Rich Resources
Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail
— National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior —
John Smith and his crew spent a month exploring the Potomac River in 1608, during the first voyage through the region. Smith mapped the town of Pamacocack at the mouth of the Mattawoman Creek.This powerful creek with its teeming diversity still demonstrates the rich resources native people enjoyed here for thousands of year. Wetlands and large beds of submerged aquatic vegetation provide a lush feeding ground for anadromous fish—species who live in the ocean and spawn in fresh water. Fishing birds, such as herons, ospreys, and egrets, also come here to feast.
“(We came to the Potomac) to search what furs…and what…minerals, rivers, rocks, nations, woods, fishings, fruits, victual, and what other commodities the land afforded, and whether the bay were endless or how far it extended.”
Captain John Smith, The General History of Virginia, 1624.
(Inscription above the image on the right)
Mattawoman Creek is said to have a greater concentration of largemouth bass than any other Potomac tributary.
Explore the diversity and beauty of Mattawoman Creek:
*The nearly 30-mile Mattawoman Creek
this page online
*Pitch your tent or rent a cabin as Smallwood State Park as your base-camp for exploring the area.
*Launch your boat or paddle craft from the park’s Sweden Point Marina to explore Mattawoman Creek or venture into the Potomac.
*Paddle the quiet upper reaches of the creek and discover the wonderful diversity of plants and wildlife.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Exploration • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1608.
Location. 38° 33.526′ N, 77° 11.102′ W. Marker is near Rison, Maryland, in Charles County. Marker is on Sweden Point Road. The marker is located near the Discovery Room building in Smallwood State Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2750 Sweden Point Road, Marbury MD 20658, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. John Smith Explores the Chesapeake (here, next to this marker); Join the Adventure (here, next to this marker); Christian Temple Manor (a few steps from this marker); Explore your Chesapeake (approx. 0.2 miles away); General Smallwood's Gravesite
Credits. This page was last revised on August 14, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 26, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 342 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 14, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 26, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
