Block Island Glass Float Project

Inspired by Japanese glass fishing floats.

The Block Island Glass Float Project is a beloved public art and tourism initiative launched in 2011 by artist Eben Horton with the goal of bringing both visitors and locals closer to the natural beauty of Block Island, Rhode Island.

Inspired by Japanese glass fishing floats once used by fishermen and sometimes found washed ashore, Horton envisioned a modern reinterpretation in the form of hand-blown glass orbs that would be hidden around the island for people to discover and keep.

Block Island is a small, scenic island located about 13 miles south of the Rhode Island mainland and roughly 14 miles east of Montauk Point, New York, in the Atlantic Ocean. Part of Washington County, Rhode Island, the island covers just under 10 square miles and is renowned for its dramatic bluffs,

sandy beaches, and preserved natural spaces, with over 40% of the land protected by conservation efforts. Originally inhabited by the Niantic people1 and later the Manisseans2, Block Island was first charted by Dutch explorer Adriaen Block3 in 1614, from whom it gets its name.

English settlers from the Massachusetts Bay Colony began colonizing it in the 1660s. Today, the island is accessible by ferry from several locations, including Point Judith, Newport, and New London, or by high-speed ferry from Montauk and even New York City during peak season; air travel is also available from Westerly, Rhode Island.

Block Island is a popular summer destination known for its quaint town of New Shoreham, Victorian architecture, and attractions like Mohegan Bluffs and the Southeast Lighthouse. Initially, only 150 glass floats were hidden, each one uniquely crafted and numbered, quickly capturing public imagination and growing into an annual tradition that has become one of the island’s most anticipated events.

Each float is individually hand-blown by Horton and his team at The Glass Station Studio4 in Wakefield, Rhode Island. The orbs are generally about the size of a grapefruit, crafted in transparent glass with a swirling design that echoes ocean currents. Most are clear, but a limited number each year feature colors or special markings, such as the artist’s signature, date, or theme.

The craftsmanship ensures that no two floats are exactly alike, adding to their collectibility and charm. Importantly, each one is engraved with the year and the phrase “Not for sale,” to emphasize their role as freely given treasures rather than commercial items.

The hiding process is done in secret by a small group of volunteers known as “float fairies,” who begin placing the orbs in early summer and continue throughout the season, usually through September.

Hiding spots are limited to publicly accessible land such as nature trails, beaches, parks, and the island’s famous stone walls—never on private property or in dangerous locations. The floats are placed in visible but discreet places, meant to be found by observant and respectful seekers who are encouraged to explore the island’s scenic trails and hidden corners.

The number of floats hidden annually has increased over time, with recent years seeing approximately 550 to 600 orbs released during the season, though the exact count can vary slightly. Participants are asked to follow some basic rules: each person may only keep one float per year to ensure fairness and spread the joy.

If a second orb is found, it should be left for another seeker. Those who find one are encouraged to register their float on the project’s official website, providing its unique number and where it was discovered. This allows the project to track float discoveries and helps build a sense of community among participants. Occasionally, Horton creates special themed floats or commemorative editions to mark milestones or support local charities, further enriching the project’s appeal.

The Block Island Glass Float Project has grown beyond an art installation into a cultural tradition, with many families returning each year to search together. It draws attention to the island’s conservation efforts, supports the local economy through eco-tourism, and fosters an appreciation for nature and public art.

Over time, the floats have become symbols of wonder, connection, and the unexpected magic of discovery, echoing the joy of a modern-day treasure hunt on one of New England’s most picturesque islands.

Footnotes
  1. The Niantic people were an Algonquian-speaking Native American tribe who lived primarily along the southern coast of present-day Rhode Island and eastern Connecticut, including Block Island, before and during early European colonization. The tribe was divided into Eastern and Western Niantic groups: the Eastern Niantics lived closer to Narragansett Bay and often allied with the neighboring Narragansett tribe, while the Western Niantics lived near the Connecticut River and were closely aligned with the Pequot. Semi-nomadic, the Niantic practiced fishing, shellfishing, hunting, and small-scale agriculture, and they established seasonal villages along the coast. European contact brought disease and displacement, and by the 17th century, colonial expansion, conflict (such as the Pequot War and King Philip’s War), and forced assimilation drastically reduced their population and autonomy. Survivors of the Niantic were eventually absorbed into other tribes, including the Narragansett and Mohegan, though descendants still acknowledge their Niantic ancestry today. ↩︎
  2. The Manisseans were the Indigenous people who inhabited Block Island (which they called “Manisses,” meaning “Island of the Little God”) before European colonization, and they are considered a subgroup of the larger Niantic tribe, sharing similar Algonquian language and cultural traits. Living on the island for generations, the Manisseans sustained themselves through fishing, shellfishing, hunting, and farming, making use of the island’s rich marine and terrestrial resources. They maintained trade and cultural connections with mainland tribes such as the Narragansett and Pequot. Their population was estimated at around 1,000 at the time of first European contact. The arrival of English colonists in the 17th century, particularly after the massacre of the local population by Massachusetts Bay forces in 1637 as retaliation during the Pequot War, led to the near-total displacement of the Manisseans. Survivors were likely absorbed into mainland tribes or enslaved, with their distinct identity gradually erased, though their legacy remains in the island’s original name and archaeological sites. ↩︎
  3. Adriaen Block was a Dutch explorer and fur trader born around 1567 in the Netherlands, best known for his early 17th-century voyages along the northeastern coast of North America that helped lay the groundwork for Dutch colonization in the region. In 1611 and 1614, he commanded expeditions for the Dutch East India Company, navigating the Hudson River and Long Island Sound. After his ship Tiger burned near present-day Manhattan in 1613, he and his crew built a new vessel, the Onrust (“Restless”), which became the first European-built ship in the Americas. Aboard the Onrust, Block explored the coasts of what are now Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Long Island, and he was the first known European to chart Block Island, which was later named in his honor. His detailed 1614 map of the region helped establish the boundaries of New Netherland, the short-lived Dutch colony in North America. Block retired from exploration in the mid-1610s and died in Amsterdam around 1627. ↩︎
  4. The Glass Station Studio and Gallery, located in Wakefield, Rhode Island, was founded in 2000 by master glassblower Eben Horton, who transformed a former 1920s gas station into a working glassblowing studio and art gallery. In 2011, glass artist Jennifer Nauck joined the studio, and the couple later relocated in 2018 to a larger space in a renovated auto showroom that accommodates both a public hot shop and gallery. The studio showcases work by over 40 regional and national glass artists, offering a range of handcrafted items including lighting, drinkware, vases, and sculptural pieces. The Glass Station also serves as the creative base for the Block Island Glass Float Project, where Horton and Nauck design and blow hundreds of unique glass orbs that are hidden on Block Island each summer. With a commitment to craftsmanship and community engagement, the studio has become a vibrant hub for both fine art and public art experiences in southern Rhode Island. ↩︎
Further Reading
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Author: Doyle

I was born in Atlanta, moved to Alpharetta at 4, lived there for 53 years and moved to Decatur in 2016. I've worked at such places as Richway, North Fulton Medical Center, Management Science America (Computer Tech/Project Manager) and Stacy's Compounding Pharmacy (Pharmacy Tech).

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