Expedition: The Capt. John Smith Water TrailA Rich and Balanced Bay | John Smith's Voyages | Voyage Reenactment
Getting Around | Maps | Books | Blog | Get Involved | Links A NEW NATIONAL HISTORIC WATER TRAIL To commemorate Smith’s voyages—and in time to mark the 400th anniversary of Smith's journey—legislation signed by the President on December 19, 2006, established the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Water Trail as the first national water trail in the United States. Designated through an amendment to the National Trails System Act, the new trail will trace 3000 miles of historic routes taken by John Smith from 1607-1608. The Director of the National Park Service, Mary Bomar, named John Maounis Trail Superintendent for the newly-established Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. Maounis is Director of National Park Service (NPS) Chesapeake Bay Program Office as well as of NPS Northeast Region Heritage Area Programs. Trail efforts will be coordinated by the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network and the Chesapeake Bay Program, and the NPS may now initiate preparation of a Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP). The release of the CMP will include a public scoping process to solicit comments and encourage public participation associated with implementation of the trail.  The trail follows the route of Smith’s explorations, from Jamestown, Virginia to the Pennsylvania-Maryland border and from Delaware’s Broad Creek to the Potomac River.
The Capt. John Smith Chesapeake NHWT will provide an excellent opportunity for the public to learn about
- the importance of and dangers to the Chesapeake Bay’s rich natural resources,
- the living culture of the Bay's watermen and their communities,
- the significant role the estuary and its communities have played in our nation's history,
- the maritime history of our ports and landings,
- the establishment of early English settlements, and
- the rich heritage of the Chesapeake's Native American communities.
The trail could promote public education through: trail maps and guide books; classroom and field experiences; museum and website exhibits; and interpretive buoys. The proposed trail offers tremendous economic opportunities through heritage tourism, such as: trail outfitting and guide services; motor coach tours; food; lodging; and maritime commerce. Join the
Adventure Trail Named 2008 Conservation Priority The Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail has been named one of six conservation priorities on this year's Regional Conservation Priorities List. The list, compiled by the Washington Smart Growth Alliance, promotes conservation initiatives that contribute most to our future quality of life.
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Several Trail partners are already developing vehicles to promote public education, including: - The official NPS Web site, which will continue to grow as the management plan is implemented.
- Unique interpretive buoys, created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Verizon Wireless. These "guideposts" will be placed along the Trail and will relay historical, seasonal, geographic, and real-time water quality, wave, current, and meteorological data. Boaters and kayakers can access buoy information from cell phones (1-877-BUOYBAY). The data is also available at http://www.buoybay.org/.
- Educational expeditions by canoe and kayak.
- Innovative, Web-based content for all age groups, conveying important lessons ranging from colonial history to modern environmental concerns.
- New maps and books will also be developed to guide modern day explorers along the Trail.
While we work toward returning the Bay to the healthy, abundant estuary it was in Smith's day, establishing the Capt. John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Water Trail is something we can all do today to celebrate our "wide and goodly Bay." As the Captain said—and we strongly agree—"no place is more convenient for pleasure, profit and man's sustenance" than our Chesapeake Bay.
"The voyage of John Smith is not just about looking at the Bay's past,
it's about our vision for the future."
Will Baker, President, CBF Additional Resources More Resources
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