along the ro ute by the National Ocean ic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Learning from the Past
Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts built a reproduction of a 17th-century shallop in 2 000. These boats were common in that time period, when ships were traveling to uncharted waters. They were small enough to be carried onboard ship for the transAtlantic passage and could be built (or re-assembled, as in the case ofj ohn Smith's shallop), ashore once they arrived. They were usefulfor their stability, carrying capacity, and shallow draft. Once settlers arrived, they needed to navigate coastal waters and inland waterways. reproductio n shallop began a fourreenmonth to ur of the Chesapeake region
Back to the Future: The Reenactment Voyage The cul minating activity of rhe Captain John Smith Four Hundred Project will begin at H istoric James rowne on 12 May 2007, when twelve crew m embers will boa rd rhe boar ar rhe sire of the o ri ginal Jamestown Fort and begin a four-month, 1,5 00-mile expedition ro retrace Smith's histo ric voyage. The launch will be an impo rtant part of "America's 400th An nive rsary," the Jam estown commemoration that w ill fea ture bo th President George W. Bush and Queen Elizabeth II . Traveling solely under the power of oar and sail , the crew will brave hear, mosquitoes, cramped living quarters, and summer squalls while voyaging to rhe fall line of nearly every majo r tributary of the Chesapeake Bay and visiting all of the region's principal population centers. W hile the crew will rely exclusively on traditional m odes of propulsion, the 2007 reenact ment will differ from Smith's voyage in several ways. To start, the crew will be made up of seven men and fi ve wo men from diverse backgrounds. The modern crew will enjoy m ore contempo rary
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arrangements for cookin g, eating, sleeping, and sanitation when compared to the rudimentary conditions Smith's m en endured . The shallop will also be equipped with the latest in modern navigation and communications equipment. Perhaps the most significant difference between the two voyages is rhar rhe shallop will make scheduled stops at 28 waterfront communities, where a traveling exhibit will allow visito rs to learn more about Smith's incredible story. M embers of the public will also be able to follow the voyage via the Web (www.johnsmith400 . org), where crewmembers will regularly upload journal entries an d video segm ents.
The Chesapeake National Historic Trail: The Enduring Legacy The 2007 voyage will also inaugurate the newly created Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Histo ric Trail. M anaged by the National Park Service, the trail will span the waters of M aryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia, and will be the first trail of its kind in that it does not include an inch of dry land. Modern explorers can fo llow Smith's ro ute aboard kayaks, can oes, sailing craft, and m otorboats. They will be able ro access info rmation on rheir cell phones or laptop compurers from "smart buoys" installed
In one sense, Captain John Smith's expedition of 1608 was a failure. They did not find gold or silver, no r an all-water ro ute to the Pacific. In a larger sense, however, his voyages had ve ry significant impli cati ons for the C hesapeake region and, ultimately, the Uni ted States of America. Smith's detailed map of the C hesapeake Bay served as a guidepost for thousands of European settlers seeking a fresh start in the New World. 1h e influx o f settlers helped ensure the colony's survival, and the democratic principles that wo uld come to characterize Jamestown in the latter half of the 1600s laid rhe fo undation fo r rhe society in which we live in today. At th e sam e tim e, the large-scale arrival of Europeans to the Chesapeake region h ad disastrous effects on the Native populatio ns, and rhe clearing of fores ts fo r agriculture and development led to the demise of the estuary's immensely productive ecosystem. Sultana Projects' 2007 voyage will allow us to reflect upon just how much this great body of water has changed over the last fo ur centuries and to consider actions rhat might help restore rhe estuary cl oser ro the pristine state Smith described in his 16 12 Description of Virginia: "There is but one entrance by sea into this co untry, and that is at the mouth of a very goodly Bay ... W ithin is a country that may have the prerogative over the most pleasant places of Europe, Asia, Africa or America, fo r large and pleasant navigable ri vers, heaven and earth never agreed better ro fram e a place fo r m an's hab itatio n . .. " .! Philip J Webster is a Trustee ofNMH S and a D irector of Sultana Projects, Inc., the nonprofit organization organizing the Cap tain j ohn Smith 400 Project. Christopher Cerino is Sultana Projects' Vice President. Artist M arc Castelli completed a series ofpen and ink drawings for the Captain j ohn Smith Four Hundred Project based upon events described by Smith in the journals of his 1608 voyages. To see more of his art work and also for more informatiom on the Captain john Smith 400 Project amd Sultana Projects, Inc., visit wwwjohnsmitl:h400. org.
SEA HISTODRY 11 8, SPRING 2007