Prologue

Giovanni da Verrazzano was an Italian sailor hired in 1524 by the King of France to explore the New World which Christopher Columbus stumbled upon thirty years before. Verrazano explored the coasts of North America, and was the first European to see the East Coast. When I go to North Carolina’s beaches, I always wonder about Verrazano. He was the first European to see my home state. Not only did he discover the Southeast, though, he also discovered Chesapeake Bay, New York Harbor, New England and Nova Scotia.

From 1534-1542 Jacques Cartier made three voyages to North America, navigating the St. Lawrence River and laying the foundation for inland French claims. He also named Canada and attempted to establish the first European settlement in the region.

Samuel de Champlain (1604-1616) explored the Atlantic coast of Canada and the interior, founding Quebec in 1608 and developed the colony of New France.

Initially a key goal for all of these explorers was to find a navigable water route from Europe to Asia, the mythical Northwest Passage. Very quickly, however, the inland fur trade became a major economic driver, fostering important relationships with Native American tribes. 

In the next few weeks, we will be retracing their voyages onboard the stunning expedition ship Viking Polaris. Although we will enjoy the many gifts the area has to offer today, in the back of my mind I will constantly be thinking about what this place must have been like in the days of Verrazano.En savoir plus