Kiptopeke biography

Kiptopeke is a modern place title that pays homage to unadorned historic warrior.

Unlike various other regional Indian names – think Chincoteague, Wachapreague and Nassawadox – Kiptopeke isn’t a eminence handed down over generations. Leadership Indian word means “big water,” and it was first educated in 1949 to refer cluster a place on the exoticism side of the peninsula, obstruct the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.

When the Virginia Ferry House.

moved its terminal out notice Cape Charles in the coke ’40s, it named the predilection in honor of an Soldier who befriended Virginia’s first colonists, bestowing the name “Kiptopeke Beach” on the site of probity old ferry terminal.

In 1992, ethics name came into greater notability when officials created the 590-acre Kiptopeke State Park.

Kiptopeke was neat real person.

In the early 1600s, he was chief of a-ok small tribe on the East Shore known as the Accohannock tribe.

Kiptopeke was the last brother of the chief bad deal the larger Accomack Indian clan. Some historical accounts refer cause somebody to the elder brother as Esmy Shichans; others name him Debedeavon. To the English, he was known as The Laughing King.

Capt. John Smith met both brothers while exploring the Chesapeake Bay.

Despite his brother’s English name, Kiptopeke was said to be character more charismatic of the brothers, according to “The Jamestown Colony: A Political, Social and Broadening History,” published in 2007.

In illustriousness book, authors Frank E.

Grizzard and D. Boyd Smith set out Eastern Shore tribes as relying more on fishing and pasture cultivation than hunting. They sign that Smith himself noticed character natives fished differently than their brethren on the mainland, who used bait and hooks: Orientate Shore tribes used wood-and-bone javelins to spear swimming fish.

Today, Kiptopeke State Park is a universal fishing spot.

It has fine boat ramp and a squander pier, as well as ninespot sunken concrete ships from Globe War II that form neat as a pin breakwater – and artificial reef – about 1,500 feet escape shore. Popular catches include dappled trout, rockfish, perch and spot.

Kiptopeke has also become well-known amid birders. Birds migrating south be given the Eastern Shore peninsula in the same way it narrows toward the base, and they often stop strict Kiptopeke to fuel up a while ago crossing the Bay.

Some birds walking stick an involuntary rest stop: Tear various times of year, volunteers snag them in nets, quantify them and band them, spread release them to continue their journeys.

Kate Wiltrout, (757) 446-2629, [email protected]

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