Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park

The Earthwork Fort Where On 6 September 1781 A British Force Under Benedict Arnold Stormed The Works And Killed Most Of The Surrendered Garrison; A 135 Foot Granite Obelisk Of 1830 Marks It Above The Thames River · Groton, Connecticut

On 6 September 1781 a British force landed on both sides of the Thames River, burned New London and stormed the earthwork fort on the Groton heights opposite. The garrison of about 165 militia surrendered, and then most of them were killed - around eighty died, including the commander, run through after handing over his sword. The man who led the raid was Benedict Arnold, born in Norwich a few miles up the river, which is a large part of why his name carries the weight it does in this state. The earthworks survive substantially intact, a 135-foot granite obelisk went up in 1830 and can be climbed in season, and the Monument House museum below holds the local collection. The grounds are free and open all year; the obelisk and the museum are seasonal. The site looks straight across the Thames at the working submarine base and at USS Nautilus, which is ten minutes away by road - a 1781 massacre and the first nuclear submarine within sight of each other, which makes an unexpectedly coherent day.

57 Fort Street, Groton, Groton, Connecticut, 06340, United States

The battlefield grounds, the earthworks and the overlook are open all year from 8am to sunset, free. THE MONUMENT AND THE MONUMENT HOUSE MUSEUM ARE SEASONAL, generally late spring to early autumn on a reduced weekly schedule, and closed for the rest of the year - so the obelisk can usually be walked around but not climbed outside that window. Check before travelling if climbing the tower is the point.

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