The historical significance of the Chesapeake Bay region stretches from the United States' founding through the Civil War to the present day. Home to important research institutions, busy ports, and a growing population, the bay's past has helped it build a bright future. Readers will follow the growth of Chesapeake Bay, beginning with its earliest settlements such as Jamestown. Sidebars add to the main content's discussion of significant events, while readers travel through the bay's past with the help of vivid photographs and historical images. Maps of the region will show readers where history happened and introduce the region's major rivers, states, and landforms.