Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail

John Smith

Pocahontas

Powhatan

In the summer of 1608, Captain John Smith set out on two exploratory voyages that covered thousands of miles of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The information he recorded about Indigenous peoples and the landscape introduced the region to those in England hoping to expand the colony.

A brief history of Werowocomoco, its recovery by archeologists, and its entry into the National Park Service.

The Chesapeake Bay watershed was home to several tributary networks of tribes organized around paramount leaders and operating on a gift-giving economy.

John Smith and his crew used a boat called a "shallop" to explore the Chesapeake Bay in the summer of 1608. In the Chesapeake Bay's shallow, unpredictable waters, the versatility of a shallop was essential.

Discover the Northern Neck of Virginia, where history and nature intertwine. Explore landscapes once home to American Indians, founding fathers, and watermen. Paddle pristine waterways, hunt for fossils at Westmoreland State Park, or uncover the past at Menokin. With scenic byways, rich heritage, and stunning shorelines, this region invites you to connect with the stories of those who shaped the Chesapeake Bay.

Simply being outdoors is a fantastic way to promote health and wellness. If you're looking for a way to deepen your connection to both nature and your body, why not try out these Chesapeake Bay-inspired yoga poses?

Mapmaking was a crucial part of European colonial ventures. Early explorers in the Chesapeake created maps of the Bay and its rivers that were used by the English as they made their first settlements in the region.

During this period, several European nations sought to increase their wealth and power by taking control of trade routes and areas rich in natural resources. Captain John Smith's voyages throughout the Chesapeake Bay in 1608 were part of England's endeavor to establish a colony in the Americas.