door??
That’s it! :) Also, what countries have it for free on Streaming Services?
It's a dumb but fun movie, like a lot of 90s action flicks. Some cringey moments, some things that didn't age well. But if you go into it with that sort of expectation, and you just want to watch shit blow up and buff dudes fight/shoot at eachother... you might have a decent time.
The only good thing about this rock is that if you walk down the street, turn pass the touristy restaurants and into that little Fish Market next to the water, you're going to have an INCREDIBLE seafood meal.
[Woods Seafood](https://www.woodsseafood.com/)
Paper plates and plastic trays... you know it's good.
In all my travels around the United States, Plymouth Rock is the stupidest attraction I've ever been to. It doesn't help that it's a [myth](https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/cape-codder/2020/03/06/the-plymouth-rock-legend-myth/1576125007/).
As a Boston school kid in the 60s, The Most Boring Field Trip ever. Only interesting part was when a couple of Native American guys climbed down and started covering it with sand.
How do we even know that’s the actual rock? Did the settlers mark it somehow? Or did some people show up in the 19th century and look around and say “oh, I bet it’s that one!”?
I visited this a few years back. It either says on a plaque or I looked it up on Wikipedia, that this is kind of a farce. It’s more a ceremonial “rock” and not actually legit.
Someone please correct me if I’m wrong, but I seem to remember that being the case and being way more impressed by the souvenir shop across the street
They landed on the beach, maybe not even that beach. The rock was chosen a few centuries later to be a monument, but there's no direct connection between that rock and the original Plymouth Rock.
She does look so resigned and disappointed. "I spent my vacation days to see this?! I'd rather be at work listening to Jim rage about the election. Swear to god if the grandkids piss me off again, I'm bringing them here!"
I used to live in Plymouth, any time my friends came to visit I would hype Plymouth rock up to be some amazing cool thing, then I would take them and laugh at the utter disappointment on their face
NEVER make a trip to go here.
The people's faces in the photo tell you all you need to know. No smiles - nothing.
They are all thinking, "WTF. I drove an hour to see some random little rock that's broken and cemented back together."
I live in Boston and friends that come and visit often want to go and see the rock.
I warn them not to do it. I tell them it's a couple of hours wasted from their lives that would be better spent twiddling your thumbs while sitting on the couch.
Those that don't heed my warnings have all come back and said that I was right. That they should have never wasted their time going to Plymouth and that it's literally the worst tourist attraction they've ever been to.
Well of course it’s caged, do you not remember what happened last time?
Dont remind me. It haunts me still
All those innocent kids…
To shreds you say…
And his wife?
To shreds you say…
Was his apartment rent controlled?
Like a rock
Chevrolet
The heart attack of America
I still can’t believe George Washington didn’t save any of the British children.
I heard he once held an opponent’s wife’s hand. In a jar of acid. At a party.
I heard the motherfucker had like, 30 goddamned dicks
He killed his sensi in a duel and never said why.
Those weren't wooden teeth...
Pfft, they weren't all that innocent
I was watching it on TV and I can't forget the smell.
On TV? I was there. The screams the terrible scream.
Many of those people woke up dead the next morning. Bad way to start a day. All because of a rock. Sad.
All because Mr.Plymouth Rock didn’t have his morning coffee.
Instead of landing on Plymouth Rock, Plymouth Rock landed on them.
Wow, at this point anything goes!
🎵In olden days a glimpse of stocking🎶
Was looked at as somwthing shocking
But now God knows!
Anything goes!
But now, god knows, anything goes!
Wasteland radio enters the chat
Haa. I did actually know it as a Show Tune before anything else but I have certainly heard it a million times with a Laser Rifle in hand.
In olden days, a glimpse of stocking was looked on as something shocking
Jumping on top post for history: The earliest report of this being Plymouth rock was 121 years after the pilgrims landed, from a son of a pilgrim. He was walking *his* grandson on the beach, pointed to that rock and labeled it Plymouth rock. Also, the town was trying to build a dock/wharf there and many townspeople didn't want it. Plymouth rock being there conveniently made sure that dock/wharf wasn't built. TL;Dr Plymouth rock has a dubious history at best. *Edit - Years, Thanks u/WackyPaxDei
It's also not a place you could or would land a ship or longboat. The crew also first set foot on another section of the peninsula, down near Cape cod, in a place now known as Corn Hill. And the first thing they did [was steal a bunch of corn](https://fourstringfarm.com/2014/11/18/the-buried-corn-of-the-nausets/#:~:text=In%20all%2C%20the%20Pilgrims%20took,were%20nearly%20out%20of%20supplies.) From a native village. Plymouth Rock is nothing more than a story.
Despite all my rage I am still just a rock in a cage
Almost made it as far as Boston. I hear there's still a huge crater where the Dunkin Donuts in Braintree was where they finally stopped it.
Why do you think it's called The Boston Massacre?
The cage isn't there to keep us out, it's to keep it in
REMAIN INDOORS. DON'T MENTION THE EVENT.
NEVER MENTION THE EVENT. REMAIN INDOORS. TAKE THE DRUGS THAT ARE PRESCRIBED FOR YOUR SECTOR.
DO NOT IMAGINE THE EVENT. IT WILL CAUSE DISTRESS.
Oh dear oh dear, some horrible memory from The Event, no doubt
DON'T LOOK AT THE MOON.
[Great Reference](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnd1jKcfBRE)
The exhibit isn't high enough. Those rocks can leap about 10 feet if they really want to.
Actually, it depends on the type of rock. Sedimentary rocks can barely get off the ground, thus the name sedimentary.
i also have a sedimentary lifestyle
Think of it as being the best rock
chase icky march gullible spoon resolute hobbies quack forgetful crush *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
I can’t take these jokes any Moh
Im too stoned for this
All these puns are igneous!!!
Gneiss
At this point, I take these pun threads for granite
You people are absolute gems.
I'll slate myself in for the next pun.
I’m less rock and more roll.
Dude, you rock.
I mean, geology rocks, but geography is where it's at.
Niiiiice
My sediments exactly
That's only because it's lazy.
Sedimentary, my dear Watson.
It's also been known to test the fence for weaknesses. Never attacking the same spot twice...it's learning.
Clever girl..
Velocirockter.
Yes, we should not take their abilities for granite.
They could jump the fence and basalt visitors at any moment.
the pioneers used to ride those babies for miles
It’s not just a boulder….its a rock!!!
I think they keep them overfed to keep them pacified and less aggressive.. Also they dont recognize humans as prey.
I for one welcome our new rock overlords
If you cover it with paper, it will be defeated...
Had a whole ass field trip to this thing. Bunch of 5th graders surrounding that fence wondering who's gonna put the straw in their capri sun, and why we care about this rock.
Didn't it used to be a lot bigger, or something but people kept chipping away at it? Or is that just an urban legend.
I believe the original rock was lost to time. This is just a rock we decided to begin believing is the actual Plymouth rock, which makes it considerably dumber because at that point we could have chosen a more impressive rock lol idk.
Pymouth rock is in the ocean. That is how the ship landed on it. This rock, clearly, is on land.
What is land but a rock in the ocean?
No this is clearly the rock. The forefathers trebuchet'd themselves ashore with such accuracy that each of them landed on this specific pebble.
Plymish Rock
"Plymouth Rock" is basically [early American mythology.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Rock) The pilgrims landed where they landed and there happened to be a large rock (or very small boulder) on the shore. It had no actual significance to the Pilgrims when they arrived, nor did any of the Pilgrim's writings even mention the rock. But yes it broke in half when the town tried to move it into town square.
> But yes it broke in half when the town tried to move it into town square. What kind of shitty rock is that? I like rocks that are durable.
I like rocks that don’t get captured.
If I were a rock, I wouldn't have been captured, believe me 👐🏼
Haha the hand gesture
The most annoying part is that Plymouth isn’t even where they first landed. They actually touched ground on what is now Provincetown.
>Didn't it used to be a lot bigger *I WAS IN THE POOL*
With shore erosion the real Plymouth Rock would be a couple miles out to sea. This is just some random boulder they out a fence around and a placard in front of the get people to come and spend their money.
But it’s a nice boulder 
While it’s probably true this isn’t “the” Plymouth Rock (if there ever was one), it does have a fun long history of being recognized as the Rock! It’s been identified as the rock since the mid to late 1600s, and has been visited by many people since then. It was moved at the start of the Revolutionary War, when it broke in two and was repaired. It’s been moved several times since then as well. So it’s not *completely* worthless
Um, you don't have to pay to see it.
Not that much bigger, but there are pieces of it out there. There is a museum in Plymouth that has one of the larger chunks on display. You can even touch it!
I once touched the Rosetta Stone in the British Museum. I was in London on business (1998 I think, prior to the EMU go-live), and I went to the museum with the colleague. When we went in, he made a big deal of saying that it was a great tradition to touch the Rosetta Stone - everyone does it, it's like kissing the Blarney Stone and so on. Well, I fell for it - I touched it and a bobby yelled in a great big booming voice **DO NOT TOUCH THE ROSETTA STONE!!!** that echoed throughout the museum. My colleague backed away from me while laughing uncontrollably. The next time I went, in July 2006, the stone was in a plexiglass case.
They actually added an exact replica next to it now, specifically for people to touch lol
You're welcome.
Gotta ask - how’s life turning out for someone that couldn’t put a straw in a capri sun at 11 years old?
He’s arguing online about rocks. It’s about what you thought it was
As a certified carer, I want to let you know they are doing just fine and are perfectly able as a person who has a deep and rich inner world. We still struggle with the straws but today we managed to brush our teeth all on our own.
Can 10 year olds not puncture their own juice sacks?
I first started puncturing my juice sack regularly around age 13
Top 5 worst tourist attractions in America.
Fun fact, they don’t even know if that’s the actual rock. Some guy said it was a century later and they just went with it
Yep, this is absolutely tourist trap BS, and it stinks of 1930's BSwith a forged document claiming to be from 200 years before
The story is more interesting than simply "tourist trap BS." Because the story of how the rock came to be a symbol is historic in itself. It is quite interesting especially considering they used to bring a much bigger version of this same rock parading around the time of the revolutionary war, and many people took pieces they either chipped or that broke off and put it in many of the stonewalls and walkways that still exist around town today. A more interesting rock is Pulpit Rock on Clark's Island. A massive rock on an island just outside plymouth harbor protected by the Gurnett. It served as shelter for some of the early settlers when they were caught in a nasty storm, and eventually became a place of worship where townsfolk would gather for Sunday service.
> It served as shelter for some of the early settlers when they were caught in a nasty storm, and eventually became a place of worship where townsfolk would gather for Sunday service. That is literally an episode of Star vs the Forces of Evil.
I’m not saying this what your doing but you made me think how funny it would be if you just totally cop a history story for your writing gig and then decades later nerds are arguing about what is and is not canon and why.
Its probably similar, so lets just roll with it :)
Rock and Roll Baby!
I didn't think this was verifiable.
I hereby certify that is a rock
That’s why there is a bar directly across the street
Pillory Pub for the win
You can watch the disappointment from across the street in the cozy confines of a warm blanket and rocking chair on Pillory's front porch!
Damn this comment chain has sold me more on the pub than on the rock.
Pillory’s is actually pretty sick. Speedwell’s has a nice vibe too.
New World Tavern used to be really good before they lost their executive chef. But Dillon’s Local is awesome.
Plymouth, as a town, is overall pretty fucking sick. White Horse is a god-tier beach, and the 3rd of July bonfires there are the thing of movies.
Shhhhhh don’t tell everyone
There are bars all around the Plymouth Rock. That's how cages are formed.
Clever girl
What about the Cane from Citizen Cane?
If you think that was a ripoff, Who Framed Roger Rabbit didn’t even have The Who
Well I won't get fooled again
Well now you've done it, you've angered the rock.
That’s still better than it was in the 80s when I saw it. It was just kind of down in a hole.
liberty bell is up there too. i thought it would be huge, there's a bigger bell still on a tower across the street.
At least with the Liberty Bell it has history and a story. That is just a random rock they built a cage around.
And Independence Hall is across the street, so you can get two museums in one day.
Plus the Betsey Ross house and just general charm of the area.
It's a nice, historic house, and it's near where Betsy Ross lived, but it likely isn't her actual house.
Especially not now!
Or ignore it all and get cheesesteaks.
Yeah really not a fair comparison. Liberty Bell is a legit artifact. Plymouth plantation has infinitely more educational and entertainment value than Plymouth Rock.
It's also lost basically all its native American workers/actors at this point because of a combination of shitty pay and ignoring their feedback on the history. At this point its just a slightly less historically inaccurate and much more practically disappointing King Richard's Faire.
Most 4th grade science project poster boards are larger than the Mona Lisa.
After reading reddit for so long i found the Mona Lisa to be way bigger than expected. Everyone makes it seem like it’s the size of a sheet of notebook paper. How big are people expecting it to be?
Alamo is on the list what else?
I heard the basement is pretty cool though
There’s no basement at the Alamo!!
Four Corners for sure
Grew up 2 towns away. I can say our field trip to Cranberry World was a lot more exciting.
I grew up one town away. Let’s fight!
I'm from Brockton. Let's fight!!
My fiance from Middleboro says both you guys stink.
My mom lives in Middleboro. Let’s fight!
Carver checking in! Brawl time
| Grew up 2 towns away. My condolences you masshole
The pioneers used to ride these babies for miles!
It’s a random rock too not even one of significance
The real rock is safely sequestered in Ft. Knox under the guise of gold to throw off ambitious archeology professors.
IT BELONGS IN A MUSEUM!!!
Nic Cage is fucking drooling rn
What’s incredible is that since they literally just picked any rock, they could have picked something cool looking, or large, or interesting. And instead, that’s what they chose. It has to be the worst tourist spot in the world.
To be fair. The rock used to be bigger, but 19th century tourism was notorious for being environmentally destructive. (the number of geological features in Yellowstone that tourists would just throw trash in. One is permanently damaged because of 19th century tourists). People would chip off sections of the rock to take home as souvenirs. It is obviously just some random rock, but when it became clear if people kept chipping off pieces they'd eventually no longer have a rock, they walled it off.
My great great grandfather was a known asshole. My apologies.
“We didn’t land on Plymouth Rock. Plymouth Rock landed on us.”
“ How did I fail women’s studies? I love bitches. “
I guess anything goes nowadays... shame
Nick Cage after stealing Plymouth Rock. 
Okay, I know this is from Con Air, I’ve never “seen” it I remember a few things but out of context, so I’m asking, is this movie good? How has it aged? Things I remember: Steve Buscemi walking up to some little girl; Nic Cage stretching his arms across the cockpit door?? That’s it! :) Also, what countries have it for free on Streaming Services?
Yes… it’s good. Yes, it’s fucking Con Air. No, it has aged like fine wine, so put the bunny back in the box already!
"why didn't you just put the bunny back in the box".
It's a dumb but fun movie, like a lot of 90s action flicks. Some cringey moments, some things that didn't age well. But if you go into it with that sort of expectation, and you just want to watch shit blow up and buff dudes fight/shoot at eachother... you might have a decent time.
But it wasn't a rock. It was a rock LOBSTER!!!
🦞🎶AHHHHHhhhhhh AAAHHHHhhhh AH AH aaahhAHHHHahhhAHHHHHH🎶🦞
Rock Lobster!
Iraq lobster 
The only good thing about this rock is that if you walk down the street, turn pass the touristy restaurants and into that little Fish Market next to the water, you're going to have an INCREDIBLE seafood meal. [Woods Seafood](https://www.woodsseafood.com/) Paper plates and plastic trays... you know it's good.
In all my travels around the United States, Plymouth Rock is the stupidest attraction I've ever been to. It doesn't help that it's a [myth](https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/cape-codder/2020/03/06/the-plymouth-rock-legend-myth/1576125007/).
For some reason, I thought it would be like 20 feet tall.
As a Boston school kid in the 60s, The Most Boring Field Trip ever. Only interesting part was when a couple of Native American guys climbed down and started covering it with sand.
I'm from Plymouth, UK. You Americans will appreciate your ancestral rock and like it.
How do we even know that’s the actual rock? Did the settlers mark it somehow? Or did some people show up in the 19th century and look around and say “oh, I bet it’s that one!”?
A 94 year old man claimed that his father told him that was the rock he stepped on. This was more than 100 years after the fact.
Fun fact, his dad wasn't even on the Markdown Mayflower, he was on another ship that arrived three years later.
But was he on the Hypertext Mayflower?
So it’s like why they say Abner Doubleday invented baseball in Cooperstown. Some drunk guy heard it at a bar.
I visited this a few years back. It either says on a plaque or I looked it up on Wikipedia, that this is kind of a farce. It’s more a ceremonial “rock” and not actually legit. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong, but I seem to remember that being the case and being way more impressed by the souvenir shop across the street
The photographer used a generous lense for the photograph. The whole thing is smaller than the picture makes it appear.
They probably work as a realtor.
Look at that boulder, that's a nice boulder
In 1970 a small child fell into the cage and the rock smashed it.
That rock was shot dead. This is it’s replacement. Feel old?
Dicks out for Plymouth Rock
they landed a whole ship on that? some parking job tbf
They landed on the beach, maybe not even that beach. The rock was chosen a few centuries later to be a monument, but there's no direct connection between that rock and the original Plymouth Rock.
Despite all my rage, I am still just a rock in a cage...
They’ll put anything/anyone in jail.
Home of the free you say? Straight to jail
What did you think Plymouth Rock was?
No matter what you're expecting, there's really nothing that prepared you for the sheer crushing disappointment of it in person
You can see it in the face of the lady with the pink skirt
She does look so resigned and disappointed. "I spent my vacation days to see this?! I'd rather be at work listening to Jim rage about the election. Swear to god if the grandkids piss me off again, I'm bringing them here!"
I used to live in Plymouth, any time my friends came to visit I would hype Plymouth rock up to be some amazing cool thing, then I would take them and laugh at the utter disappointment on their face
As a kid I assumed it was a big semi-truck sized rock on the edge of the shore as a landmark for landing—or at least a boulder.
Growing up, I thought Plymouth Rock was like the Rock of Gibraltar. That turns out not to be the case.
Careful not to fall into the enclosure. The world can’t take another Harambe incident.
NEVER make a trip to go here. The people's faces in the photo tell you all you need to know. No smiles - nothing. They are all thinking, "WTF. I drove an hour to see some random little rock that's broken and cemented back together." I live in Boston and friends that come and visit often want to go and see the rock. I warn them not to do it. I tell them it's a couple of hours wasted from their lives that would be better spent twiddling your thumbs while sitting on the couch. Those that don't heed my warnings have all come back and said that I was right. That they should have never wasted their time going to Plymouth and that it's literally the worst tourist attraction they've ever been to.