Moose Island, Maine facts for kids

Moose Island is a cool island in Eastport, Maine. It's located right at the entrance of Cobscook Bay, which leads into Passamaquoddy Bay and then the big Bay of Fundy. You can even find Shackford Head State Park here!

Moose Island is connected to the mainland part of Washington County by a special road called a causeway. This causeway links it to the Passamaquoddy Pleasant Point Reservation.

The city of Eastport is actually made up of several islands, and Moose Island is the biggest one. Other islands that are part of Eastport include Carlow Island, Spectacle Island, Goose Island, and Treat Island. You'll find Quoddy Village at one end of Moose Island and downtown Eastport at the other. The Eastport Municipal Airport is located between these two areas.

Moose Island's History

The War of 1812 and Beyond

During the War of 1812, British soldiers led by Captain Sir Thomas Hardy and Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Pilkington took control of Moose Island. They also took over much of the Maine coast, from Penobscot Bay all the way to the St. Croix River.

After the war ended, in 1817, the United States gave up its claim to some larger islands in the Bay of Fundy that Britain also wanted. These islands included Campobello Island, Deer Island, and Grand Manan Island. In return, Britain gave up its claim to islands located in Cobscook Bay.

The Quoddy Project

In the 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt had a big idea called the Quoddy Project. This project aimed to use the ocean's tides to create electricity in the Cobscook Bay area. It was part of his plan to help the country, known as the New Deal.

A key part of this project was building a special wall, called a tidal barrage, between Moose Island and Pleasant Point. This wall was meant to hold back the waters of Cobscook Bay. Today, this wall is the causeway that carries Maine State Route 190. It also used to carry the tracks of the old Maine Central Railroad. Interestingly, the railroad was built much earlier, around 1897-1898, using wooden bridges (trestles) to reach Moose Island. The causeway later filled in the areas where these trestles once stood.

Famous People from Moose Island

Moose Island is the birthplace of Brigadier General James Henry Carleton. He was born in 1814. General Carleton became a commander in New Mexico and was known for his role in a difficult journey for the Navajo people.

Some historians believe that Carleton's childhood experiences on Moose Island might have influenced him later in life. During the War of 1812, British forces had taken over much of eastern Maine. Carleton's family had to deal with this tough situation on what was then a wild frontier. This experience might have made him want to find quick and final solutions to problems later on.

Moose Island in Pop Culture

"Moose Island, Maine" was also a fictional place mentioned in the old TV show "Adventures of Superman." In the second episode of the first season, which first aired on September 26, 1952, Jimmy Olsen's Aunt Louisa was said to live there.