Ayuh

Means yes, or at least acknowledgment from a Mainah

Flatlander

Are visitors from away, often Massachusetts (aka: mass-holes)

The Vikings are believed to have discovered Maine 1,000 years ago

Leif Erikson (a Norse explorer known as Leif the Lucky) may have discovered Maine. Visit the Maine State Museum in Augusta to see a halfpenny from the reign of Olaf the Peaceful (1065-1093).

The coin is the same age as an earlier discovery, the Gressli hoard, uncovered in Norway. The real mystery isn’t whether the coin is authentic. Rather, how the coin got to Maine has never been adequately explained.

Maine WAS PART OF MASSACHUSETTS

The state was allowed to separate from Massachusetts as a result of the Missouri Compromise. The purpose of the separation was to keep the numbers equal between slave and non-slave states, with Missouri being admitted to the union on Aug. 10, 1821.

Maine has the highest percentage of residents with French Canadian roots in the United States

French Canadians came to Maine in two waves — the first wave was from Acadia in the 18th century, and the second wave in the 19th century was of economic immigrants who came to work in the many mills that sprang up in Maine after the Civil War. Both have become an integral part of the fabric of Maine.

Maine has 3,478 miles of coastline, 4,600+ offshore islands, and 6,000+ lakes/ponds

That’s the fourth most coastline in the country, including inlets and islands. Alaska has the most coastline of any state at 33,904 miles.

Only about 1,200 Maine coastal islands have an acre or more, and 600 comprise 95% of the island acreage. Of these islands, only 15 have a year-round population. Vinalhaven, the most populous island, has 1,269 residents in the 2020 census. It’s about 12 miles off the coast near Rockland in Penobscot Bay.

The largest Maine lake is Moosehead Lake, which is over 75,000 acres. On the other end of the spectrum, Staples Pond has only 56 acres, making it the smallest.

The Maine state cat is the wild coon cat

The name “wild coon cat” is deceiving. The Maine coon is a domesticated and very cute cat. If you want a large kitty, this is the breed for you. The cats get as big as 18 pounds for males. They’re often referred to as the “dogs of the cat world” since they’re very social and have other dog-like traits.

Maine has 65 lighthouses

Maine is known for its dozens of lighthouses along the rocky shores of the Atlantic Ocean. West Quoddy Head Light is the easternmost point in the U.S. and the first place to see the morning sun rise. It has a beautiful candy cane red and white striped tower. Tours of the tower are offered during the summer. 

The Maine state bird is the chickadee, Not a loon!

The black-capped chickadee is the state bird of Maine and also Massachusetts. It doesn’t migrate, which may be why it was chosen. It’s always in people’s backyards.

Maine USED TO produce 90% of the country’s toothpick supply

Strong Maine was once the Toothpick Capital of the World, producing a staggering 7 billion toothpicks a year. The production closed in 2003 as the popularity of toothpicks declined with the introduction of floss and inexpensive toothpicks from Asia.