Climb 116 Steps To The Top Of Pilgrim Monument In Massachusetts And You Can See All The Way To The Tip Of Cape Cod
By Melissa Mahoney|Published October 28, 2021
×
Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
If you’ve been to Provincetown, located at the very end of Cape Cod, you can’t help but notice the imposing Pilgrim Monument that towers above the town. The 252-foot granite monument features 116 steps and 60 ramps that take visitors up to the top for panoramic views of Cape Cod below. This must-visit attraction should be on the bucket list of anyone who lives in or visits the Cape.
Pilgrim Monument was built between 1907 and 1910 to commemorate the Pilgrims who first made landfall in the New World in Provincetown. It was November of the year 1620 and the Pilgrims explored the end of Cape Cod before setting sail to their next location: Plymouth.
Founded by the Cape Cod Pilgrim Memorial Association, the first cornerstone of the granite structure was laid by President Theodore Roosevelt. The tower was dedicated by President Taft in 1910 when it was open to the public. Its mission was to educate visitors about the role Provincetown played in Pilgrim and American history.
When you visit the monument, you'll enter this building which also houses the Provincetown Museum. You can visit the museum before or after you climb the tower.
When you're ready to make the climb, there are a total of 116 steps and 60 ramps that will take you to the observation deck of this 252-foot monument. It will take approximately 10 minutes to get to the top.
On the ascent, you'll pass by granite stones with the names and founding dates of Massachusetts' many cities and towns. Fun fact: Pilgrim Monument is the tallest structure made entirely of granite in the United States.
Once you reach the top, look out one side and you'll see Provincetown's Commercial Street and MacMillan Pier below as well as the curvature of Cape Cod heading south.
Once you've spent enough time up at the top, it's time to climb back down the 116 stairs and 60 ramps you had climbed up.
Before leaving, the Provincetown Museum is worth walking through. You can learn about the arrival of the Pilgrims on the Mayflower, the whaling history of the area, and more at this informative museum.
Have you climbed to the top of the Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown? What did you think of the views? Tell us about your experience in the comments! For more information on the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum, visit the website and Facebook page.
You can learn more about Provincetown and other things to do here in our previous article.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
