Horse Island (Connecticut) facts for kids
Horse Island is a special island in Connecticut. It is the largest of the Thimble Islands, a group of small islands near Stony Creek. This island is owned by Yale University. It serves as a living laboratory for studying nature and the environment.
Contents
Horse Island: A Special Place for Nature
What is Horse Island?
Horse Island is about 17 acres (69,000 square meters) in size. It is managed by Yale's Peabody Museum of Natural History. The island was given to Yale University in 1971. It helps with research done at the Yale Coastal Field Station in nearby Guilford. This field station has its own dock and boats.
A Home for Learning and Nature
There is a large house on Horse Island. It is kept in good condition. This house can be used by researchers or students who stay overnight. The island is like a natural classroom. People use it for both research and teaching. Many different kinds of migrating birds visit the island. Yale researchers actively study these birds.
The New Research Center
In 2020, Yale built a new center on the island. This center is for teaching and coastal research. It was built using a "regenerative approach." This means they tried to make the building very eco-friendly. They wanted to reduce its carbon footprint. They also limited the use of harmful materials during construction. The center works "off-grid," meaning it makes its own power. It has a small kitchen, a special toilet, and two bunk beds. The classroom inside is large, with projection screens and barn-style doors.
How Did Horse Island Get Its Name?
No one is completely sure how Horse Island got its name. Some people think that horses might have ended up on the island. This could have happened from a wrecked ship. However, there is no proof of this story. Others believe the island's shape looks like a horseshoe. This might be why it was named Horse Island.
For many years, a man named Clark owned the island. He worked for Standard Oil. People often called it "Clark's Island." In 1946, James and Esther Rettger bought the island. They decided to use its original name, "Horse Island," which they found on old maps.
