Kiptopeke in Northampton County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Join the Adventure
Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail
| | National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior | |
Photographed by Don Morfe, September 21, 2016
1. Join the Adventure Marker
Explore the places Englishman John Smith traveled in the early 1600s. Learn about the thriving American Indian communities he encountered and imagine the bountiful Chesapeake he observed. Experience the natural and cultural richness that exists in the region today.
The 3,000-mile Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail traces the exploratory voyages Smith conducted from 1607 to 1609 on the Chesapeake Bay and along several major rivers. The trail includes parks, museum sites, driving tours, and water trails that align with Smiths historic voyage routes and offer opportunities for recreation and discovery.
Experience the Trail
Explore rivers, coves, and open water by kayak, sailboat, or motor craft.
Bicycle or hike along woodland trails and shoreline paths.
Follow winding back roads through rural landscapes and historic villages.
Visit places that celebrate American Indian heritage.
See birds and other wildlife foraging in marshes, waterways, and forests.
Attend festivals and demonstrations, or join a guided tour.
To learn more about the trail and to plan your adventure, visit www.smithtrail.net
[Captions:]
Captain John Smiths Historic Voyage Routes. Here are mountains, hills, plains, valleys, rivers, and brooks all running most pleasantly into a faire Bay compassed but for the mouth with fruitful and delightsome land. John Smith, 1612
Overlooking the Susquehanna River; Students aboard Discovery at Jamestown Settlement; Kayakers explore the trail; Indian dance demonstration at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum.
Erected by National
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Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Exploration • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1607.
Location. 37° 9.998′ N, 75° 59.333′ W. Marker is in Kiptopeke, Virginia, in Northampton County. It is on Kiptopeke Drive west of Justin Lane when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cape Charles VA 23310, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Eastern Shore. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, on the Delmarva Peninsula, and in the Tidewater. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Concrete Ships (here, next to this marker); John Smith Explores the Chesapeake (here, next to this marker); A Good Start (here, next to this marker); The Dunes (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Chesapeake Bay (about 700 feet away); Farm to Market (about 700 feet away); Maritime Highway (about 700 feet away); Local Patriots (approx. 2.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kiptopeke.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 7, 2026, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on October 8, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
