Every elementary student knows that April showers bring May flowers, and that Mayflowers bring pilgrims. However, do we really know all there is about the journey these religious hat-loving folk took to the new land? Well, no, we probably don't, because history is always murky and unclear. However, if you're interested in that fateful journey upon the fabled ship, the History Channel is airing Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story of The Mayflower, a 180-minute look at what it was like for the people aboard the ship, and what followed when they finally landed on Plymouth Rock.
Most of us know a kind of Cliff's Notes version of the Thanksgiving story: pilgrims left England to escape religious persecution, landed here, made pals with the Native Americans, ate some turkey, and watched the football game. This special, however, looks at the hardships the pilgrims faced on the four-month journey that killed half the crew. The special will feature reenactments based on authentic documentation from the actual events. The special will air on the History Channel on November 19 at 8 pm, and will repeat throughout the week.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-15-2006 @ 2:07PM
Earle J. Landry said...
What class sailing vessel was the Mayflower; dimensions, etc. The Mayflower replica in Plymouth Harbor has many mounted gunports. Was the original so outfitted? We do louse up history for self agrandizement purposes.
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11-16-2006 @ 7:36PM
Barry Rempp said...
Reply to Earl: The answer I offer to your question is not authoritative by any means, but I was on that Mayflower replica in Plymouth Harbor three weeks ago. My understanding is that it is a painstakingly researched re-creation of the original vessel. Re. gunports, my recollection from having crawled all over the ship is that there were none. There were certainly no cannon or guns of any kind on board, replica or otherwise.
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1-05-2007 @ 3:39PM
Barry Rempp said...
Earl: Here's a little more information on the size of the Mayflower II, which as I recollect is as faithful a reproduction of the original vessel as is possible ... all dimensions in U.S. nomenclature - overall length 106.5 feet; 90-foot hull; 25.5-foot beam; 13-foot draft; 238 tons displacement. I stand corrected on the presence of guns; the Mayflower II has what would have been fairly standard defenses for a merchant ship - a pair of guns in a room below decks at the stern, aimed astern; these guns, called "minions," could fire a three-pound solid shot, and had a range of about 250 yards. Take a look at www.plimoth.org/visit/what/mayflowercutaway.html
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11-17-2006 @ 12:46AM
Kristine Harrison said...
There is a Mayflower Descendants Chart at FamilyForest.com that shows some famous and not so famous people today descended from the early Mayflower Pilgrims.
Also there is a 1952 movie called "Plymouth Adventure" starring Spencer Tracey as Captain Christopher Jones
airing on TCM 11/19/06.
Happy Thanksgiving and God Bless everyone.
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11-17-2006 @ 12:36PM
mediafolk said...
you could read up on these links to get some of the truth behind the pilgrims and the first thanksgiving:
read the Thanksgiving section (other information also eye opening so feel free to read it as well): http://www.accd.edu/pac/philosop/Phil1301/lieshist.htm,
these are also informative: http://www.unitednativeamerica.com/bureau/bwa_2.html and http://www.worldfreeinternet.net/news/c15.htm
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11-20-2006 @ 1:38PM
Richard said...
Just watched it and found it very good.
I could swear one of the actors (Capt. Jones) was played by one of the interpreters at Plimoth Plantation.
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