Norumbega Tower

Norumbega Tower's creator, Eben Horsford, was convinced of a couple things that contradict what we learned in school. First he argues that Vikings came to America over 1,000 years ago, pre-dating Columbus' discovery by 500 years, and although this isn't a popular theory it at least seems up for debate. But his second belief is one that leaves most people shaking their head, which is that the lost city of Norumbega - a mythological viking city where houses were built with pillars of gold - was not only real, but was built on this exact spot in Weston, Massachusetts.

Horsford's belief might have ended up as nothing more than a tall tale to make his friends chuckle, were it not for one thing. Having earlier in life invented an improved formula for manufacturing baking powder, Horsford was rich. And in 1889 he used some of his riches to build the 38 foot tall Norumbega Tower along the Charles River in Weston, to commemorate his "finding" of the lost viking city.

The main piece of evidence for Horsford's claim is his loose interpretation of the word Norumbega, which he argued was an adaption of the word Norbega, itself a variation of Norvega, and that which was another name for Norway. Or, something like all that. If you can follow it, his evidence is laid out on a plaque at the base of the tower, although none of this logic has ever passed the sniff test of experts in the field.

This is an interesting place in that the tower itself is quite beautiful, but the area it sits in feels neglected, or at least forgotten. There wasn't even a place to park, we had to just hop the curb and hope we were out of the way of passing cars. A short field separates the road from the tower, then a little creativity is needed to actually see what it looks like on the inside.

The view from on high was just as neglected as the area below, but beyond all those trees I'm sure it was quite a sight to see.

We spent some time on top of the tower ducking out of view of passing traffic, then paid a small toll before making our way back down the winding steps.

Although Eben Horsford's research is considered suspect, his character is not. He was by all accounts a descent person who did many great things with his money. He made various donations to Wellesley College in support of higher education for women, and he also funded the opening of a public library in Shelter Island, New York. All good stuff indeed. But not to be forgotten in that mix, he continues to bring afternoons of adventure to people like my wife and I, over 100 years after his death.

Location of Norumbega Tower on Google Maps

[my transcript of the plaque]

CITY COUNTRY FORT RIVER

NORUMBEGA = NOR MBEGA

INDIAN UTTERANCE OF NORBEGA THE ANCIENT FORM

OF NORVEGA NORWAY TO WHICH THE

REGION OF VINLAND WAS SUBJECT

CITY

AT AND NEAR WATERTOWN

WHERE REMAIN TO DAY

DOCKS - WHARVES - WALLS - DAMS - BASINS

COUNTRY

EXTENDING FROM RHODE ISLAND TO THE ST. LAWRENCE

FIRST SEEN BY BJARN HERJULFSON 985 A D

LANDFALL OF LEIF ERIKSON ON CAPE COD 1000 A D

NORSE CANALS - DAMS - WELLS - PAVEMENTS

FORTS TERRACED PLACES OF ASSEMBLY REMAIN TODAY

AT BASE OF TOWER AND REGION ABOUT

WAS OCCUPIED BY THE BRETON FRENCH IN THE

15TH 16TH AND 17TH CENTURIES

RIVER

THE CHARLES

DISCOVERED BY

LEIF ERIKSON 1000 A D

EXPLORED BY

THORWALD - LEIF'S BROTHER 1003 A D

COLONIZED BY

THORFINN KARLSEFNI 1007 A D

[FIRST BISHOP]

ERIK GNUPSON 1121 A D

INDUSTRIES FOR 350 YEARS

MASUR WOOD (BURRS) - FISH - FURS - AGRICULTURE

LATEST NORSE SHIP RETURNED TO ICELAND IN 1347