Inspiration
What would you get if you combined an interest in history, a love of the Chesapeake, and a desire to provide more opportunities for public access to the bay, for recreation, and for conservation of treasured landscapes?
The Capt. John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail.
At least that's what Gilbert Grosvenor, William Baker, and Patrick Noonan envisioned as they talked about how to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown and Capt. John Smith's exploration of the bay.
In their minds' eye they saw a Chesapeake Bay watershed much like the Native Americans enjoyed before the Europeans arrived - the one Capt. Smith observed during his voyages of discovery. A "goodly Bay," in his words, teeming with fish and wildlife; with healthy waters and abundant forests, wetlands, shorelines and open spaces; a place of natural wonders and discovery, rich in cultural traditions; preserved for the benefit of future generations.
So they went to work. They created a coalition and called it The Friends of the Capt. John Smith Trail. They formed partnerships throughout the Chesapeake region with local governments, businesses, interested groups, and individuals. They intrigued lawmakers and gained the interest of Congress. So began the process of creating the Capt. John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail.
