European Explorers

French explorer went down the Ohio River to present day Louisville, Kentucky Robert de LaSalle

British explorers who went into the New River region and found the MANI tree Batts and Fallam

Lieutenant Governor who explored the Shenaandoah Valley and gave his companions Golden Horseshoes Alexander Spotswood

British explorer, bad weather drove him north of his destination, landed on a peninsula in the James River, this site became Jamestown Christopher Newport

Frenchman who buried lead plates in the banks of the Ohio River Celoron de Blainville

British pair that were sent to break the trade monopoly with the Occaneechi Needham and Arthur

Killed by Indian John James Needham

First European to see the Great Kanawha River Gabbiel Arthur

German explorer who explored the Harpers Ferry area, wrote in his journal about seeing “peacocks, lions, and the Atlantick Ocean” John Lederer

First European to enter what is now West Virginia John Lederer

British pair of Land Company Explorers Walker and Gist

Named the Cumberland Gap Thomas Walker

Explored the route that became the National Road Christopher Gist

Pair of British explorers that travelled down the Mississippi and were captured by the French and taken to New Orleans Howard and Salling

While traveling near Peytona in Boone County this explorer was the first to see coal. John Peter Salling

This pair of British explorers went to the origin of the Roanoke River to create interest in the area Wood and Bland

This British explorer became the Commander of Fort Henry, he led and sent several expeditions into the interior to expand the King’s territory Abraham Wood

He kept record of their trip that was published as “The Discovery of New Brittaine” Edward Bland