About Outer Island

History Outer Island, the outermost of the Thimble Islands located off the coast of Stony Creek, Connecticut, is part of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge.The island was privately owned until 1995 when Elizabeth Hird donated the island to the Service to protect the island's natural resources and provide access for education and research. It is home to many species of flora and fauna and is the site for a wide range of environmental, educational and research opportunities. Outer Island is approximately five acres in size and includes granite outcroppings, boulder and cobble beaches in the intertidal zone, as well as two small salt marshes. Outer Island was formed tens of thousands of years ago by glacial deposits of pink granite. As the glacier moved, it picked up loose soil and stone and pried loose blocks of bedrock which were deposited after the glacier completely melted. These rocks are still easy to identify on the island. The Mattabesic Native Americans lived in Stony Creek and occupied the islands during the summer months when fishing was easy. They called the island Two Tree Island after two gigantic pine trees that towered above everything else on land.