When people think of Maine, the obvious comes to mind. From lobster to L.L. Bean, some things are easily associated with our state. But, what many people don’t realize is that they have Maine to thank for so much more. Ears getting cold this winter? Grab your earmuffs, which you have as a result of the ingenuity of a Mainer. Maine inventions have contributed to our world and for that we are thankful.

1. The first transatlantic television signal.
NASA / Wikimedia Commons
Telstar was launched by NASA on July 10, 1962, from Cape Canaveral, Fla., and was the first privately sponsored space-faring mission. Two days later, it relayed the world's first transatlantic television signal, from Andover Earth Station, Maine, to the Pleumeur-Bodou Telecom Center, Brittany, France.
2. The zig-zag stitch.
mkoske / Flickr
Born in Portland, Helen Augusta Blanchard patented several inventions relating to sewing machines in 1873 and 1875, including the method allowing for the zig-zag stitch. She also filed patents for the invention of the pencil sharpener and hat sewing machine. While most of her inventing happened outside of Maine, she did return to the state later in life.
3. Blueberries.
Mr.TinDC / Flickr
You probably knew that Maine produces blueberries, but did you know more than 95% of the USA's supply comes from Maine?
4. The snowmobile (sort of).
Heather Sunderland / Flickr
While over-snow travel was something that many people tried to perfect, one of the first versions was created by OC Johnson, who came out of Waterville. A few years after his creation, someone else actually gave it the "snowmobile" name. Maine's history with the machine goes further with Polaris using many areas in the hilly areas in Northern Maine as testing grounds. So, we can proudly say that many of the advancements in snow travel happened as a result of Maine!
5. Poetry, or more specifically, Longfellow.
Julia Margaret Cameron/ Wikipedia
Poet and educator, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, was born in Portland where his home can still be toured today. He's famous for works such as Paul Revere's Ride, The Song of Hiawatha, and Evangeline. If you've been to Cape Elizabeth, you know that he used to make the long walk from Portland to the Head Light for some quiet time.

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6. Toothpicks.
Chris / Flickr
Until 2003, Maine was responsible for 90% of USA toothpicks. They're now primarily made overseas and masterpieces like this are just a little less local.
7. The original patent for the sealed dive-suit.
Popular Science Monthly Volume 82 / Wikimedia Commons
In 1834, Maine inventor Leonard Norcross patented what is widely accepted as the first practical, sealed dive suit. The suit had weighted feet and a hard, water-tight helmet. Exhaust air was pushed out the top of the helmet, which allowed divers a full range of motion underwater for the first time.
8. Sustainable mussels.
Bangs Island Mussels / Facebook
Okay, so Maine may not have invented the mussel, but did you know that an Outside Magazine writer recently named Bangs Island Mussels as their pick for the most sustainable way to enjoy fish?
9. The maxim gun.
Jonathan Cardy / Wikimedia Commons
The world's first portable, fully automatic macine gun was invented by Sir Hiram Stevens in 1884. Though the actual patent happened in England, Stevens was a Maine native who lived in the state until his 40s. He also held patents on devices such as the mousetrap, hair-curling irons, and steam pumps.
10. Earmuffs.
alex / Flickr
In the 1870s, Chester Greenwood's grandmother helped him attach a beaver pelt to a wire frame. And now, we have earmuffs. Farmington was once the earmuff capital of the world!

There you have it, hopefully, after reading some of these Maine inventions you have a new perspective on our state’s ingenuity and knowledgeable past. We self-sufficient Mainers know how to get stuff done, am I right? Did we leave anything off the list? Let us know in the comments!

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