Events with tag - Navigation

June 1, 1000

Leif Erikson Discovers North America

Viking explorer Leif Erikson becomes the first European to reach North America, establishing settlements in present-day Newfoundland around 1000 CE. His journey predated Christopher Columbus's voyage by nearly 500 years and led to the first documented European-Native American contact.

October 12, 1492

Columbus Discovers America

Christopher Columbus's historic voyage in 1492 led to the first sustained European contact with the Americas, when he landed in the Bahamas on October 12 after sailing across the Atlantic with three ships provided by the Spanish Crown.

June 24, 1497

John Cabot Discovers North America

Italian-born explorer John Cabot became the first European since the Vikings to reach mainland North America in 1497, sailing under English sponsorship. His landing at Newfoundland established England's first territorial claims in the New World and laid the foundation for British colonial expansion.

January 17, 1524

Verrazzano's Atlantic Coast Exploration

Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano conducted the first European exploration of the Atlantic coast from Florida to New Brunswick under French commission, covering over 5,000 nautical miles and making significant discoveries including New York Harbor.

September 7, 1535

Discovery of St. Lawrence River

French explorer Jacques Cartier becomes the first European to navigate the St. Lawrence River, establishing a crucial waterway that would shape North American colonial development and connect the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

May 8, 1541

Discovery of the Mississippi River

Hernando de Soto became the first European to officially document the discovery of the Mississippi River, leading to a series of explorations that established crucial trade routes and shaped North American development.

May 17, 1673

Marquette and Joliet Mississippi River Expedition

French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet led a historic expedition along the Mississippi River, becoming the first Europeans to systematically explore and document the upper Mississippi. Starting from St. Ignace Mission on May 17, 1673, they traveled over 2,500 miles through present-day Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Arkansas.

February 1, 1682

La Salle's Mississippi River Expedition

In February 1682, French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle led a historic expedition down the Mississippi River, becoming the first European to travel from its upper reaches to the Gulf of Mexico. This journey established French claims to the vast Louisiana Territory and transformed North American colonial development.

November 3, 1762

Mississippi River Transfer to Spanish Control

In a pivotal moment of colonial history, France ceded control of the Mississippi River and Louisiana Territory to Spain through the Treaty of Fontainebleau. This secret agreement, signed on November 3, 1762, transferred 828,000 square miles of territory and marked a significant shift in North American colonial power dynamics.

August 22, 1787

First American Steamboat

John Fitch demonstrated the first successful steamboat in America on the Delaware River, leading to a revolution in maritime transportation. The vessel could carry 30 passengers and travel at 3 mph upstream.

October 1, 1800

Spain Returns Mississippi River to France

Through the Third Treaty of San Ildefonso, Spain returned control of the Mississippi River and Louisiana Territory to France, marking the end of 38 years of Spanish dominance in the region. This secret agreement set the stage for the Louisiana Purchase.

May 14, 1804

Lewis and Clark Expedition Launches

The Lewis and Clark Expedition embarked on their historic journey from Camp Dubois near St. Louis, Missouri, launching a three-year exploration of the American West that would revolutionize the mapping and understanding of the newly acquired Louisiana Territory.

October 20, 1811

First Steamboat Navigation on Mississippi River

The New Orleans, built by Robert Fulton and Robert Livingston, completed the first successful steamboat journey on the Mississippi River, traveling 2,000 miles from Pittsburgh to New Orleans. This historic voyage revolutionized American river commerce and transportation.

October 20, 1811

First Steamboat on Mississippi River

The New Orleans, built by Robert Fulton and Robert Livingston, completed the first successful steamboat journey on the Mississippi River from Pittsburgh to New Orleans in 14 days, revolutionizing American river transportation.

February 1, 1857

Mark Twain's Mississippi River Years

Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, spent crucial years from 1857 to 1861 as a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River. This period not only gave him his famous pen name but also provided rich material for his future literary masterpieces.

June 28, 1879

Mississippi River Commission Established

Congress established the Mississippi River Commission as the first federal water management authority to coordinate flood control and navigation improvements along America's largest river system.

August 31, 1906

Northwest Passage Conquered

Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen completed the first successful navigation of the Northwest Passage, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Canadian Arctic. The three-year journey aboard the Gjøa marked a pivotal moment in maritime history.

January 1, 1917

First Mississippi River Lock and Dam

The completion of Lock and Dam No. 1 in 1917 between Minneapolis and St. Paul revolutionized navigation on the Mississippi River. This pioneering $2.9 million project introduced innovative engineering features and transformed the unpredictable waterway into a reliable transportation corridor.