June 24

On June 24, 1497, Venetian navigator John Cabot reached the shores of Newfoundland under commission from King Henry VII of England. His expedition marked the first known European exploration of mainland North America since the Norse voyages nearly four centuries earlier. Cabot mapped parts of the coast, documented abundant fisheries, and claimed the lands for the English crown. Although details of his return and later fate remain uncertain, his voyage opened the door to future English colonization and transatlantic trade. Cabot's journey shifted the course of history by expanding European horizons and igniting competition for New World territories.

In June 1604, Samuel de Champlain navigated the lower Saint John River, noting its dramatic tidal phenomenon where the Reversing Falls appear to flow backward at high tide. Champlain's detailed maps and journals recorded the river's navigational challenges, the lush surrounding ecosystems, and interactions with the local Mi'kmaq and Maliseet peoples. His observations provided valuable intelligence for future French settlements and fur trade ventures in Acadia. The expedition solidified France's territorial claims in northeastern North America and paved the way for the establishment of port cities. Champlain's voyage remains a milestone in the cartographic and colonial history of Canada.