The Historic James and its Tributaries

The Historic James and its Tributaries. . , This stretch of the James River and its tributaries is a prime example of an historic cultural landscape showing the intersection between people and nature. The rivers were home to American Indians long before the arrival of Europeans. This area served as the cradle of the first successful English settlement in North America, as the place of initial long-term interactions between American Indians and English, and as the center point for Captain John Smith's explorations of the Chesapeake Bay. The rivers continue to play an important role in our nation by showcasing historic sites in a riverine environment to be enjoyed by all who visit., Chickahominy's Breadbasket , Morris Creek is part of the Chickahominy River's "breadbasket" marsh. Captain John Smith described the area as "More plenty of swannes, cranes, geese, ducks, and mallards. more plaine fertile planted ground, in such great proportions as there, I had not seene:... fish [in) great plenty, and people [in) aboundance"., (captions) , Incolarum Virginiae piscandi ratio , (The Method of Fishing of the Inhabitants of Virginia) by Theodor de Bry after John White, c.1590, illustrates the ample wildlife in the region. (Courtesy of The Mariners' Museum, Newport News, VA), Theodor de Bry's Englishmen hunting in Virginia documents the abundance of wildlife in the region.