Rededication Ceremony National Monument to the Forefathers

On Thursday, August 1, 1889, over 12,000 visitors—nearly double the town's population—descended on Plymouth for the monument's dedication festivities. All schools were closed for the day to enable the children to participate in the parade, and regional train schedules were increased to help shuttle the massive crowds. The entire town participated in some form or fashion. Professional decorators from Boston and Hartford were hired to build grand arches throughout Plymouth, and the downtown streets were awash in colorful bunting. Although summer showers fell throughout the day, the rain did nothing to dampen the crowd's spirits. The dedication of the Forefathers Monument began promptly at 9:30 a.m., and reporters and sketch artists were on hand to record the spectacle. The Grand Chaplain opened with an invocation, followed by numerous speeches and proclamations to mark the occasion. The dedication ceremony concluded with a closing benediction, after which the assembled crowd sang a rousing rendition of the hymn “America.”

From there, thousands lined the streets of Plymouth to take in the colorful parade. The processional included twenty horse-drawn carriages filled with dignitaries and guests, followed by local fire divisions, battery teams, and mounted police. Beginning at Court Street, the parade “wound around a three-mile circuitous route, passing the monument, then returning through town to the waterfront... (and) ending near the depot where a tent had been erected for the dinner.” From there, the enthusiastic crowds enjoyed refreshments and outdoor concerts at the harbor where the Pilgrims first disembarked. That evening, nearly two thousand guests—1,978 people to be exact—attended a special dinner banquet that boasted no less than nine speeches from various dignitaries. At dusk, the monument was illuminated by an enormous focus light as fireworks lit the night sky. The day ended with a gala ball, as guests danced late into the evening to the music of a 17-piece band. For everyone who attended, it was a grand celebration of a long-awaited achievement for Plymouth.

Excerpt from the Forefathers Monument Guidebook

by Michelle Gallagher