Tilton Arch - An Empty Tomb

Tilton New Hampshire was incorporated in 1869 and named after local businessman and resident Nathaniel Tilton. Nathaniel had a grandson named Charles, and Charles loved the town that was named after his family. He also had lots of money, and because of this was able to gift the town with luxuries such as statues and paved roads.

When Charles Tilton traveled to Rome in 1881 he visited the Arch of Titus, and was so impressed he decided it was just the thing his hometown in New Hampshire was missing. So upon his return he constructed this 55' tall replica known as the Tilton Arch.

Tilton Arch stands at the peak of a 150' hilltop, uphill from Arch Cemetery, and is surrounded by a well kept park. Access is free and makes for a perfect area to let the kids run around while you stand in awe of this monument, and if you're anything like me you'll spend several minutes doing just that. I'm not sure there's a more impressive structure in all of New Hampshire. My first time visiting I was alone but wanted to get a picture to show its size, so I waited near the cemetery for these two cooperative guys to wander up.

Rome's Arch of Titus is a monument to celebrate war, specifically the ransacking of Jerusalem during the Jewish War in Judaea. Tilton Arch is a monument to celebrate peace, specifically the "Victories of Peace rather than those of war", as dedicated by Charles Tilton. Some of the good feeling that gives you might drop a notch when learning that Charles built the arch over the former site of a Native American fort, but in those days before political correctness that didn't seem to faze anybody.

Inside the arch Charles placed a time capsule consisting of gold and silver coins, newspapers from as far away as Boston, and a book titled "Successful Men of New Hampshire" which I'm guessing contained a few entries for men with the last name Tilton. Then he added this 50-ton sarcophagus and granite lion in which Charles intended to be buried.

But here's where I start scratching my head. Charles didn't actually build the arch within the town of Tilton. He built it in the neighboring community of Northfield where it stood in view of his mansion, under the belief that Northfield would soon be incorporated into Tilton. That never happened, so upon his death Charles forsook his arch and chose to be buried in a cemetery within the town limits of Tilton, and under much more modest conditions.

Which means that not only does Tilton Arch stand forever empty, it stands forever in the wrong town.

Logan doing his best to "conquer" the Tilton Arch

Links:
Tilton's Triumphal Arch - NY Times, 1883