Mayflower II is a reproduction of the 17th-century ship Mayflower, celebrated for transporting the Pilgrims to the New World in 1620.

The reproduction was built in Devon, England during 1955–1956, in a collaboration between Englishman Warwick Charlton and Plimoth Patuxet (at the time known as Plimoth Plantation), a living history museum. The work drew upon reconstructed ship blueprints held by the American museum, along with hand construction by English shipbuilders using traditional methods.

The ship was built at the Upham Shipyard in Brixham and financed by private donations in England and Plimoth Plantation. It represented the alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States for collaboration during the Second World War. In December 2015, the ship arrived at the Henry B. duPont Preservation Shipyard at the Mystic Seaport in Mystic, CT for restoration. The ship returned temporarily to Plymouth for the 2016 summer season and has returned permanently in 2020, just in time for the 400th anniversary of the pilgrims' arrival.

History

thumb|upright=1.4|In Plymouth Harbor, Massachusetts

In August 1954, Warwick Charlton, conceived the idea to construct a reproduction of Mayflower to commemorate the wartime cooperation between the United Kingdom and the United States. He had served alongside many American allies in the North African theatre during World War II. Project Mayflower was created in 1955 to build a replica of Mayflower in England and sail the ship to the United States as a symbol of Anglo-American friendship. Among the crew was Peter Padfield, who went on to become a naval historian.

Since 1957, Mayflower II has been a pier side tourist attraction, moored at Frazier State Pier near the site of Plymouth Rock. The ship has been a popular attraction near Boston; it has become the site of national and state celebrations.

On Thanksgiving 1970 (the 350th anniversary of Mayflower landing), members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) led by Russell Means seized Mayflower II in protest against the United States government's failure to abide by treaties with American Indians and its poor treatment of them.

Mayflower II has shared her pier with the paddle-wheel harbor excursion boat Pilgrim Belle since the latter was built in 1993.

21st century events

thumb|upright=1.3|The refurbished Mayflower II awaiting launch.

In December 2012, Mayflower II was towed to dry dock in Fairhaven Ship Yard in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, where shipbuilders and U.S. Coast Guard inspectors called for extensive repairs. This was the first in a number of scheduled repairs over the next seven years to restore Mayflower II to pristine condition for the 400th anniversary of the English settlement of Plymouth in 2020. Expected costs for these repairs were expected to exceed two million dollars.

Starting in December 2014 and continuing until 2020, Mayflower II spent its summers in Plymouth on display and winters at the Mystic Seaport being restored.

See also

  • Ship replica (including a list of replicas)

References

  • Official Site
  • All about the Mayflower and Plymouth, UK
  • Mayflower II Tour – My Big Adventure (72 Images)
  • "The Mayflower" Popular Mechanics, April 1957, pp. 90–91 cutaway drawing.
  • Mayflower II repairs underway
  • The Harwich Mayflower Project – A separate project building its own Mayflower replica
  • Life Magazine June 17, 1957 and Life Magazine June 24, 1957 Articles about voyage and arrival.