National Park Service Launches Visitor Contact Station at Zimmerman Center for Heritage

On Saturday, August 27, 2016 the National Park Service, Chesapeake Office and Susquehanna Heritage officially launched the first Visitor Contact Station for the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail at Susquehanna Heritage Zimmerman Center for Heritage. A public ceremony was held 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. on the front lawn of the Zimmerman Center. Keynote speakers included Chuck Hunt, Superintendent of the National Park Service, Chesapeake Bay, and Cindy Dunn, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The Visitor Contact Station at the Zimmerman Center is the place to go to learn about, and get information on, the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. Designated by Congress as a National Historic Trail in 2006, the Captain Smith Trail is based on Captain Smith’s explorations of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries in 1608. The Susquehanna River is the single largest source of fresh water to the Chesapeake Bay and in 2012 the trail was expanded to include the entire river. Although Captain Smith did not travel up the Susquehanna, in 1608 he met and interacted with the Susquehannock Indians at the mouth of the river, near what is today Havre de Grace, MD. Captain Smith kept detailed records of his voyages and his visit with the Susquehannock.

The specific themes of the trail are the 1608 voyages of Captain John Smith, the natural environment, and 17th Century American Indians. From the Zimmerman Center for Heritage visitors may launch canoes or kayaks to explore the water trail itself, enjoy iconic views, hike into Native Lands County Park to learn more about the Susquehannock Indians who lived there in the 1670s, and find out about other things to do and places to visit along the historic trail.

Begin your exploration of the Susquehanna Riverlands with us! The grounds of the Zimmerman Center are open to the public from dawn to dusk every day. The Visitor Contact Station is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and features Susquehannock artifacts and the Visions of the Susquehanna river art collection, capturing segments of the trail from New York to the Chesapeake Bay. Interactive programming related to the themes of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail are offered on Saturdays. At 11:00 am and 3:00 pm learn about the Susquehannock Indians through Interactions – The Land and Its People. At 1:00 pm expand your understanding of the river with The Susquehanna – Nature and Inspiration. All programs are offered by friendly and knowledgeable guides.