[5] The bay lies in the northeast corner of the 18 square miles (47 km2) of Potomac River waters included in the sanctuary.

[5][6] The "Ghost Fleet" of Mallows Bay is a reference to the hundreds of ships whose remains still rest in its relatively shallow waters.

[7] The U.S. Navy did not want the ships, which were stored in the James River – at the cost of $50,000 a month – so they were sold to the Western Marine & Salvage Company.

[7] During World War II, Bethlehem Steel built a salvage basin to recover metal from the abandoned ships.

[7] Access to the ships is through Mallows Bay Park, operated by the county, located at 1440 Wilson Landing Road in Nanjemoy, Maryland.