Follow in the Wake of Captain John Smith's Chesapeake Bay Journeys
Four hundred years ago Englishman John Smith and a small crew of adventurers set out in an open boat to explore the Chesapeake Bay. Between 1607 and 1609 Smith and his crew mapped nearly 3,000 miles of the Bay and rivers and documented American Indian communities. Smith’s map and journals are a remarkable record of the 17th-century Chesapeake. Come join the adventure on the Chesapeake Bay!
Features
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A High-tech Treasure Hunt
The new CJS Geotrail offers adventurers more than 50 geocache sites on 9 Chesapeake rivers highlighting places associated with Smith's explorations.
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Chesapeake Explorer - This App's for You!
The Chesapeake Explorer mobile app helps you get to over 400 Chesapeake places including the John Smith Trail for iPhones and Android devices. FREE!
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Boater’s Guide to the Trail
Whether you paddle, sail, motor, or just dream about it, begin your adventures with the interactive Boater’s Guide to the Captain John Smith Trail.
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Secretary Salazar Designates 4 New Components
Four water trails in five states become historic connecting components to the John Smith Trail. Director Jarvis and others join the celebration.
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Chesapeake Indians Today
It is a misconception that Indians no longer live in the Chesapeake Bay region. There are tens of thousands of American Indians still here today.
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“Smart” Buoys Mark the Water Trail
Ten NOAA "smart" buoys track wind and water data and interpret the Chesapeake as Captain John Smith saw it four hundred years ago.
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Did You Know?
The American Indian people of the Chesapeake region often relied on translators to work with the many languages and dialects that people spoke. Such translators were often instrumental in helping the Smith party communicate with people they met along their journeys.