National Earmuff Day – March 13, 2025

History of National Earmuff Day

The creation of earmuffs is all thanks to a 15-year-old boy named Chester Greenwood. Faced with the problem of keeping his large ears warm during the winter season, he sought the help of his grandmother. After a day of ice-skating, he designed two ear-shaped loops of wire and enlisted his grandmother in sewing tufts of wool over the loops. They created a working model. This is how the first ever earmuff was made!

The earmuff became more than just an accessory to block out the cold and evolved into ear protectors, mostly used by construction workers who had to work in extremely noisy environments. On March 13, 1877, he was awarded a patent for these ear protectors, writing his name in the history books. For almost 60 years, Greenwood continued manufacturing ear protectors, providing more jobs to the community of Farmington, Maine, which is now the ‘Earmuff Capital of the World.’

Earmuffs have now become an essential accessory for those living in cold regions. Ear protectors, also known as acoustic earmuffs, are a lifesaver or perhaps an ‘ear-saver’ for construction workers. Some earmuffs have a ‘noise reduction rating’ of 33 decibels, able to almost completely block out any sounds.

Greenwood also has other inventions credited to his name, including an advertising matchbox, a variation of a steel-toothed rake, and a machine for producing wooden spools. The state of Maine honored Greenwood by declaring December 21 to be Chester Greenwood Day. Located in Farmington, the Chester Greenwood House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.