With his ship, The Golden Hind, Sir Francis Drake cut an imposing swath for Queen Elizabeth (and country) as he circumnavigated the earth from the years 1577 to 1580. During this time, he claimed a portion of California for the crown and continued to wage battles against the Spanish. Many of the primary documents, including maps and engravings, related to his travels and life were collected by the late Hans Peter Kraus. Kraus was an avid collector and antiquarian book dealer who successfully compiled a significant collection of materials related to Drake, which he later donated to the Library of Congress. The Library of Congress has placed these remarkable materials online in this collection, and the general public will be delighted to wander through some of these offerings. Visitors who may be less familiar with Drake’s life may wish to look over a timeline of his life, complete with period engravings and illustrations.