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All the United States Maryland Nanjemoy The Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay

The Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay

The remnants of a wooden-hulled fleet built and abandoned in WWI, now home to a thriving ecosystem.

Nanjemoy, Maryland

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itsthedax
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  bcgobraves / Atlas Obscura User
Some of the wrecks support substantial vegetation.   bcgobraves / Atlas Obscura User
The wrecks are home to many birds, such as this osprey in its nest.   bcgobraves / Atlas Obscura User
A rotting hull floats on the Potomac.   Flickr User: Joel Kinison
Shipwreck at Mallows Bay, Maryland   Wiki User: Amazur
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If there were ever a place that could be described as a ship graveyard, it is the murky waters of Mallows Bay.

The remains of the fallen ships create a virtual reef of their own on the shores of this small bay on the Potomac River. Once mighty steamships, many built for war, these vessels now serve as a decaying refuge for woodland creatures.

Close to 230 shipwrecks litter the bay in what is believed to be the largest shipwreck fleet in the Western Hemisphere. (Chuuk Lagoon being the largest in the world.). Dozens can still be seen in the shallow waters, remnants of the latest (and priciest) shipbuilding project in history.

When the U.S. entered WWI, the military was coming up a little short on transport vessels, so 1,000 wooden steamships were approved for construction under the tight deadline of just 18 months. With a rapidly approaching due date and a supply of steel  that was reserved for ships that would see battle, the rush job was just that. It resulted in poorly constructed wooden ships that, despite the time saving methods used, didn't come anywhere close to being ready in time. By the time the Germans had surrendered, not a single ship from the lofty order had crossed the ocean.

With the war over and steel once again in abundance, the ships, mostly unused, became obsolete and were discarded, left to rot in the Potomac. Two salvages were attempted but were, for the most part, unsuccessful due to cost and sheer magnitude.

In the 1960s, an effort to clean up the bay was begun in earnest, and research was conducted to inventory, judge cost, and measure the environmental effects of the ships. During that research, it was discovered that the shipwrecks had, in their non-toxic wooden state, become the foundation of an active and thriving ecosystem. Acting as vessels for new life, the ghost ships will remain in the bay until they crumble away to nothing in the waters where they rest.

Related Tags

Shipwrecks Ghost Ships Wwi Ships Fauna Abandoned Object Cemeteries Ship Graveyards Animals

Know Before You Go

While a few of the ships are visible from shore, the ghost fleet is best viewed from a human-powered craft such as a kayak or canoe. Use caution when paddling among the wrecks, as sharp pieces of metal and wood can poke through the waves. Mallows Bay Park, part of the Charles County, MD park system, features a free boat launch, a hiking trail, and portable restrooms.

Community Contributors

Added By

itsthedax

Edited By

Rachel, brf2001, bcgobraves

  • Rachel
  • brf2001
  • bcgobraves

Published

November 11, 2013

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  • http://sometimes-interesting.com/2013/04/18/the-ghost-fleet-of-mallows-bay/
  • http://www.fossilguy.com/sites/potomac/mallow.htm
The Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay
Wilson Landing Road
Nanjemoy, Maryland, 20662
United States
38.472611, -77.268583
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Nearby Places

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Maryland

Maryland

United States

Places 239
Stories 15

Nearby Places

Staff Sgt. Reckless Monument

Triangle, Virginia

miles away

Hogan's Alley

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miles away

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miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Maryland

Maryland

United States

Places 239
Stories 15

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The Short Life and Strange Death of Maryland's Ghost Fleet

shipwrecks

By Jessica Leigh Hester

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