Mallows Bay Shipwreck Trail in Nanjemoy, MD

Trail Guide & Points of Interest

Welcome!

Welcome to Terrain 360 virtual tour of Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary!  <ul><li>Click or tap on the screen to navigate along the trail, which is highlighted by the text at the bottom of your screen.</li><li>Click or tap on the orange hotspots to learn more information about the highlighted area.</li><li>Use the mini-map in the upper left hand corner of your screen to navigate or skip ahead.</li><li>Use the “View” button on the top of the screen to pan back to the correct screen orientation and help you find the next hotspot.</li><li>And most importantly, have fun!</li></ul>

Pilings

The pilings in Mallows Bay were originally put in place to stop the Ghost Fleet from floating away. Now they serve as a resting place for many birds. Osprey and cormorants often perch on the pilings to look for fish in the water to eat. You might even see a double-crested cormorant drying its wings in the sun. It's a great place to take pictures!

Accomac

Built as the Virginia Lee in 1928 at Quincy, Massachusetts, the ship participated in World War II. During the war, it provided escort duty in convoys (groups of ships) and carried essential war materials. After the war, and many owners later, it worked as a ferryboat between Boston, Plymouth, and Provincetown. While on the way to Houston, Texas, the ship was damaged in a storm off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. It was repaired and sold again with the ability to carry 70 cars and 1,200 passengers. A fire in 1964 made repair of the ship impossible. Around 1973, it was brought to Mallows Bay. <a href="https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-potomac/shipwrecks/accomac.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Learn more</a> about this vessel or view a 3D model <a href="https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/accomac-b37b10a438ac47b58aad669a54c460c1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">here</a>!

Benzonia

Benzonia, a wooden-hulled ship, was built by the G.M. Standifer Construction Company at one of its two shipyards along the Columbia River in Washington State. Named after a town in Michigan, Benzonia was styled as a Ferris-type cargo steamship. It was built during World War I for the U.S. Shipping Board as part of the large shipbuilding effort to quickly provide cargo ships for the war. It launched on July 13, 1918 to great fanfare. However, the war ended on November 11, 1918, before Benzonia could be fully used for its purpose.  Benzonia was sold in 1922 to Western Marine Salvage and came to Mallows Bay in 1929. Although Benzonia is not known for the work it did accomplish, it is an excellent example of the powerful force of nature. Nature is often unpredictable, and in 2003, Hurricane Isabel lifted the remains of Benzonia on top of the Caribou, another U.S. Shipping Board ship. Since 1929, many of the ships in the sanctuary have shifted from their original positions. Shifting is mostly due to seasonal changes in currents and weather patterns. Today, the Benzonia wreck may be the most impressive in the Ghost Fleet. To learn more about this vessel, <a href="https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-potomac/shipwrecks/benzonia.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">click here</a>.

Caribou

Built for the U.S. Shipping Board, Caribou is a Ferris-type wooden supply ship. It was built by St. Johns River Shipbuilding Company in South Jacksonville, Florida. Between 1917 and 1919, Ferris-type ships, like the Caribou, were built for the U.S. Emergency Fleet for World War I. Their construction at more than 40 shipyards in 17 states was a massive effort. This effort drove the expansion and economic development of communities. It also grew the maritime industry. Although nearly 300 wooden warships were built, the war ended before the ships could be used. Many of these ships were sent to the Potomac River for salvage of their scrap metal, such as engines, steam boilers, and propellers. Known as the Ghost Fleet, these ships were partially taken apart through three separate salvage periods from the 1920s through the 1940s. Today, they offer habitat to a variety of plants and animals.

Aowa

The Aowa is perhaps one of the best-preserved wooden steamship wrecks in the sanctuary. Its propeller shaft tunnel, with five shaft casing mounts still in place, is one of the most remarkably preserved features at the site. However, because it lies outside the other shipwrecks, Aowa is often in the path of rough water. During high tide, the wreck is also covered by water, making it one of the most difficult to get to. Since 1929, the ship has remained in the same location. To learn more about this vessel, <a href="https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-potomac/shipwrecks/aowa.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">click here</a>.

Namecki

Namecki is a Ferris-type wooden ship. It is one of many that make up the Ghost Fleet in Mallows Bay. Ferris-type ships get their names from Theodore E. Ferris, a senior architect for the United States Shipping Board (USSB). Each Ferris-type ship measured about the same, 282 feet long and weighing 3,500 tons. Namecki was the first of four of these vessel types built at the Tampa Dock Company. This vessel has been in its present location since 1929. Today, the vessel is fully submerged. To learn more about this vessel, <a href="https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-potomac/shipwrecks/namecki.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">click here</a>.

Mono

Built during World War I, Mono, a Hough-type vessel, differs from the majority of Ferris-type vessels built for the war effort. Edward S. Hough, a San Francisco naval architect designed a ship that was intended to carry maximum cargo, but of the simplest construction. This ship type was far more adaptable to the use of young, yellow pine lumber than was the Ferris-type ship. With limited resources during the war, ship designs were also limited. There were no fewer than eight basic wooden vessel types and one composite vessel type used to produce the wooden emergency fleet vessels. Hough-type ships were one of the eight basic designs. This vessel is now fully submerged. To learn more about this vessel, <a href="https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-potomac/shipwrecks/mono.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">click here</a>.

Alanthus

Built in 1918 in Newark, New Jersey, for the U.S. Shipping Board, Alanthus was one of about 300 ships built during World War I as part of the shipbuilding effort. However, the war ended before the ship could be used. In 1922, Alanthus was one of the first ships purchased for scrapping. It was moved to Alexandria, Virginia, where it caught fire. The hull of the ship was saved and towed to the Widewater anchorage area near Washington DC. It was then moved to Mallows Bay, where it has been since 1929. In 2022, in a partnership with the U.S. Postal Service, this wreck site was selected to represent Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

Yawah

The story of Yawah may not be long, but it helps tell the story of the industrial boom that happened during World War I. There was a shortage of cargo ships, but with the use of the U.S. Emergency Fleet Corporation, contract orders were sent out all across the country to build cargo ships. Almost overnight, small towns with waterfront access were turned into large shipyards. At the Shattuck Shipyard near Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Yawah was built. Close to 8,000 workers came together, by rail from towns all over, to work on these ships. Working day and night, a sense of community and pride was felt by the workers. To learn more about this vessel, <a href="https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-potomac/shipwrecks/yawah.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">click here</a>.

Casmalia

The short work lives of ships like Casmalia show that sometimes the needs during wartime do not always fit in times of peace. The call for a large number of supply ships to move war materials to Europe never came about, as the war ended before they could be fully used. Also, it was not the goal to use these wooden supply ships for long careers in commercial business after the war. Rather, they were designed and built to meet an immediate military need.  However, because they were built using resources (wood) that did not affect other war efforts, their use could be seen as a success. Today, this vessel is fully submerged providing habitat for aquatic animals and plants.

Buckhorn

Buckhorn is a Ferris-type wooden cargo vessel built by R.J. Chandler, Washington, California. It was built for the United States Shipping Board as part of the massive World War I shipbuilding effort. Like many of the shipwrecks within Mallows Bay, Buckhorn was brought to its current location in the 1920s for salvage. The vessel is now resting on its keel (bottom) and the hull (frame) is well preserved. There is light plant growth in the bow (front) and stern (back) and a colony of freshwater clams is located within the aft peak bulkhead (an upright wall at the back of the ship).

Alpaco

Alpaco is a Ferris-type wooden cargo vessel built by the Hodge Ship Company, Moss Point, Mississippi. It was one of nearly 300 ships built during World War I between 1917 and 1919 for the U.S. Shipping Board as part of the U.S. Emergency Fleet. The war ended before the ships could be used. Many of the ships were taken to Mallows Bay in the Potomac River to be salvaged for scrap metal, such as engines, steam boilers, and propellers. Today, Alpaco rests on its keel (bottom) and is in an excellent state of preservation. The hull (frame) is overgrown with vegetation and is partially underwater.

Grady's Spit

At the northernmost edge of Mallows Bay, the remains of what appear to be a Ferris vessel have created a landmass known as Grady’s Spit. This spit creates a welcome landing spot for the tired paddler to get out and stretch their legs on a small beach. Be careful, as the beach is usually covered at high tide with driftwood, as well as iron and wood pieces from the wreck under it. Swimming from the spit is not recommended because of the submerged debris in and around the beach areas.

Bayou Teche

Bayou Teche was built in 1918, by the Jahncke Shipbuilding Corporation at the Jahncke Shipyard along the Tchefuncte River in Madisonville, Louisiana. It was a Ferris-type wooden hulled cargo steamship built for the U.S. Shipping Board as part of the large World War I war effort. The shipyard employed close to 2,200 workers and went on to build six wooden cargo ships like Bayou Teche.  The city of Madisonville stayed a center for shipbuilding after World War I and into the post-World War II era. However, the high demand created by the U.S. Shipping Board contracts was never seen again. To learn more about this vessel, <a href="https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-potomac/shipwrecks/bayou-teche.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">click here</a>.

Moosabee

Moosabee is part of a group of three shipwrecks within Mallows Bay called “The Three Sisters.” “The Three Sisters” include the sites of Moosabee, Dertona, and an unidentified wreck. The Moosabee came to Mallows in 1929, and it has moved several times from its original location between 1952 and 1986. Today, the bow of Moosabee is in an excellent state of preservation and lies only 3 feet from the bluff shoreline. Moosabee is a Ferris-type wooden cargo ship built for the U.S. Emergency Fleet in a large shipbuilding effort between 1917 to 1919 as part of the United States’ engagement in World War I. The vessel type was named after the designer, Theodore E. Ferris, a senior architect for the U.S. Shipping Board.  To learn more about this vessel, <a href="https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-potomac/shipwrecks/moosabee.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">click here</a>. <div></div>

Dertona

Dertona is a Supple and Ballin-type wooden cargo ship built during World War I between 1917 to 1919 for the U.S. Shipping Board as part of the U.S. Emergency Fleet.  Like many of the shipwrecks within Mallows Bay, Dertona was brought to its current location in the 1920’s for salvage. Dertona is now part of a group of three shipwrecks within Mallows Bay called “The Three Sisters.” “The Three Sisters” include the sites of Dertona, Moosabee, and an unidentified wreck. Dertona lies roughly parallel to the shore and the stern (back) of the vessel is aground on the beach. Today, Dertona is overgrown with plants, but the hull (body) of Dertona is in a good state of preservation. To learn more about this vessel, <a href="https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-potomac/shipwrecks/dertona.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">click here</a>.

North Bend

Established during World War I by the U.S. Shipping Board, the Emergency Fleet Corporation contracted with shipyards located on the East Coast, West Coast, and the Great Lakes to build ships. This effort was to quickly build a massive cargo fleet to help the war effort. North Bend is significant as it was the first steamship completed, and it was built in just 120 days. News of its completion made its way to the East Coast, and soon thereafter, coastal communities were fiercely competing to build more ships, faster. Efforts to build ships faster and in record times helped to build pride in the mission.

Flower Pot Wrecks

These two unidentified ships are called flower pots wrecks because of the thick flowering plants and shrubs that cover them. When the ships were placed in Mallows Bay, rocks were put in their hulls to keep them from moving. Over time, the rocks collected sediment and soon seeds began turning them into artificial islands. On one of the ships, a cable is trapped in an overgrown donkey engine from a long-gone marine railway.

Afrania

<div>Afrania was a cargo ship built for the U.S. Shipping Board during World War I. It made one known trans-Atlantic trip to Rouen, France, and returned in 1919 to Norfolk, Virginia. The ship burned in 1926 and was brought to Mallows Bay. Aerial photographs from 1952 show that the ship likely drifted from its original location. Later, it was moved closer to shore and anchored to stop any future movement, so as to not interfere with other ships sailing in the bay. Today, Afrania rests on its keel, partially submerged with its bow (front) facing north. The remains of the hull are wood, and the ship had a screw propulsion system. Small mounds of bricks have been seen in the middle of the ship. Over time, the ship’s hull filled with sediment and now supports the thick growth of plants that offer habitat to a variety of animals. To learn more about this vessel, <a href="https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-potomac/shipwrecks/afrania.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">click here</a>.</div>

Boone

Built in 1918, Boone was among 95 U.S. Shipping Board steamships launched in the celebrated “Tidal Wave” of national ships moving out on July 4, 1918. The ships were sent out from shipyards all across the United States, making this the greatest ship-launching day in history. Of those ships, 53 were like Boone and part of the wooden cargo fleet. Bayou Teche, Mono, and Cumberland, all found in Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary, also took part in this ceremonial event. To learn more about this vessel, <a href="https://mallowsbay.marinesanctuary.org/shipwrecks/boone/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">click here</a>.

Mallows Bay Shipwreck Trail

iNaturalist Observations