This copy of a 1635 map titled “Nova Virginia Tablua” was created by Willem Janszoom Blaeu (1571-1638). He was a Dutch cartographer, atlas maker, geographer and publisher. Blaeu based his map on the 1612 map of Virginia by Captain John Smith. It shows the Eastern American Indian tribes and their territories. In the upper left corner, Chief Powhatan is shown inside a hut with his prisoner, John Smith.
Maps like this are one of the most important human inventions and allowed humans to navigate throughout the world. Today, services like Google Earth use satellite images to document previously unknown areas around the world and NASA is working on mapping the universe.
It is unknown who donated this map years ago to the Botetourt County Historical Society. It can be seen just inside the front door of the Botetourt Museum of History & Culture in Fincastle.
~ Botetourt County Museum of History & Culture
