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Washington, DC — Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry and Congressmen William Delahunt announced today $700,000 funding for Plimoth Plantation educational programs in the omnibus appropriations bill approved by Congress for fiscal year 2005. “Plimoth Plantation is a national treasure, and we’re thrilled to secure this funding to expand its educational programs with this creative new initiative,” Senator Kennedy said. “We’re expect to learn a great deal from this environmental education effort in the years to come.”
“Plimoth Plantation’s approach has always been innovative, and I’m proud we could help them expand their already impressive efforts to conservation education,” said Senator Kerry.
“It gives us chance to learn from the original caretakers of this land,” said Delahunt, “and from our own history draw lessons about the value of effective conservation.”
Through its Environmental Education Initiative, Plimoth Plantation aims to teach the general the principles of conservation through improved understanding of the Wampanoag, who have lived on this land for thousands of years, and through improved understanding of the European settlers (Pilgrims) who established Plymouth Colony in the 1600s. The Initiative aims to use Plymouth Colony as a case study through which to explore several environmental themes, such as how people of different cultural backgrounds perceived, managed, exploited and conserved their environments in the 17th century. It will also explore what political and legal conflicts, and what struggles and compromises have emerged since then over resource use and conservation. The Environmental Education Initiative will provide Plimoth Plantation with a new means of reaching audiences and help generate attention to the critical environmental challenges we as a nation face today. Plimoth Plantation, a non-profit educational institution, is the living history museum of 17th century Plymouth, Massachusetts. The museum’s goal is to create a greater appreciation for the people and culture of both the English colonists who came to America and the Wampanoag People. Plimoth Plantation offers a powerful personal experience of history, founded upon through research of the Pilgrim and Wampanoag communities. Established in 1947, the museum has grown to 130 acres and includes three major open-air exhibits – the 1627 Pilgrim Village, Hobbamock’s (Wampanoag) Homesite, and Mayflower II – as well as additional facilities, exhibits and programs. Plimoth Plantation operates a $10 million annual budget and employs 230 people. On average 450,000 people visit Plimoth Plantation each year, with nearly two-thirds coming from outside the New England region and a significant number from overseas. The Plimoth Education Center serves 67,000 school-age children on site each year and another 28,000 participate in the Outreach Program. An additional 1.5 million “live visits” averaging 9 minutes were made in 2003 to the Plimoth Plantation website.
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