Author Topic: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010  (Read 9374 times)

Offline southendmd

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Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« on: February 14, 2010, 06:22:54 pm »
Ptown is gearing up to celebrate the centennial of its favorite symbol, the Pilgrim Monument.

The Pilgrim Monument was built to commemorate the Pilgrims' first landing in Provincetown, and the signing of the Mayflower Compact in November 1620. 

President Teddy Roosevelt laid the cornerstone in 1907, and President William Taft presided over the dedication on August 5, 1910.

At 252 feet (77 meters), and 350 feet above sea level, it is the largest all-granite structure in the US.  Built entirely of granite from Stonington, Maine, it was designed after the Torre del Mangia in Siena, Italy. 


Offline southendmd

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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #1 on: February 14, 2010, 06:25:14 pm »
I'll take you a little tour.

Here is the tower as seen from my street:


Offline southendmd

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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #2 on: February 14, 2010, 06:28:46 pm »
The monument was built on High Pole Hill, the highest spot in town, and the former site of Town Hall, which had burned down in the 1870s.

A little closer view, from the parking lot.  You can see the strings of lights that adorn the monument during the holidays.  This weekend, it is floodlit in red for Valentine's Day.  Today the monument was open (unusual for winter) and free of charge, for a "healthy heart climb".


Offline southendmd

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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #3 on: February 14, 2010, 06:32:38 pm »
Here's an image of President Teddy Roosevelt laying the cornerstone, which came from North Carolina.  The rest of the granite was sent by rail from Maine.



Here's the cornerstone today.  It is a lighter color than the rest.


Offline southendmd

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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2010, 06:37:04 pm »
A few views from the base:

The harbour, and "new" Town Hall on the right.


The former Methodist Church, recently converted to the Public Library:


The Christopher Wren spire of the Universalist Meeting House:



Offline southendmd

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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2010, 06:38:31 pm »
Looking up:


Offline southendmd

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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2010, 06:40:33 pm »
Entering:


Offline southendmd

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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #7 on: February 14, 2010, 06:42:23 pm »
Looking up, inside.  It's a series of steps (116) and ramps (60) to get to the top. 


Offline southendmd

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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #8 on: February 14, 2010, 06:45:48 pm »
Along the way, there are interior stones that were donated by various cities and towns and societies.  Reading them as you climb keeps your mind off your knees.

My Fair City!


Here's one from our Western FRiends:


Probably the prettiest stone:


Offline southendmd

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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #9 on: February 14, 2010, 06:50:08 pm »
There are a few narrow windows along the way:


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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #10 on: February 14, 2010, 06:57:55 pm »
Finally at the top!

The harbor, looking south.  The long strip of land on the right is the actual tip of the Cape, called Long Point.


Looking east, with the ocean beyond.


Looking west, Ptown is truly surrounded by water.


Looking up, greeted by a gargoyle.

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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #11 on: February 14, 2010, 07:00:57 pm »
Back on terra firma as a few clouds roll in.  Notice the coating of snow on the north side.

Offline Marina

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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #12 on: February 14, 2010, 07:16:05 pm »
Such beautiful photos, especially the geometric ramps and steps.  Thank you!  :)
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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #13 on: February 14, 2010, 09:06:03 pm »

Here's one from our Western FRiends:



Yay!!
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Offline CellarDweller

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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #14 on: February 14, 2010, 09:36:34 pm »
Very cool pics, Big Brother!  ;D


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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #15 on: February 14, 2010, 10:07:07 pm »
Great pictures, Paul. Thank you. This book has a great scene at the top of the tower and I highly recommend it...

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Offline Aloysius J. Gleek

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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #16 on: February 15, 2010, 12:09:14 pm »



Thank you, Paul, for a wonderful view of the REAL THING!!



(Do you think any of those Pilgrim Tower souvenirs are salt and pepper shakers??)  ::)

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Offline delalluvia

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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #17 on: February 15, 2010, 12:17:23 pm »
When I was in college, I read a very memorable essay written by a woman called "Provincetown Memoirs" and it was about the homes this woman had lived in her life, and several things stuck out in my mind.

One was her apartment in Paris (while I was there, I tried to look for the place), another is a place on Capri off Italy and the third was Provincetown.  Until now, I could only imagine what the place looked like.  She wrote of the gay men on the streets and of the man who lived next door and had a lively sex life.  She made me want to go visit the place, though I have no idea what it's like, other than what she wrote about it.

Offline southendmd

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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #18 on: February 15, 2010, 05:53:50 pm »
Such beautiful photos, especially the geometric ramps and steps.  Thank you!  :)

Thanks, Marina.  I wasn't sure if that one would come out at all.

Very cool pics, Big Brother!  ;D

Thanks, Little Brother.  We gotta plan another trip to Ptown.

Great pictures, Paul. Thank you. This book has a great scene at the top of the tower and I highly recommend it...

Leslie, you didn't mention they were witches!  There's always a touch of magic in Provincetown.

Thank you, Paul, for a wonderful view of the REAL THING!!


(Do you think any of those Pilgrim Tower souvenirs are salt and pepper shakers??)  ::)

I wouldn't be surprised, John.

Offline southendmd

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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #19 on: February 15, 2010, 06:01:03 pm »
When I was in college, I read a very memorable essay written by a woman called "Provincetown Memoirs" and it was about the homes this woman had lived in her life, and several things stuck out in my mind.

One was her apartment in Paris (while I was there, I tried to look for the place), another is a place on Capri off Italy and the third was Provincetown.  Until now, I could only imagine what the place looked like.  She wrote of the gay men on the streets and of the man who lived next door and had a lively sex life.  She made me want to go visit the place, though I have no idea what it's like, other than what she wrote about it.

Wow, Del.  Paris, Capri and Provincetown--hard to beat that trio.

It's certainly worth a visit, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation agrees.  They dubbed Ptown one of their "2010 Dozen Distinctive Destinations".

http://www.preservationnation.org/travel-and-sites/travel/dozen-distinctive-destinations/provincetown-massachusetts.html

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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #20 on: February 18, 2010, 02:12:29 am »
Thanks for those wonderful views from and of the Monument, Paul.  Brings back our idyllic weekend last summer.  Hope it's still there 100 years from now!  8)

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Offline Penthesilea

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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #21 on: February 19, 2010, 03:40:59 am »
Thanks for taking us on the tour, Paul :).

The silhouette of the cape on the satellite photo looks almost like a mirrored Sylt.


Ptown Cape Cod                                                                                                      Sylt

                                 
« Last Edit: February 19, 2010, 01:34:26 pm by Penthesilea »

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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #22 on: February 19, 2010, 09:00:51 am »
Cool observation, Chrissi.  However, John's photo is of the entire Cape Cod area (the island at lower left is Martha's Vineyard), and Provincetown is the sandy bit at the very tip.

Have you been to Sylt?  It looks like it has a huge, white sand beach.  Is that the North Sea?

Offline Penthesilea

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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #23 on: February 19, 2010, 01:04:47 pm »
Cool observation, Chrissi.  However, John's photo is of the entire Cape Cod area (the island at lower left is Martha's Vineyard), and Provincetown is the sandy bit at the very tip.

Yeah, that's what I meant, the whole cape.


Quote
Have you been to Sylt?  It looks like it has a huge, white sand beach.  Is that the North Sea?

Yes, it's the North Sea. I've never been to Sylt. It must be a beautiful place, it's a very popular tourist destination, but also has a reputation of being the island of the rich and famous.

Offline southendmd

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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #24 on: February 19, 2010, 01:23:06 pm »
Yes, it's the North Sea. I've never been to Sylt. It must be a beautiful place, it's a very popular tourist destination, but also has a reputation of being the island of the rich and famous.

Although it's rapidly changing, Provincetown always had the reputation of being a place full of weirdos, hippies, and bohemians.  It attracts writers and artists.  In recent times, its most famous resident probably was Norman Mailer.  The rich and famous still go to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. 

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Re: Provincetown Pilgrim Monument turns 100 in 2010
« Reply #25 on: February 20, 2010, 09:43:57 am »
Thanks for the tour of the monument, Paul.  I'm glad it was such a gorgeous day for you and you got to climb it!   :-* :-*
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