John Smith - Map of Chesapeake Bay

Captain John Smith (1580-1631) explored territory in the "new world," and then wrote about it.  His Generall Historie of Virginia, New England & the Summer Isles provided future settlers with indispensable information. 

This map is Smith's rendering of the entire Chesapeake Bay region. The Library of Congress provides background information about this American treasure:

Based on a three-month exploratory survey by boat in the summer of 1608 under the direction of Captain John Smith, this map is the earliest published of the entire Chesapeake region.

It not only shows the location of Jamestown, the first English settlement in the region, but also the location of Indian villages along the bay and its numerous tributaries.

The map is oriented with west at the top, drawing attention to the approaching ships from England at the bottom of the sheet.

Click on the image to greatly expand its view.

Credits

Virginia, Discovered and Discribed by Captayn John Smith.

Image, U.S. Library of Congress.

Information, and quoted passage, from the Library of Congress - American Treasures of the Library of Congress.