 2007 marks the 400th anniversary of Captain John Smith's founding of Jamestown , the first permanent English settlement in America . But it also marks the beginning of a series of voyages by Smith around the Chesapeake Bay between 1607 and 1609.
The anniversary of Smith's "voyages of exploration" presents a significant opportunity for Chesapeake Bay Gateways to engage visitors in discovering Smith's travels and the Chesapeake of the early 17th century. A wide range of possible interpretive programming is possible at the scores of Gateways that lie along Smith's travel routes.
To support this opportunity, the Gateways Network has taken two steps:
John Smith's Chesapeake Voyages: 1607-1609
CBGN assembled a team of historians, archaeologists and environmental scientists to create a book pulling together the best current knowledge on:
- Smith's voyages around the Chesapeake Bay
- The 17th century natural environment of the Chesapeake
- Native American settlements and culture of the 17th century Chesapeake
This book is now available exclusively to Chesapeake Bay Gateways in CD form, for use in developing interpretive projects and programming for the upcoming anniversary. A forthcoming paper edition of the book, with 150 maps and illustrations, is expected later. The CD includes 14 chapters and two route maps telling the full story of the Chesapeake in Smith's time.
Gateway sites may order a copy of the CD by contacting us directly. For all others, the book is scheduled to be published by the University of Virginia Press in January 2007.
Gateways Grants
To stimulate interpretive programming keyed to the upcoming anniversary of Smith's voyages, CBGN is encouraging grant proposals designed develop new interpretation of related themes. For more information see this year's grant guidelines.
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