Cole's Hill

Cole's Hill is the site of the first cemetery used by the Pilgrims in Plymouth Colony.  This is where they buried those who died in the winter of 1620-1621.Massachusetts; a Guide to the Bay State, compiled by the Federal writers' project of the Works progress administration for the state of Massachusetts (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1937), p. 324 Many were buried in secret and at night and corn was planted over their graves. This was to prevent the Native Americans from knowing how many of them had died. The hill is named after John Cole who built a house there in 1697.James Baker, A Guide to Historic Plymouth (Charleston: History Press, 2008), p. 49 During the American Revolutionary War and again during the War of 1812 cannon were placed there behind earthworks to protect the town.

The hill is located on Carver Street. It is across the street from Plymouth Rock. Cole's Hill was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960. On the top of the hill is a statue of Massasoit, who befriended the Pilgrims. There is also a monument to the Pilgrims who died during the winter of 1620-21.Neale McDevitt; Eleanor Berman; et al, DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: New England (New York: DK Publishing, 2012), p. 148

Gallery

References

Category:Cemeteries in the United States
Category:National Historic Landmarks of the United States
Category:Buildings and structures in Massachusetts
Category:1621 establishments
Category:1620s establishments in Massachusetts