Chopawamsic Island
Quantico, VA 22134

A Sampling of the Island’s Storied History
In 1607, John Smith became the first recorded non-native visitor to the island during exploration of the Potomac River.
In 1649, the island became home to Giles Brent and his wife, Mary Kittamaquund, daughter of the paramount chief of the Piscataway Nation. Their settlement represented one of the earliest alliances between English colonists and Native leadership in the region.
In the early 18th century, the property was acquired by Reverend Alexander Scott of historic Aquia Church, originally known as the Church of Overwharton Parish.
During the American Civil War, the Stafford County Courthouse was burned, resulting in the loss of many original land deeds and historical records associated with the island. Surviving copies and archival references may be found through the Library of Virginia.
On June 24, 1887, the island was purchased by the Mount Vernon Ducking Society, an exclusive sporting association whose members reportedly included Theodore Roosevelt.
The island was later owned for a period by the National Geographic Society.
Today, the island occupies a unique position within the environmentally and historically significant Chesapeake Bay region, as ongoing conservation initiatives continue to expand federal and state preservation efforts throughout the Potomac River.