When the Mayflower passengers landed on the Cape Cod Peninsula on November 21, 1630, after 65 days of sailing, they undoubtedly tried to predict with hope and trepidation what the future awaits them on the land now called Massachusetts, North America . Soon they realized that the wastelands of Provincetown were unsuitable for life, and six weeks later they crossed the bay and founded the city of Plymouth. But their departure did not become fatal for Provincetown, and now it is a tourist attraction of the peninsula.
Bohemian harbor
The city of Provincetown, Massachusetts, according to locals, is the largest small city in the world. There are 3 thousand 800 permanent residents. But in the summer the population of the town increases almost 10 times - up to 35 thousand. At the turn of the century (1899-1900), the city was the largest artificial column in the world.
Admittedly, all cities in Massachusetts are unique in their own way. Provincetown was no exception. It is unique in its own way, just like Key West Island in Florida. In order to understand this city, you need to visit and see everything with your own eyes.
Overview view
Pilgrims landed here in 1620, and not in Plymouth. A beautiful monument was erected in memory of this event. It was built in 1910 with donations from schoolchildren and money from the federal government. Today it is the highest point on Cape Cod Cape. From a height of 160 meters, an excellent view opens in all directions. Weather permitting, you can see all the way from Boston and Plymouth from here. At the foot of the hill with the tower there is a bas-relief where the first landing of the pilgrims in the New World is captured. Provincetown is proud to be the first.
Whale excursion
Massachusetts is a state in the United States. Pilgrims first landed here, and this was the first artificial colony, and 25 years ago in this place for the first time they began to observe whales. This happened as follows. Owners of small vessels took out tourist groups for fishing. Seeing a huge number of whales, the guests forgot about fishing, they looked only at the marine giants. One of the captains - Al Evelair - decided to arrange expeditions to observe whales. He marked the beginning of the tourism industry on the east coast. Today, this Massachusetts tourist center brings multimillion-dollar revenue to the peninsula.
Cape Cod Cape
The Cape Cod National Landscape Reserve and the seashore are protected by US National Parks. The total area is about 17.5 thousand hectares. This is sixty-five kilometers of pristine sandy beach, dozens of clean deep reservoirs of fresh water and salt marshes. In addition, there are several historic houses and lighthouses. On both sides of the cape are a dozen ancient New England societies, their beaches, harbors, moorings, anchorage for any ship - from small motor boats to huge yachts of rich and famous people.
Between Boston and New York
Bypassing the dangerous shallows in 1914, a canal was built that crossed the cape at its very base. In fact, it turned into an island, which is connected to the mainland by three bridges - a railway and two highways. Every year, almost 20 thousand vessels pass through the canal, of which almost 8 thousand are heavy, with a length of at least 20 meters, including barges with tugboats, tankers, cruise ships, etc.
This channel allows you to reduce the route by 217 kilometers, thereby reducing travel time and fuel consumption, it also allows ships to pass through inland waters instead of circling the cape. Previously, there were many shipwrecks due to frequent fogs and numerous shallows. In addition, this place is a federal recreation area. Therefore, every year a large number of people come here, about 3 million tourists to engage in water sports, fishing, cycling and rollerblading.
Administrative Center Plymouth
Behind the Cape Cod Peninsula is the last landing place for the pilgrims. This is the city of Plymouth, Massachusetts. A small seaside town, so calm in the present, is proud of its past. Plymouth stone marks the place of landing of the pilgrims. The city has many monuments and monuments associated with the first settlers, including a copy of the Mayflower. But the most important historical attraction is located in the oldest operating museum in America.
Open-air museum
Plymouth, Massachusetts attracts many tourists from all over the world who want to learn about the history of the first New England settlers. The sights of Plymouth Plantation, a historical and ethnographic complex, recreate the picture of the first colonial settlements of the 16th century.
The Pilgrim Society was founded in 1820 in honor of the 200th anniversary of the landing of the first settlers in Plymouth. Many residents of the city were objects of that period. The initiative to open the museum, proposed by local authorities, the city residents supported with great enthusiasm. The museum was built and opened in 1824. There are artifacts representing the very origins of the formation of the United States. Museum visitors can see genuine things that belonged to the first settlers of 1620. Among the exhibits is the Bible of William Bretford, leader of the Plymouth colony, printed in 1592; Miles Stendish’s ancient sword, on the blade of which the inscription “1573” is engraved, and many other historical objects of that period.
Capital city of massachusetts
The city of Boston, the future capital of New England, was founded on September 17, 1630. According to Charles Dickens, it’s worth taking an example from this city. Americans call Boston, Massachusetts (see photo in the article,) an excellent city. It just so happened that he really was the first in everything. In 1635, the first public school in the US states opened in Boston, and free of charge. The following year, the city accepts the first American students to Harvard University. Massachusetts, America, is home to the first printing press and the first Boston News newspaper in the United States. Boston’s great pride is America’s first railroad. In 1876, the Boston inventor Gemm Bell, for the first time in human history, transmitted a phrase over a telephone wire.
Cultural traditions and sights of Boston
In this city, for the first time, an unusual tradition of celebrating the New Year was adopted. Since 1976, on the initiative of Boston street artists, the tradition of celebrating the First Night appeared. Its essence lies in the fact that people completely refuse to drink alcohol on December 31. Today, Massachusetts is very proud of this. The state has repeatedly made proposals to support this tradition in other parts of the United States, but Boston’s remarkable undertaking was not interested in other states, probably in vain.
Tourists visiting Boston will be interested in local attractions. First of all - the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. It is the largest Catholic center of New England. In the suburbs of Boston - Belmonte - there is another interesting place. This is the Boston Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Other highlights include Old North Church, Royal Chapel, and Park Street Church.
Since 1897, a very prestigious annual marathon has been held in Boston. Not only Boston residents, but also marathon runners from other countries and continents take part in the races.
The tragedy of Boston
The American people and the entire world community deeply grieve over the explosions that occurred during the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. It was on this tragic day that two explosions occurred that claimed the lives of three people. More than 260 people received injuries of varying severity. Among them were not only participants in the race, but also ordinary spectators, including children.
Massachusetts Laws
It is known that each state of North America has its own laws and orders. Sometimes they really contribute to law and order, and sometimes they cause a smile.
Here are a few of the most interesting Massachusetts laws that violate this policy may result in censure or administrative fines:
- In stationary medical institutions it is forbidden to give patients beer.
- After a day's funeral, the use of more than three sandwiches is strictly prohibited in the morning.
- Massachusetts citizens are allowed to snore with their doors closed.
- You can not go to bed without first taking a shower.
- Children can buy cigarettes, but they should not smoke.
- The law prohibits sex with a woman on top.
- Men are required to carry small arms with them during Sunday church service.
In addition to the general laws of the state of Massachusetts, there are those that must be observed within the city. So, in Boston, for example, you are not allowed to play the violin, bite nuts in the church, wear heels above seven centimeters. It is also forbidden for citizens to have more than three dogs on their farm.
In Boston, you can get public censure or earn an
administrative fine for taking a bath together by a man and a woman. Interesting laws in other cities in Massachusetts.
The city of Hopkins forbids dogs to be in urban wastelands. This prerogative is only for cows and horses.
In Marlborough, the use and use of a water gun is strictly prohibited by law . Dogs on the farm should be no more than two. And in the city you can not carry out nuclear explosions.
In the small town of Woburn, it is forbidden to be near a drinking establishment with a bottle of beer.
In the small village of Nahant, Massachusetts, citizens are strictly forbidden to dig up streets covered with asphalt, and you can’t sled on this asphalt in the summer.
Here it is, America. Welcome to Massachusetts!