The American Chestnut tree used to dominate the forests of the Eastern United States, but an invasive disease brought it to the brink of extinction. Not only was the American Chestnut gone forever, but it changed the way Appalachians lived.

Sign up for our newsletter: https://smokymountainsource.com/

Check out official Smoky Mountain Source merch in our shop: https://smokymountainsource.com/shop/

For blogs about Appalachia, visit smokymountainsource.com