The event Americans now call the First Thanksgiving was a three-day harvest gathering in 1621 involving English colonists and about 90 Wampanoag men led by Ousamequin, also known as Massasoit. But the familiar modern story contains details historians cannot verify.
What evidence survives?
Plimoth Patuxet Museums explains that only one surviving English eyewitness account describes the 1621 harvest celebration. There is no contemporary Wampanoag historical record giving their perspective on the event.
What do we know?
- The gathering occurred in autumn 1621.
- It lasted three days.
- Ousamequin/Massasoit and about 90 Wampanoag men were present.
- The English account says the Wampanoag brought five deer.
- Wildfowl and venison are specifically mentioned.
What do we not know?
We do not know every food served, exactly why the Wampanoag joined the gathering, or precisely what every participant thought about the event.
Was it called the First Thanksgiving in 1621?
No. The event became connected to the American national Thanksgiving story much later. Educational materials from Plimoth Patuxet describe how the 1621 harvest celebration was increasingly framed that way over the following centuries.
Why Wampanoag history matters
The Wampanoag were not supporting characters waiting for the English to arrive. They had their own communities, diplomacy, food systems, political interests and histories.
Is this the origin of Canadian Thanksgiving?
No. Read Canadian Thanksgiving vs. American Thanksgiving.
