Fun Facts about UMaine
The University at Orono was originally established as the State College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts under the provisions of the Morrill Act, approved by President Lincoln in 1862. The next year the State of Maine accepted the conditions of the Act and in 1865 created a corporation to administer the affairs of the college. The name was changed to the University of Maine in 1897.
The University of Maine is the only Land Grant University in the nation located on an island. Marsh Island is formed by the Penobscot and Stillwater rivers. Because of this, no building on campus is taller than four stories.
Corbett and Dunn halls were built to house Olympic athletes.
The Lyle E. Littlefield Ornamental Gardens contain Maine wildflowers, a goldfish pond, a gazebo, and a variety of specimen trees. UMaine students perform all of the planting and maintenance for these gardens.
The UMaine baseball team went to the college world series five times in the 1980’s. Baseball was also the first organized sport at UMaine, starting in 1877.
Phi Gamma Delta is the oldest fraternity on campus.
The first women’s field hockey team was established in the 1920’s.
The Darling Marine Center, Maine’s marine and offshore research facility, is located in Walpole, Maine.
Somerset Hall is the only residence hall in Old Town, Maine.
The Alfond Sports Arena was selected as the most difficult hockey arena to play in nationally, due to the enthusiasm and support of UMaine fans. The UMaine hockey team was the 1992-93 and 1999 NCAA National Champions.
Three residence halls are reported to be haunted: Balentine, Colvin, and Somerset.
All teacher preparation programs at the University of Maine are accredited by the National Council for Teacher Education.
University of Maine students can complete some of their coursework at other U.S. institutions through National Student Exchange and/or at international institutions through study abroad.
In 1913, University of Maine pioneered the first pulp and paper engineering program in the U.S.
Working at the Grand Canyon, King’s Landing in New Brunswick or a number of other monuments/museums can earn history credits.
The Maine Stein song is the only college song to make the top ten on the music charts. Former UMaine student Rudy Vallee is credited with the worldwide success of our college song.
The first applicants to the University of Maine in 1868 were tested in geography, arithmetic, grammar, and algebra. In addition, they had to provide “satisfactory testimonials of good moral character and industrial habits.” Of 6 applicants, 4 were accepted.
Women were first admitted to UMaine in 1872. Only 59 women attended between 1872 and 1900.
UMaine consists of over 205 buildings on 3300 acres.
Horror writer and UMaine alumnus Stephen King wrote a novel partially set on the campus, Pet Cemetery. The main character is a fictional doctor employed at the Cutler Health Center.
Scenes from the film The Four Seasons as well as scenes from the Creepshow II were also filmed on campus.
Each room in Nutting Hall is built from a different species of Maine timber.
UMaine’s mascot is the fighting black bear, affectionately called Bananas. The University’s original mascot was an elephant-shaped advertising sign from an Old Town haberdashery which the students named Bolivar. Bolivar’s reign ended with the arrival of the bear cub. Bolivar was given a funeral and burial. He is interred today at the center point of the parking lot beside the Field House.
The Maine Masque is the second oldest college theatre performing group in the country. It began in the winter of 1906 and was first known as the Dramatic Club.
University of Maine professors are often sought for quotes in such publications as Time, LA Times, Chicago Tribune, New York Times, Science, Good Housekeeping, and the Wall Street Journal.