Cole's Hill
Why it's listed
Cole's Hill is a grassed hilltop park on Carver Street in Plymouth, Massachusetts, bounded by Carver, North, Water and Leyden Streets and covering about 1.25 acres. It slopes steeply to Water Street and Plymouth Bay, close to Plymouth Rock. Colonists buried their dead here during the first winter of 1620-1621, reportedly at night with the graves disguised. The hill later held the home of Deacon Samuel Fuller and a tavern kept by James Cole, from whom it takes its name. The Pilgrim Society acquired it about 1820 and, before the Massachusetts Tercentenary, cleared the buildings and landscaped it. Memorials include a granite sarcophagus dedicated in 1921 and holding bones found on the hill, Cyrus Dallin's bronze statue of the Wampanoag chief Massasoit, and two stone seats. The nomination values the hill because most other early Plymouth sites have lost their original character, while this one remains a dominant landmark overlooking the bay.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that Cole's Hill is one of the few sites tied to the earliest Plymouth settlement that still conveys the character of the 1620 colony. It is the traditional burial ground of Pilgrims and others who died in the first winter, and it remains a dominant landmark with a sweeping view of the bay where the Mayflower arrived.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 66000142, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Carver St., Plymouth |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000142 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1620-1621 |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated October 9, 1960 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition, altered, on its original site, and used as a public park owned by the Pilgrim Society. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Within district | Plymouth Village Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.95727, -70.66230 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 66000142.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5142609
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.