Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Connecticut New London Annual Burning of Benedict Arnold

Annual Burning of Benedict Arnold

New London, Connecticut still holds a grudge against its hometown son who turned traitor and burned the city.

New London, Connecticut

Added By
EB Savage
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The effigy.   e1savage / Atlas Obscura User
The burning.  
The parade  
Burning Benedict Arnold in effigy, illustration in Scribner’s Monthly, 1876.   public domian
View of the Effigy and crowd at Shaw Mansion   OstrichArchivist / Atlas Obscura User
Bye Bye Benny!!   sarejina / Atlas Obscura User
09/14/2020 Benedict the traitor at the train station   sarejina / Atlas Obscura User
Barque Eagle…they burnt Benedict over the Tall Ship weekend   sarejina / Atlas Obscura User
about time to start the fire…   sarejina / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

It is well known that the first universally hated American traitor was Benedict Arnold. In New London, Connecticut, they still hold the grudge to this day, which they demonstrate by burning his two-faced effigy once a year.

Arnold served as a general for the newly formed United States of America and was given control of West Point. He had a bone to pick with the military as he was passed over for promotions again and again with others taking credit for his accomplishments. He began a secret plot to turn over West Point to the British in exchange for the rank of brigadier general. However, the plan was found out. Arnold fled West Point, but was still accepted into the British army with the rank of brigadier general.

One of his campaigns as a turncoat happened to involve the Connecticut town of New London. It was doubly cruel as Arnold was born in Norwich, right next to New London, and his family was well known in the area. On September 6, 1781, Benedict Arnold attacked—as a British officer—New London and the neighboring townships on the Thames River.

These were important hot spots for mercantile trade as well as a strategic military center for control of the waterway. Arnold lead a brutal attack on his native county with British and Hessian troops burning, pillaging, and committing acts of terrorism. He led the last British victory of the American Revolution in the burning of New London, specifically ordering that “every building should be on fire.”

The citizenry of New London held a deep grudge, and they never forgave Arnold. His name became synonymous with traitor, and among the people of New London, they even still evoke his name as a form of insult or as a means to convey a purposeful arson.

In 1782, one year after the infamous traitor led the burning of New London, the townspeople paraded an effigy of Arnold through the streets and burned it on the anniversary of the brutal attack. This tradition continued all the way up to the Civil War. Because of the horrors of the Civil War, the tradition faded away… until… a history-loving theater troupe decided to resurrect it.

In 2013 the troupe, with very little organization, marched an effigy of Benedict Arnold down to the pier, dressed in colonial garb, and burned it. As they paraded it through the streets of New London, curious bystanders started following the procession, and the tradition was revived.

The effigy, complete with a papier-mâché head with two faces, is dressed in a British red coat uniform. Once the parade reaches the pier, the traitor, complete with a wooden shame sign around his neck, is displayed in his wooden cart until 8 p.m., when he is rolled to an empty blocked-off area, doused with flammables, and set on fire for the crowds to watch.

Still going strong half a decade later, the event has grown and is now accompanied by live music, a police escort, and the mayor traditionally performing the ceremonial “lighting.” The citizens of New London still rally around, with cries of “traitor” and “Burn him!”

Many start at the Shaw House and march all the way to the pier, but the parade still grows as it travels along Bank Street to the Waterfront Park. People leave bars and shops to stare and ultimately follow the procession. At the pier there are performances, puppets, performers on stilts, dancing, live music, and a beer tent. 

Related Tags

War History Tradition Fire American Revolution Parades Military

Know Before You Go

The processional starts at the Shaw Mansion, but the burning takes place at the pier. It is best to find parking in one of the lots behind Bank St. If you miss the processional, you can still attending the burning down at the pier. The processional starts at 6pm. The burning is at 8 p.m. The exact date changes every year it is best to look up the event on Facebook or in CT Magazine. It does take place in September every year.

Community Contributors

Added By

e1savage

Edited By

sarejina, Meg, OstrichArchivist

  • sarejina
  • Meg
  • OstrichArchivist

Published

May 23, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/arnold-orders-burning-of-new-london
Annual Burning of Benedict Arnold
11 Blinman St
New London, Connecticut
United States
41.351378, -72.098233
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Ye Antientist Burial Ground

New London, Connecticut

miles away

Submarine Force Museum

Groton, Connecticut

miles away

Gungywamp

Groton, Connecticut

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New London

New London

Connecticut

Places 2

Nearby Places

Ye Antientist Burial Ground

New London, Connecticut

miles away

Submarine Force Museum

Groton, Connecticut

miles away

Gungywamp

Groton, Connecticut

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New London

New London

Connecticut

Places 2

Related Stories and Lists

History Tour: Revisiting the Revolutionary War

List

By Jonathan Carey

Related Places

  • Black Star Square.

    Accra, Ghana

    Black Star Square

    An enormous public square and parade ground built to celebrate Ghana's independence.

  • Clinton, South Carolina

    Horseshoe Falls at Musgrove Mill State Historic Site

    Legend has it the mill owner's daughter, Mary Musgrove, helped a Patriot soldier hide behind these falls.

  • Kastellet Stockholm

    Stockholm, Sweden

    Kastellet Stockholm

    The Swedish flag over this small naval fort signals that the nation is at peace.

  • Paul Revere Lantern, on view at the Concord Museum.

    Concord, Massachusetts

    Paul Revere Lantern

    One of two lighted lanterns hung in the church belfry on the eve of the Revolutionary War to warn that the British were on their way.

  • Treaty of Paris Plaque

    Paris, France

    Treaty of Paris Plaque

    A simple plaque on the facade is the only reminder that the treaty ending the American Revolution was signed inside.

  • Plaque close-up.

    New York, New York

    Nathan Hale Hanging Site

    A plaque immortalizes the spot where the early American spy said his famous last words: "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."

  • The site of the battle in 2007

    Farmington, Pennsylvania

    Jumonville Glen

    The site of the little-known Pennsylvania battle that sparked the Seven Years' War.

  • The Nathan Hale Schoolhouse

    East Haddam, Connecticut

    Nathan Hale Schoolhouse

    One of America's first spies started out as a teacher in this little red one-room schoolhouse.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.