Renovations Near Plymouth Rock

PLYMOUTH, Mass. (AP) -- If you travel to Massachusetts next spring to see the famous symbol of America's founding, Plymouth Rock, you're likely to come away disappointed. All you'll see is

Sunday, November 18th 2007, 4:10 pm

By: News On 6

PLYMOUTH, Mass. (AP) -- If you travel to Massachusetts next spring to see the famous symbol of America's founding, Plymouth Rock, you're likely to come away disappointed. All you'll see is a reinforced plywood box.

The rock is located at the spot where it's believed the Pilgrims first walked ashore from the Mayflower in 1620, but it's going to be covered from March to May. State park officials are planning a $680,000 overhaul of the granite-and-steel portico built over the
rock and want to protect it from any falling steel, stone or mortar.

Over the years, Plymouth Rock has taken a bit of a beating. Back in 1774, it cracked in half when townspeople tried to move it to the village center with a team of oxen. As it became famous, tourists chipped away at it, taking pieces all over the country.

Nowadays, you can't do that.