Mayflower II

Visitors can learn about early navigation techniques and explore exhibits that highlight the lives of the ship’s first passengers. Experts will share stories about ancestors and crew while still leaving plenty of time to comb through artifacts and photos, too. And perhaps most impressive of all, the Mayflower II provides travelers with the chance to see just what it was like aboard what is arguably the world’s most famous ship.

This iconic boat is the perfect way to bring history to life and an ideal stop for families with children on a journey through New England. Whether it’s visiting the ship on its own, or combining a tour with the Plimoth Plantation and the Living Museum, a stop at the Mayflower II is bound to be a memorable part of any American history-themed vacation.

Please note: the Mayflower II is currently undergoing renovations. It is scheduled to sail to Boston in mid-May, then back to Plymouth on May 21, where it will reside permanently.

The boat is berthed at the State Pier in the Plymouth Waterfront. Tours are led by costumed guides. The ship is currently under restoration until 2019 at Mystic Seaport.

Yes, you can go aboard the Mayflower II. You can walk around the ship’s deck, speak to the crew members, and learn about what the voyage was like way back in the 17th century. While this isn’t the original Mayflower, it’s a pretty close replica built in 1957.

It costs around US$13–US$18 to visit the Mayflower II, depending on if you’re a child, adult, or senior. You can also combine your visit with a trip to the Plimoth Patuxet Museum or the Plimoth Grist Mill. Members visit for free, and Plymouth residents get a considerable discount.

Visit the Mayflower II generally from spring to just after Thanksgiving. Temperatures are pretty chilly, snowy, and dark in the Massachusetts winters. Exploring the Mayflower II and the living displays at the Plimoth Patuxet Museum are much more comfortable during spring, summer, and fall.

It’s pretty close. The Mayflower II is a reconstruction based on what the original may have looked like. It’s about 25 feet (7.5 meters) wide and 106 feet (32 meters) long, with four masts and six sails. Some say the original looked like a wooden bathtub with masts since it was relatively short and fat.

No, the Mayflower II doesn’t have an engine. To get between places today, it has help from a tugboat. Visitors can speak to staff, who are in character and dressed as if they were part of the original voyages. You can ask them how it was sailing aboard a ship with no engine.

Yes, it is worth it, especially for the educational experience. The staff, dressed up and in character, will answer any questions about the voyage, the ship, and what it was like to land in Plymouth. The boat is a close replica of what first reached the US in 1620.