John Smith's Shallop at George Washington's Mount Vernon June 23, 2007

o commemorate the 400th anniversary of Captain John Smith’s extraordinary voyage to explore the Chesapeake Bay, a replica of Smith’s 30-foot “shallop” will retrace the original 1,500-mile route. The boat’s first stop in Northern Virginia is at Historic Mount Vernon’s wharf on June 23 and 24, where visitors can talk to the crew and explore a traveling exhibit about early-American life and the groundbreaking voyage. Included with Estate admission: adults, $13; youth, 6-11 $6; children 5 and under, free. The Estate is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The traveling exhibit gives an in-depth look at the world of the early 17th-century Chesapeake Native American and English cultures. Visitors can view a timeline of Smith’s historic travels, read the original crew’s descriptions of Native Americans, and watch a film about Smith’s groundbreaking voyage. The exhibit also includes an interactive computer component offering visitors a 21st century approach to learning about the 17th century.

The Captain John Smith Four Hundred Project, a multi-year educational effort to commemorate the four hundredth anniversary of Smith’s 1,500 mile Chesapeake voyage, is an educational initiative of Sultana Projects, a non-profit organization based in Chestertown, Maryland.

Official Website: http://www.MountVernon.org