The American Chestnut tree was found from southern Maine throughout the northern states to the foothills of the southern Appalachian Mountains, and west as far as southern Michigan through Indiana to northern Mississippi before the chestnut blight wiped it out. It is commonly called the American Chestnut and sometimes Sweet Chestnut because of the nut. This scene shows a Chestnut tree in New England as it might have looked in its vigorous growing stage.

The Chestnut tree reproduces from sprouts as well as from seeds. When cut or killed by fire or blight, Chestnut trees will sprout vigorously from the stump which results in groups of two or more sprouts which live for a year or more before they in turn are struck down by the blight disease. Under ideal conditions, the Chestnut tree attained heights of 100-ft. with trunks 5- to 6-ft. in diameter. Trees 60- to 80-ft. high were not uncommon.