Since first arriving on a Dutch ship at Old Point Comfort in 1619, Africans and their descendants have played important roles in the history and economy of the Chesapeake Bay. These skilled craftsmen helped build the communities and culture that shaped everyday life, while their labor supported the regional industries and naval presence that still dominate the Bay's economy. In turn, the Chesapeake Bay has figured importantly in the history of African-Americans. The Bay's waterways fed the plantation system that drove the slave trade. At the same time, marine avenues also offered slaves many pathways to freedom.

					Click on image for enlarged view.