The Mayflower first landed on November 21, 1620, at Cape Cod, specifically at what is now Provincetown Harbor in Massachusetts. After initially attempting to sail south to their intended destination near the Colony of Virginia, the Pilgrims were forced by rough seas and dangerous shoals to return and anchor at Cape Cod

. Following this, on December 21, 1620, the Pilgrims moved from Provincetown to settle at the site of Plymouth, Massachusetts, where they established their colony

. Before going ashore at Plymouth, the Pilgrim leaders drafted and signed the Mayflower Compact, a foundational document for self-government in the new colony

. In summary:

• First landfall: Provincetown Harbor, Cape Cod, Massachusetts on November 21, 1620
• Final settlement: Plymouth, Massachusetts on December 21, 1620