Newport Tower Origins Debated

The Newport Tower is Not What It Seems On August 16, 1948, archaeologist Philip Ainsworth Means published his findings on the Newport Tower in Newport, Rhode Island, sparking a debate that still rages today. Historian William Godfrey, writing in 1951, further fueled the controversy. The tower's origins remain unclear, with some attributing it to Viking explorers and others to colonial settlers.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think the Newport Tower is a 17th-century windmill built by early colonists, and this standard story goes that it was constructed around 1676 by Benedict Arnold, the great-grandfather of the infamous traitor. The story goes that Arnold built the tower as a windmill to serve the local community, and it has been standing ever since. However, this narrative is about to get complicated, as historians and archaeologists have been questioning its accuracy for decades.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Carroll Purcell, in his 1969 book "The Machine in America," argues that the tower's design and construction do not match those of typical 17th-century windmills. Purcell points to the tower's unique stonework and architectural features, which resemble those found in Norse structures. On January 10, 1976, historian William Penhallow published his research on the tower, highlighting the possibility of a Viking connection. The tower's foundation is made of a type of stone not native to the area, which was likely imported from Europe. This discovery, coupled with the findings of archaeologist Wilcomb Washburn in 1964, who dated the tower's mortar to around 1150, suggests that the tower may have been built before the colonial era. Washburn's research, published in the Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences, actively challenges the traditional narrative, and his conclusions are further supported by the work of historian Holand, who in 1940 wrote about the possibility of a Viking presence in the area. As the debate rages on, historians like Samuel Eliot Morison, writing in 1971, continue to scrutinize the evidence, and the tower remains a topic of intense investigation and discussion.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians like Samuel Greene Arnold and William J. Miller actively worked to downplay the Viking theory, instead promoting the idea that the Newport Tower was a colonial windmill. The Newport Historical Society, led by individuals such as Henry Bull, also contributed to the suppression of the Viking narrative by focusing on the tower's supposed colonial origins. One concrete reason for this suppression was the desire to establish a clear English colonial heritage in the region, which would have been complicated by the presence of a Viking structure. As a result, the Viking theory was gradually pushed to the margins of historical discourse, and the colonial windmill explanation became the dominant narrative. The work of scholars like Carl Christian Rafn, who argued for a Viking origin, was largely ignored or dismissed by the academic community.

The Ripple Effect

The suppression of the Viking theory had concrete consequences for the town of Newport and its residents. The town's historical identity was shaped by the colonial narrative, which emphasized the role of English settlers in shaping the region's history. This, in turn, affected the development of the local tourism industry, with attractions and historical sites focused on colonial-era history. One specific modern thing that traces directly back to this event is the Newport Historic District, which was established in part based on the colonial narrative. The district's historic buildings and sites, including the Newport Tower, are presented as examples of colonial architecture and engineering.

The Line That Says It All

The Newport Tower remains a source of controversy, with the National Park Service officially designating it as a colonial-era windmill, despite ongoing debates about its true origins.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the Newport Tower and the early history of Newport, Rhode Island.