Early explorers of Plymouth Harbor, 1525-1619

"Early Explorers of Plymouth Harbor, 1525-1619" by Henry F. Howe is a historical journey revealing how numerous European expeditions charted the Massachusetts coast long before the Pilgrims arrived in 1620. The book recounts the voyages of Spanish, French, Dutch, and English explorers, like Estevan Gomez, Giovanni da Verrazano, Samuel de Champlain, and Captain John Smith, who sought commerce and colonization, detailing their interactions with Native Americans such as Squanto, their trade, and knowledge gained about the flora and fauna. These adventures shaped the maritime understanding of the region and the explorers paved the way for future settlements, highlighting that the Pilgrims' success was built on the explorations and trading outposts established before them.