• A kayaker paddles on the Patuxent River at the Jug Bay Natural Area. Photo by Middleton Evans.

    Captain John Smith Chesapeake

    National Historic Trail VA,MD,DE,DC

Donate

The Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail partners with the Chesapeake Conservancy, a not-for-profit conservation organization dedicated to appreciation and enjoyment of the Chesapeake Bay. The National Park Service encourages your support of the Conservancy with your tax-deductible donation.

Visit the website for the Chesapeake Conservancy here.

Did You Know?

Submerged aquatic vegetation

In the 17th century, the Chesapeake Bay hosted hundreds of thousands of acres of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) beds filled with juvenile fish and abundant blue crabs. Today the disappearance of these beds is a sign of an ecosystem in serious decline. Today fewer than 75,000 acres remain.