In 1524, Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, sailing under the French flag, embarked on an expedition to explore the Atlantic coast of North America. He is credited with being the first European to enter New York Harbor and to chart parts of the coastline from North Carolina to Newfoundland. Verrazzano's explorations provided valuable information about the geography and indigenous peoples of the region, paving the way for future European exploration and colonization. His journey contributed to the broader narrative of European expansion in the New World.

Giovanni da Verrazzano's exploration of the Atlantic Coast of North America provided early descriptions of landscapes that influenced later colonial literature and poetic depictions of the 'new found land.' Poets like Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson drew inspiration from these explorations, reflecting on the American landscape and identity.