Mallows Bay-Potomac River
National Marine Sanctuary

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Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary protects and interprets the remnants of more than 100 World War I-era wooden steamships - known as the "Ghost Fleet." The best way to see this national treasure is by kayak but check out today's new Sanctuaries 360 video and explore the Ghost Fleet without ever getting your feet wet!

Visit

illustration of an osprey on a shipwreck

The Mallows Bay Virtual Trail takes you on a tour of the remarkable aspects of the sanctuary waters and adjacent Mallows Bay Park. Choose from multiple hiking and water trails, or explore different themes, such as shipwrecks or ecology. The virtual trail is an interactive, web-based experience that allows users to paddle among the historic World War I-era shipwrecks and inseparable wildlife or walk the trails from the comfort of your own home. Dive into the trail and immerse yourself in the sanctuary's historical and natural wonders!

Get Involved: A Partnership with Community

A group of people pose for a photo holding commemorative paddles
Photo: Kate Thompson /NOAA

Community partnership is a hallmark of every national marine sanctuary. Communities actively participate to inform and evolve sanctuary management objectives and to enable partnerships that benefit sanctuary resources and the community itself. Volunteer networks, citizen science, and advisory councils are among the opportunities available to learn and share information about the sanctuary and promote stewardship of its resources.

Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary Poster

Illustrated poster of Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary. In the center, a large osprey with a fish in its talons flies over the water. In the background, an eagle soars over a sunset. The water is littered with sunken ship remnants and logs. A person in a kayak paddles through the debris. The text 'Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary' is at the top.

Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary is proud to share its commemorative poster as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the National Marine Sanctuary System. Learn more about the inspiration behind the Mallows Bay-Potomac River poster and explore the other sanctuary posters in the series.

Heritage

A native american in a traditional headdress
Please contact the Piscataway Tribal Council to request authorization prior to using or reproducing this image. Photo: Matt McIntosh/NOAA

The sanctuary celebrates the heritage of Southern Maryland. It's a living landscape where stories and places of the past are preserved and traditions thrive. The area includes indigenous heritage stretching back over 12,000 years to the modern era with maritime heritage encompassing three hundred years of colonial and U.S. history. In addition, it has a rich heritage of commercial fishing, African-American history, and the military.

Volunteers Make a Difference

All national marine sanctuaries rely on the energy and passion of volunteers. Force Blue is a volunteer organization that unites two worlds by helping veterans and helping the environment. A team from Force Blue volunteered to conduct an initial survey of the subaquatic vegetation in Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary. The data that they collected provides much needed information on the various species and the health of the sanctuary.