American chestnuts were known as the 'redwoods of the East.' National Archives and Records Administration, NAID: 7030668

The American chestnut tree was a dominant and iconic species in many Appalachian forests until it was devastated by an introduced fungus from Asia called chestnut blight.

Black-and-white photo of several people looking tiny near huge trunks with branches and leaves out of frame
Healthy American chestnuts were giants in the forest. Forest History Society, Durham, N.C.

Originally published on theconversation.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.

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