National Geographic Traveller UK April 2020

(Dana P.) #1
3
the number of women on board who
were at least six months pregnant

2
the number of dogs taken on board
alongside goats, pigs and chickens

128
the number of days spent at sea — a
long journey hampered by poor weather

98ft
the estimated length of
the Maylower

53
the number of passengers who survived
the journey (the ship launched with 102)

DON’T MISS
The Embarkation
Festival, which is dedicated
to the traditions, cuisine and
music of the original settlers
and the native Wampanoag
along the waterfront in
Plymouth, Massachusetts.
plymouth400inc.org

Across the pond
Meanwhile, behind the scenes in
Massachusetts, cratsmen are inishing
restoration of the MAYFLOWER II — a full-
scale replica of the ship that was originally
built in 1955 as a git to the US following the
Second World War. The faithful reproduction
has been docked in Connecticut since 2016,
but will sail into Boston Harbour alongside
the historic USS Constitution this spring to
great fanfare. It will dock in Charlestown
Navy Yard for a six-day maritime festival
from 14-19 May, so expect live music, ship
tours and food trucks. There’s also the
PLYMOUTH 400 COMMEMORATION OPENING
CEREMONY (24 April) at the city’s Memorial
Hall, with a programme of speakers, visual
and performing arts, and the OFFICIAL
MARITIME SALUTE (27-28 June) — a huge
regatta of wooden ships, yachts and pleasure
crat in the harbour. massholiday.co.uk
mayflower400.org.uk HELEN WARWICK

MAKING WAVES


Mayflower


This year, both sides of the Atlantic are gearing up


for major celebrations to mark the 400th anniversary


of one momentous maiden voyage to the New World


Home shores
As the city where it all began, Plymouth is
readying itself for a year’s worth of events
to mark the 400th anniversary. There’s the
MAYFLOWER CEREMONY, held exactly 400
years to the day since the ship set sail for
the New World (16 September) — which
will bring together a 1,000-strong choir
to perform a specially composed piece of
music telling the ship’s story and legacy. A
few days later, the MAYFLOWER MUSTER will
signal a one-time-only gathering of military
ships in Plymouth Sound. Central to the
port’s celebrations this year is the opening
of the hotly anticipated cultural centre, THE
BOX. Occupying the site of the former city
museum and art gallery, the centre’s grand
opening will be marked with Maylower 400:
Legend and Legacy, the largest Mayflower
exhibition in history and a look at the
journey, those who took it and the settlement
itself. visitplymouth.co.uk plymhearts.org IMAGE: GETTY


IN NUMBERS

THE MAYFLOWER


20 nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel


SMART TRAVELLER

20 nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel

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