Park Planning

Captain John Smith Trail Legislation

On December 19, 2006, President George W. Bush signed legislation establishing the Capt. John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail - the first national water trail in the United States. The trail will commemorate the exploratory voyages of Captain Smith on the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries in 1607-1609.

Administered by the National Park Service, the trail will provide significant opportunities for education, recreation and heritage tourism in the Bay region. The National Park Service will administer the trail in coordination with the existing Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network adn the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program that is leading efforts to restore the estuary.

Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail Management Plan

With extensive public input, the National Park Service will develop a comprehensive management plan for the new trail beginning in 2007. Working with a broad partnership, including the Conservation Fund, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and many others throughout the region, the National Park Service will develop and manage the first national water trail under the auspices of the Chesapeake Bay Program.

Interpretive Planning

Through a collaborative process involving trail partners, agencies, Gateways, tribes, community organizations, and others, the National Park Service is developing the Interpretive Plan for the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. The Interpretive Plan will provide a vision for the future of interpretation and education for the trail and define long-term goals for meaningful connections between visitors and Bay resources.

The planning process identifies trail audiences, interpretive themes, and strategies for achieving desired visitor experiences. The plan will be a guiding document with reference information that Gateways and other providers can use to develop visitor experiences along the trail.

A series of nine interpretive planning workshops began September 7, 2007. The day-long workshops take place regionally into November. The Interpretive Plan is one part of the Comprehensive Management Plan, which will develop out of additional workshops and public involvement around the Bay.

Interpretive Planning Workshop Schedule:

Friday, September 7: Jamestown, Va. - Historic Jamestowne

Wednesday, September 26: Baltimore, Md. - Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park

Thursday, September 27: Havre de Grace, Md. - Havre de Grace Decoy Museum

Tuesday, October 2: Scotland, Md. - Point Lookout State Park (Postponed: to be rescheduled at a later date)

Wednesday, October 3: Fredericksburg, Va. - George Washington Ferry Farm (Postponed: to be rescheduled at a later date)

Thursday, October 4: Accokeek, Md. - Piscataway Park / National Colonial Farm (Postponed: to be rescheduled at a later date)

Additional workshops will be announced as details become available.

For information, call 410-267-9857 or 410-267-5748.

Feasibility Study and Environmental Assessment

A study of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail was made available for public review and comment from July 17 through August 16, 2006. The study was an essential part of the trail designation process. You can read the document by selecting the files below.

Statement of Significance

The Statement of Significance for the John Smith Trail is available below. You can read a brief overview or download the Statement in its entirety or in sections.

Park Partners

The Trail is administered in coordination with the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network, the Chesapeake Bay Program and in consultation with other Federal, State, tribal, regional, local agencies and the private sector. Public and private organizations that have already contributed to create this unique Chesapeake Bay experience include:

Management

Join the Adventure

The Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail was authorized by Congress in 2006 so that visitors to the Chesapeake Bay can understand the significance of John Smith's explorations, and his interaction with and impact upon the rich Native American cultures. Moreover, visitors can come to appreciate and care for the life and landscape of this national treasure, America's largest estuary. Although any adventure seeker can follow portions of Smith's historic routes today with the proper means, plans for the trail have just begun.

You can help forge America's first national water trail. A work in progress, the Trail comes as a result of the diligent work of many public and private partners. The trail was designated by an act of Congress in December, 2006, which set in motion what will surely be a rewarding process. To learn more about planning the National Historic Trail, e-mail us.