Norumbega Tower

Did a baking powder magnate truly believe Vikings settled in Weston? Let’s unravel the curious tale of Norumbega Tower. Norumbega Tower stands as a quirky monument to a theory that never quite held water. Eben Norton Horsford, the man behind the baking powder revolution, was convinced that Vikings, not Christopher Columbus, were the true discoverers of America. He believed that the Algonquian word “Norumbega” was a corruption of “Norvega,” meaning Norway. In 1889, he erected this 38-foot stone tower at the confluence of Stony Brook and the Charles River. Horsford intended Norumbega Tower to mark the spot of a mythical Viking fort. He envisioned it as a testament to his theory, complete with a plaque referencing Norse explorers. Ironically, there’s no archaeological evidence of Norse settlements anywhere in New England. The tower, made of mortared field stones, has a spiral stone staircase inside. A locked gate usually bars entry. Though Horsford’s theory was ultimately debunked, Norumbega Tower remains. It’s a testament to a man’s fervent belief, a whimsical landmark with a fascinating backstory. It serves as a reminder that history, like baking, sometimes requires a pinch of imagination.