George Washington Birthplace Hosts National Trails Day Event on June 1st, 2024. Participating organizations include the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail, The Potomac Riverkeeper Network, Northern Neck National Heritage Area, and the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin.
A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 6,675,119 visitors to national parks in Maryland spent $246.6 million in the state in 2021. That spending resulted in 2,940 jobs and had a cumulative benefit to the state economy of $344.3 million.
Last week, National Park Service (NPS) Director Chuck Sams visited Colonial National Historical Park in Yorktown, Fort Monroe National Monument in Hampton, and Werowocomoco in Gloucester County, part of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail to learn about the vast diversity of these significant sites and the work that will need to be done to continue their preservation.
Last Friday, April 1st, 2022, the Rappahannock Indian Tribe announced the return of 465 acres of land along the Rappahannock River. The donation of the conservation easement to the Tribe ensures that this ancestral homeland will be protected from development and remain in the hands of Tribal citizens for generations to come.
The Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail received an Open OutDoors for Kids grant from the National Park Foundation (NPF). This grant will support fourth-grade field trip programs that connect students living in the Chesapeake Bay watershed to their local environment and history.
Kalen Anderson, this year's Lead Ancestral Lands Corps Individual Placement, has been selected Corps Member of the Year by The Corps Network. Kalen is one of three recipients of the award selected from among the more than 20,000 young people serving in Corps programs across the country.
Werowocomoco was the residence of Powhatan and the site of the first meetings between Native leaders and English colonists. The new exhibit provides the public with its first opportunity to interact with this world-class archeological site.
The Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail (Chesapeake Trail) is pleased to announce that its first cohort of interns has completed the inaugural Ancestral Lands Corps Individual Placement Program at Werowocomoco, the historic capital of the Powhatan chiefdom and a site of international and historical significance located on Virginia's York River.
The Archeological Overview and Assessment (AOA) of Werowocomoco, residence of Powhatan and the site of the first meetings between Native leaders and English colonists, was completed in November 2020. The 183-page report summarizes the current state of archeological research and offers direction for future preservation and management of the archeological resources found on this historical site, which was acquired by the National Park Service in 2016.
The National Park Service and its principal non-profit partner Chesapeake Conservancy make available the short film, “Werowocomoco: Protecting a Powhatan Place of Power.” This film depicts the importance of preserving the historic and sacred site of the Virginia Indian people.
In collaboration with federal, state, local government and non-profit partners, the National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Office recently published the Potomac River Segment Plan. This plan aims to serve park managers, visitors and residents through recreational and stewardship activities along the 140-mile tidal Potomac River where three national trails overlap.
The National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Office announces the appointment of 25 members to the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail Advisory Council. Members of the Council, appointed by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, will consult with the Secretary and the National Park Service on matters related to the trail, including trail management, public access, recreation opportunities, and natural and cultural resource conservation along the trail route.
NPS and the Chesapeake Conservancy released a report summarizing the 2-day Large Landscape Conservation Workshop attended by 56 Chesapeake region conservation practitioners in August, 2012.
NPS Chesapeake Bay Office announced financial assistance for 21 partners and 24 projects totaling over $1.3 million. These projects focus on education, youth employment, and public access and trail development.
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar designated four water trails as new historic components of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. The designation recognizes the significance of four connecting rivers -- the Susquehanna, Chester, Upper James, and Upper Nanticoke -- to the history, cultural heritage, and natural resources of the trail. Designation enables NPS to work closely with state and local agencies and other partners to provide technical and financial assistance, resource management, facility enhancement, interpretive trail route marking and promotion along the connecting trails. Government and tribal leaders, conservation partners, and interested citizens joined Secretary Salazar and NPS Director Jon Jarvis in a signing ceremony on May 16, 2012 at Sandy Point State Park.
The National Park Service and the Commonwealth of Virginia are launching projects in 2012 to orient visitors to the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail and to provide interpretive and recreational opportunities.
Eleven geocaches are added to the Captain John Smith GeoTrail and celebrated in a launch event in Onancock Virginia, a Gateways Network and John Smith Trail partner site.
The National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Office announced the appointment of 25 members to the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail Advisory Council.
The National Park Service Chesapeake Bay released its draft Comprehensive Management Plan/Environmental Assessment for Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail today. Public review of the plan is encouraged and comments may be made for thirty days.
