Plymouth Rock Portico to reopen October 1st

Plymouth Rock Portico to reopen October 1

DCR completes repairs at the state’s most-visited tourist site

PLYMOUTH - The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is completing repairs to the Plymouth Rock Portico in Plymouth and plans to reopen the refurbished Portico on October 1.

Last March work began on a $489,000 rehabilitation of the 87-year-old Portico, which shelters Plymouth Rock. Damaged terra cotta tiles in the ceiling of the Portico were repaired and replaced, the Portico roof was replaced, masonry was cleaned and repaired, mortar was replaced, rust was removed from the internal steel frame, and decorative metalwork was painted. Also, a cutting-edge, solar-powered, cathodic protection system (which halts rust through the application of a safe and mild electrical current) was installed in the Portico to protect against any future deterioration.

“This rehabilitation effort ensures that Plymouth Rock, one of the most-visited and cherished tourist sites in Massachusetts, if not the entire country, will be protected for many years to come.” - DCR Commissioner Richard K. Sullivan Jr.

“We are delighted to be reopening the Portico to the public well in advance of the fall and Thanksgiving tourist season,” said DCR Commissioner Richard K. Sullivan Jr. “This rehabilitation effort ensures that Plymouth Rock, one of the most-visited and cherished tourist sites in Massachusetts, if not the entire country, will be protected for many years to come.”

Pilgrim Memorial State Park attracts nearly 1 million visitors every year from around the world. When this rehabilitation is complete, DCR will have invested nearly $1 million in the park during 2007 and 2008 in a series of projects developed in collaboration with the Town of Plymouth.

“The rehabilitation of the Portico is great news for Plymouth and the Commonwealth,” State Senate President Therese Murray said. “Plymouth Rock is one of the most significant historical attractions in the nation, and with the completion of this work, it will be properly protected and preserved and back on full display in time for the autumn and Thanksgiving tourist season.”

State Representative Vinny deMacedo said, "I am thrilled that we have put the resources into protecting this national treasure. I have been advocating for the restoration of this Portico for quite some time. It is wonderful to see all of our efforts come to fruition."

In addition to the Portico rehabilitation, additional work at Pilgrim Memorial State Park, including electrical system upgrades and replacement of the deteriorated stair railing on Coles Hill, are also anticipated. That work is expected to be completed by the end of June 2009.

The Portico itself is a historically significant structure that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It was designed by the architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White, who also designed such significant buildings as the Boston Public Library and Penn Station and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. As were many significant buildings across the country at the time, the Portico was built in the Neo-Classical Revival style, which suggested permanence, stability, and strength.

The Boston firm of Bargmann Hendrie + Archetype was the project architect on the Portico rehabilitation and has extensive experience with historic structures, including work on St. Stephens Church in Boston and the Vanderbilt Mansion and Franklin Delano Roosevelt National Historic Sites in New York State. Chapman Waterproofing also has much experience working with historic structures, including the Old State House in Boston and the Breakers mansion in Newport, R.I.

Release courtesy of the DCR.

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), an agency of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, oversees 450,000 acres of parks and forests, beaches, bike trails, watersheds, and dams, in addition to 278 bridges and miles of roadways. Led by Commissioner Richard K. Sullivan Jr., the agency’s mission is to protect, promote, and enhance our common wealth of natural, cultural, and recreational resources. To learn more about DCR, our facilities, and our programs, please visit www.mass.gov/dcr. Contact us at mass.parks@state.ma.us.