Interview with Benedict Arnold Sr. — At the Newport Tower, Touro Park, Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island — Touro Park
Some buildings tell us exactly what they are.
Others refuse.
For centuries, the Newport Tower has stood in the center of Newport, Rhode Island, daring historians, archaeologists, and visitors to explain it. Was it built by the Vikings? Knights Templar? Portuguese explorers? A Chinese fleet? Or was it simply a colonial windmill?
The mystery has inspired books, documentaries, conspiracy theories, and countless debates. Yet one of the most important pieces of evidence comes from a man who lived during the colonial era itself: Benedict Arnold Sr., the first Governor of Rhode Island and great-grandfather of the infamous Revolutionary War traitor.
In his will, Arnold referred to the structure as his “old stone windmill.”
Today, through the magic of Travel in Time with Dan, we have the opportunity to sit down with Governor Benedict Arnold Sr. himself.
Note: The following interview is fictionalized but grounded in documented history.
The Interview
Dan: Hello, everyone! I am standing here in Touro Park in beautiful Newport, Rhode Island, beside one of the greatest mysteries in New England—the Newport Tower. Today, I have the honor of speaking with the first Governor of Rhode Island, Benedict Arnold Sr., Governor Arnold, welcome to the show.
Benedict Arnold Sr.: Thank you, Dan. Though I must admit I am surprised that people are still debating that old tower after all these years.
Dan: Well, Governor, that’s exactly why we’re here. Let’s start with the obvious question. Did you know this structure?
Arnold: Quite well. It stood on my property, and in my will, I referred to it as my “old stone windmill.”
Dan: That’s one sentence that has fueled centuries of debate. Many historians point to your will and say the mystery is solved.
Arnold: And yet many people seem determined to make the story more complicated than it needs to be.
Dan: Let’s talk about those theories. Some people believe the Vikings built this tower around the year 1100.
Arnold: Vikings? Newport was not exactly crowded with Vikings during my lifetime.
Dan: Others say the Knights Templar escaped Europe, crossed the Atlantic, buried treasure nearby, and built this tower as some sort of monument.
Arnold: I imagine buried treasure makes for a more exciting story than a windmill.
Dan: It certainly sells books.
Arnold: It appears some things never change.
Dan: Why would a colonial windmill have been built out of stone when most New England structures were wooden?
Arnold: That is a fair question. Newport was a prosperous port city. We built to last when we could afford it. Windmills were important economic assets. A stone structure could withstand weather and time better than wood.
Dan: So, from your perspective, there was nothing mysterious about it?
Arnold: Unusual, perhaps. Mysterious? Not particularly. People often mistake uncommon things for impossible things.
Dan: Yet even today, visitors look at the tower and immediately assume there must be a hidden story.
Arnold: Human beings enjoy mysteries. There is nothing wrong with that. Curiosity is valuable. The problem begins when curiosity outruns evidence.
Dan: That’s an interesting distinction.
Arnold: Ask questions. Explore possibilities. But eventually, you must return to the facts.
Dan: Modern scientists attempted to do exactly that. Carbon-14 testing placed the tower’s construction somewhere between 1635 and 1698—right within the colonial era.
Arnold: Then it appears science has joined my side of the argument.
Dan: Not everyone agrees. Some researchers point to the round design, the stone construction, and the windows that may align with celestial events.
Arnold: People often begin with a conclusion and then search for evidence to support it. A wiser approach is to begin with the evidence and allow it to lead you to the conclusion.
Dan: That’s a leadership lesson right there.
Arnold: Leadership and history are not as different as people think.
Dan: How so?
Arnold: A leader faces rumors, assumptions, emotions, and incomplete information every day. The challenge is determining what is true. If a leader makes decisions based solely on what sounds exciting, he will eventually fail.
Dan: So the Newport Tower teaches us something bigger than its own history?
Arnold: Indeed. Every generation must learn to separate evidence from speculation. The tower is merely an example.
Dan: Let me ask you this. Are you disappointed that people still prefer the Viking story?
Arnold: Not at all. If the mystery inspires people to study history, visit Newport, and ask questions, that is a good thing. I simply hope they also learn to appreciate the answers when evidence provides them.
Dan: What would you want visitors standing here today to take away from this place?
Arnold: First, appreciate the wonder of the structure itself. It has survived for centuries. Second, remain curious. Third, never allow curiosity to replace critical thinking.
Dan: That sounds like a lesson every student could use.
Arnold: And every adult as well.
Dan: Governor Benedict Arnold Sr., first Governor of Rhode Island and owner of the famous “old stone windmill,” thank you for joining us today.
Arnold: My pleasure, Dan. Remember this: a mystery should inspire investigation, not imagination alone. The strongest conclusions are built on the strongest evidence.
Dan: Benedict Arnold Sr., everyone. Standing here at the Newport Tower, we’re reminded that history is often hidden in plain sight. The challenge is learning how to find it.
Travel in Time with Dan brings travel, history, and leadership together.
Uncovering History. Inspiring Leadership.
📺 Watch the episode: YouTube | 🎙️ Listen to the podcast: Spotify | 📖 Read the blog: granddaddyssecrets.com | 📚 Dan’s book: Travel in Time in New England
