Plymouth Rock, several other monuments vandalized with graffiti

PLYMOUTH, Mass. — Massachusetts State Police, Massachusetts Environmental Police and Plymouth Police are searching for whoever is responsible for vandalizing several historic landmarks in Plymouth overnight, including Plymouth Rock.

The Pilgrim Maiden Statue and the National Monument to the Forefathers were just some of the other sites targeted with red spray paint. The graffiti was discovered Monday morning and was quickly reported to police.

Crews with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and Plymouth’s own Parks Department used a special solution with paint remover to power wash the graffiti off the landmarks.

But those crews also got some help from volunteers.

Jake Mowles, owner of East Coast Powerwashing Company, got busy cleaning one of the monuments free of charge.

“We were pretty upset about it, we’ve spent a lot of money this year or the town has spent a lot of money rehabilitating the whole town here and it’s pretty disgraceful for somebody to do this,” Mowles said. “If we have the resources to do it and can come out and take care of it for them, that’s why we’re doing it.”

Nick Faiella, Superintendent of Plymouth Parks Forestry Division, said it will likely take several days to clean up all of the graffiti.

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