Canoes

Dartnouth College has enjoyed a long legacy associated with canoeing. From its very first days in 1772 to modern times with the founding of the Ledyard Canoe Club in 1920. The author takes you on that journey with special attention given to the Abenaki tribal tradition of building birchbark canoes, to adaptations by white settlers and traders, to the commercialization of canoes by the Old Town Company. Of particular note is the influence of John Ledyard, explorer and namesake of the Club, on adventuresome student members. The author was himself the originator of three canoe and kayak expeditions: Danube River (1700 miles), Japan coast (1100 miles) and South Korean Islands (500 miles), two of which became National Geographic Magazine cover stories.