John Smith Coming Ashore

On June 2, 1608, Smith and a crew of 14 men set out on a voyage up the Bay in a small wooden boat... Here the artist depicts two worlds meeting for the first time, on the shores of the Potomac River.

Captain John Smith was an English explorer who played a pivotal role in settling America. English officials instructed him to map the area, claim land, trade with the natives, and find passage to the Pacific Ocean. His contacts with Native Americans and his Chesapeake Bay voyages helped early colonists learn about the region.

print is signed on the bottom right by the artist