Lobster Buoys
On the ferry ride over, you'll likely see small buoys floating in the harbor. These are lobster buoys, and they're how lobstermen mark where they've set their underwater lobster traps (the traps are cages that lie on the sea floor with trap doors, known as "lobster pots").
Each buoy is marked with a fishing license number, and the many colors help lobstermen determine which traps are their own.
Recently, one of the buoys in Boothbay Harbor broke free, and floated all the way to Scotland, where it was discovered on a beach and returned to Maine by a good samaritan.
Fairy Castles
A "fairy castle" (or "fairy house") is a miniature shelter built in the wilderness with natural materials, such as leaves, moss, twigs, bark, shells, and feathers.
It's sort of like a sand castle, but more permanent, and built in a place in the woods for someone else to randomly discover.
There are many fairy castles located on Squirrel Island. It's very common to stumble across them when hiking on the trails located off of the main boardwalks.
People have traditionally created these whimsical tiny dwellings to celebrate the legend of fairies in different parts of Europe and in the United States, including in Maine.
Why Is It Called Squirrel Island?
Squirrel Island never actually had a large population of squirrels. In fact, to this day, you'd be hard pressed to find a single squirrel living there.
Squirrel Island is named for its unique shape -- when viewed from overhead, it looks almost exactly like a squirrel seated on its hind legs.
Some Island History
Though farmers and sheep herders have resided on Squirrel Island since the American Revolutionary War, the "summer colony" at Squirrel Island was officially created with the formation of the Squirrel Island Association in 1871. Most cottages were first built between the 1870s and 1920s; however, most have been remodeled and enlarged over the years.
A single hotel and casino were present on the Island for many years, starting in the late 1800s. After a fire in 1962 destroyed the property, it was never rebuilt. Today, the sandy beach area where the hotel once stood is known as "Hotel Beach".
Squirrel Island has no industry, and residents must vacate for the winter due to the above-ground plumbing which is drained to prevent freezing. The island receives telephone, internet, electric and water utilities via undersea cables and pipes from the mainland.
Residents and tourists enjoy the island's beaches, its scenic rocky coast, hiking, tennis, boating, library, ice cream shop, and chapel.
Squirrel Island "Fault Line"
Some say that this large natural fissure in the island's rock was caused by an earthquake long ago.
It's clearly visible from the island boardwalk, where a bridge was constructed over the gap for island pedestrians to be able to more easily navigate over it.