Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail
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John Smith Explores the Chesapeake
Captain John Smith explored the Chesapeake Bay in the early 1600s seeking precious metals and a passage to Asia. He traveled the James, Chickahominy, and York rivers in 1607, and led two major expeditions from Jamestown in 1608. Smith and his crew sailed and rowed a primitive 30-foot boat nearly 3,000 miles, reaching as far north as the Susquehanna River.
Although Smith did not discover gold, or a river to the Pacific, his precise map and detailed observations of American Indian societies and the abundant natural resources guided future explorers and settlers.
Native Inhabitants
At the time of Smith's explorations, an estimated 50,000 American Indians dwelled in the Chesapeake region—as their ancestors had for thousands of years. Their sophisticated societies included arts and architecture, systems of government, extensive trade and communication networks, and shared spiritual beliefs. The native people hunted, fished, grew crops, and gathered food and raw materials from the land and waterways.
An Abundance of Life
Smith discovered a treasure trove of natural wonders in the Chesapeake region: thick forests of giant pines, oaks, and hickories; vast marshlands, huge turtles, 800-pound sturgeon, and great schools of shad and striped bass. Massive flocks of ducks, geese, and swans darkened the sky; and enormous oyster reefs rose above the water's surface.
To learn more about the trail visit www.smithtrail.net
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Smith's remarkably accurate map of the Chesapeake Bay (published in 1612), and his spirited written accounts of a lush landscape inspired European migration.
Decorative shells-such as those found on this ceremonial robe-were valuable in the American Indian's trading network that extended for hundreds of miles. This robe (which may have belonged to paramount chief Powhatan) was crafted from four elk skins and adorned with more than 17,000 shells.
Wood ducks and other waterfowl flourished
The forests and lowlands teemed with deer
Cattails grew thick in pristine marshes
Flocks of geese filled the sky
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Canoes from Trees
For Virginia Indians, rivers were highways. Dugout canoes, so called because they were carved out of tree trunks, were the prime vehicles. While most canoes were 20 feet or less, some exceeded 40 feet.
The bald cypress—strong, tall, straight, and rot-resistant—was a favorite tree for canoes. You can see cypresses along parts of the James River, distinguished by the knobby "knees" that protrude from the water.
Constructing a canoe was a lot of work. After felling the tree, the Indians burned out part of the trunk and scraped away the charred wood. They repeated the slow process until the trunk was the right shape.
"There is a kind of wood we called Cypres ...and of those trees there are some neere 3 fadome about the root, very straight, and 50, 60, or 80 foot without a branch."
- Captain John Smith,
A Map of Virginia, 1612
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Explore these nearby places along the Captain John Smith Trail:
· Launch a boat from Chickahominy Riverfront Park to find shorelines that appear much as they would have looked in John Smith's time.
· Enjoy hands-on activities, including canoe building, at Jamestown Settlement, a living history museum.
· Visit Historic Jamestowne to learn about the first permanent English settlement in Virginia.
· Hear and smell the musket firing demonstrations at Henricus Historical Park.
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Cypress trees stand tall in Chickahominy River, a tributary of the James. The Indians favored cypress for making canoes.
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Join the Adventure
Explore the places Englishman John Smith traveled in the early 1600s. Learn about the thriving American Indian communities he encountered and imagine the bountiful Chesapeake he observed. Experience the natural and cultural richness that exists in the region today.
The 3,000-mile Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail traces the exploratory voyages Smith conducted from 1607 to 1609 on the Chesapeake Bay and along several major rivers. The trail includes parks, museum sites, driving tours, and water trails that align with Smith's historic voyage routes and offer opportunities for recreation and discovery.
Experience the Trail
· Explore rivers, coves, and open water by kayak, sailboat, or motor craft.
· Bicycle or hike along woodland trails and shoreline paths.
· Follow winding back roads through rural landscapes and historic villages.
· Visit places that celebrate American Indian heritage.
· See birds and other wildlife foraging in marshes, waterways, and forests.
· Attend festivals and demonstrations, or join a guided tour.
To learn more about the trail and to plan your adventure, visit
www.smithtrail.net
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Captain John Smith's Historic Voyage Routes
"Here are mountains, hils, plaines, valleys, rivers, and brookes all running most pleasantly into a faire Bay compassed but for the mouth with fruitful and delightsome land."
- John Smith, 1612
Overlooking the Susquehanna River
Students aboard
Discovery at Jamestown Settlement
Kayakers explore the trail
Indian dance demonstration at Jefferson Patterson Park and Monument
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