Posted in Maine January 20, 2018 by

Here Are 10 Things They Don’t Teach You About Maine In School

Growing up means sitting through some school classes that range in excitement from the utterly boring to the moderately boring. While these subjects have surely come in handy later in life (algebra can actually help with house renovations!) it’s easy to tune out. But, what if there’d been a class focused only on the cool facts that we’ll pull out at parties and get-togethers? The facts that we use to impress our non-Maine friends are sometimes of most interest. If you missed that class, here’s as short list of facts not taught in Maine schools to start you off!

1. In Maine, lobster isn't just a quirky mascot, it's actually a real part of our economy - 90% of the nation's lobster originates in Maine!
Jennifer C. / Flickr
But, you may have already known that...
2. ...But did you know that University of Maine is home to a Lobster Institute, focused on learning more about them?
University of Maine / Facebook
3. While most people suspect that Maine got its name from the Maine province in France, OTHERS believe it was shorthand for "mainland" used by sailors.
pedrosz / Flickr
While we suspect the France thing to be true, we like the sailor one more. It feels so much "Maine," right?
4. Vacationland isn't the Maine state nickname.
image-catalog/ / Flickr
It's actually the Pine Tree State. 83 percent of the state was covered in forest in 2012, which is second only to New Hampshire.
5. The mountain and the car share the name "Cadillac" for the same exact reason.
pavdw / Flickr
They're both named after the explorer, Antoine Laumet de la Mothe, sieur de Cadillac.
6. Maine was the first state to outlaw booze.
allenscoffeebrandy.com
The state was the first to ban the sale and manufacture of alcohol during prohibition in 1851. Prohibition was eventually repealed, causing lovers of Allen's Coffee Brandy to rejoice. Or, they would have if it had been around back then.
7. Portland, Oregon might get more attention, but MAINE is home to the ORIGINAL Portland.
design-dog / Flickr
Portland, Oregon was named by two folks from New England. Upon a coin toss earning the right to name the Oregon city, one of them chose Portland to honor his home.
8. It might feel like black flies are the official insect of Maine, but they're not!
paulrollings / Flickr
It's the honeybee!
9. The cold brings out the best in Mainers, including Chester Greenwood who invented the earmuffs in the 1870s.
smcgee / Flickr
The next time we have a cold snap, don those earmuffs and remain proud to be a Mainer!
10. And, probably the least beloved fact in all of Maine...we were once a part of Massachusetts.
stemonx / Flickr
Maine was a province of Massachusetts and after working for independence, we finally got it in the form of official statehood in 1820.

Also not taught in Maine school while growing up? How to deal with ghosts in college! Check out these 7 hauntings that make Orono the spookiest town in Maine.