You've heard of Plymouth Rock, right? It is the site where the Mayflower Pilgrims landed to establish a colony which later led to the formation of the United States.
But did you know that Plymouth Rock is actually a piece of rock, supposedly located where the Pilgrims actually first set foot on land? In the 1700s, people carved "1620" - the year the Pilgrims came to America.
The rock had kind of a sad history:
During the Rock's many journeys throughout the town of Plymouth numerous pieces of the Rock were taken, bought and sold. Today approximately 1/3 of the top portion remains. It is estimated that the original Rock weighed 20,000 lb. Although some documents indicate that tourists or souvenir hunters chipped it down, no pieces have been noticeably removed since 1880.
And as if that's not bad enough, some people described it as "the most disappointing landmark in America" because of its small size and poor visitor access.
Link: Plymouth Rock [wiki]
And then there's that unappealing wholesale slaughter of an entire continents' indigenous peoples thing. But the parking sucks!
http://www.mayflowersteps.co.uk/images/stepslookingout.jpg
Also, that whole Mayflower thing was a fluke. There were already Americans and a government flourishing on the continent at a little place called Jamestown, which just celebrated its 400th anniversary.
Liberals never pass up a cheap shot at anything to do with badmouthing America or Western civilization. My faith in human predictability is strengthened thanks to artbot. Thanks, artbot!
It really, really does suck.
It's not magical: it's a symbol, and a tourist trap. It's not Niagara Falls. It's a rock. But maybe you could look at it through less cynical eyes, and not as an excuse to flaunt your hate-filled political beliefs and agendas.
The Mayflower replica (right beside the rock) is a strange and curious disappointment because it's so small. You have to wonder how they traveled in such a confined space.
And Jamestown is cool, too.
http://www.lobsterpound1.com/
(note: I am not related to those guys, I'm just a happy customer ;)
Plymouth Rock looks worse, though.
PLYMOUTHCOASTER