Plymouth Rock tagging leaves Plymouth reeling
Police are investigating vandalism that outraged visitors on Monday to Plymouth Rock and other historic sites on the waterfront at Pilgrim Memorial State Park.
Red spray paint was found Monday morning on Plymouth Rock, the National Monument to the Forefathers, the Pilgrim Maiden statue, Chamber of Commerce scallop shells, an amphitheater and a commemorative bench, according to a state Department of Conservation and Recreation spokesman.
“Seeing this type of disrespect for the historic reminders of the Mayflower story is both sad and unsettling,” said Lea Filson, executive director of See Plymouth, a destination management organization for the town and county.
“By the time I made it to the rock, I ran into … around a dozen people from all over Plymouth that had headed down to see it. Everyone was outraged and sick about it. By that time, the rock had been cleaned and there was great relief,” Filson said.
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation reported the incident to the Plymouth Police Department, State Police and the Massachusetts Environmental Police (MEP) and then power washed the graffiti off of Plymouth Rock and the National Monument to the Forefathers, a DCR spokesman said.
The graffiti included the numbers 508 and the letters MOF.
The department was working on Monday afternoon to remove the remainder of the graffiti from the amphitheater, Filson said, and if power washing doesn’t remove it all, DCR will explore other options to remove the paint.
Plymouth Rock is traditionally believed to be the site of disembarkation of William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims who founded Plymouth Colony in December 1620.
“As Plymouth commemorates the 400th anniversary of the landing of the Mayflower this year, we have already begun welcoming international and domestic visitors,” Filson said. “The waterfront and the historic district are safe, well-lit and will continue to welcome all who visit.”