Midway through our annual pilgrimage to the peak of the Pilgrim Monument on High Pole Hill in Provincetown, Massachusetts, ten words came to mind: “ The old grey mare ain’t what she used to be.” Seven minutes and 252-feet later, I found myself gasping for an oxygen mask and a cold beer––kidding (about the oxygen mask). The walk to the top, however, takes approximately 10 minutes at a comfortable gait and is well worth the journey. Sitting 350-feet above sea level, The Pilgrim Monument is the tallest all-granite structure in the United States. The panoramic views of Provincetown and it’s bay are phenomenal! On August 20, 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt placed the cornerstone of the Pilgrim Monument to commemorate the initial landing of the Mayflower Pilgrims in Provincetown on November 21, 1620. The pilgrims spent five days scouting the shores of Provincetown before leaving and landing at Plymouth Rock. The Pilgrim Monument took two years to build and President William H. Taft accompanied the dedication ceremony on August 5, 1910.
The Pilgrim Monument is designed after the Torre Del Mangia in Siena, Italy. There are 116 steps, 60 ramps and each-and-every stone, imported from Stonington, Maine, is the same thickness of the monument’s wall––extraordinary. Several of these interior stones were donated and marked with the names of cities and towns from all over the United States.Be sure not to hurl yourself over the stairwell to quicken your decent back down to the bottom as there’s a blue and white sticker waiting for you on your exit to celebrate your cardio-accomplishment. In addition, make sure to visit the Provincetown Museum to learn about Provincetown’s Native American Wampanoag tribe as well as the town's development and maritime history.
The Pilgrim Monument is open from early spring through late autumn. In November, strands of light are stretched from top to bottom of the Pilgrim Monument to kick off the Provincetown Holly Folly Festival––a sight to see. For more information, call 508-487-1310 or visit www.http://pilgrim-monument.org.
Written By: Jessica Layne
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