Westbrook in Lower Connecticut River Valley Region, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
Benedict Arnold
America 250 | Connecticut
Benedict Arnold was a Continental Army general before he defected to the British. In response, Americans burned Arnold in effigy.
Arnold was born in Norwich, CT in 1741 and became a merchant in New Haven. After the Sugar and Stamp Acts interfered with his business, he joined the Sons of Liberty and the Connecticut militia. Fighting for the Patriot cause, his career was distinguished but often politically fraught. In 1779, he began cooperating secretly, with the British.
On September 30, 1780, days after Arnold was exposed, residents of Philadelphia burned him in effigy. This contemporary print shows that Arnold's likeness was made with two faces, "emblematic of his traitorous conduct." The devil prods him with a pitchfork.
A year later, on September 6, 1781, Arnold led British troops in burning New London. There, city residents soon started an annual tradition of burning Arnold's effigy, which continued until the Civil War, and was revived in 2013.
The print is in the collection of the Library of Congress.
Erected by Design Center Studio; CThumanities; UConn Office of the State Historian; Connecticut
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the America 250 series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 30, 1780.
Location. 41° 17.428′ N, 72° 25.843′ W. Marker is in Westbrook in Lower Connecticut River Valley Region, Connecticut. It is on Connecticut Turnpike (Interstate 95 at milepost 66) west of Spencer Plains Road (Connecticut Route 166), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Westbrook CT 06498, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Connecticut River Valley and on the Connecticut Shoreline. It is also in the American Northeast, in New England, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Middlesex County and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are
courtesy Library of Congress, circa 1894
3. Benedict Arnold, 1741-1801
Head and shoulders, facing left.
Repro. of painting by John Trumbull, copyrighted by Ed Frossard, N.Y.
Click for more information.
Repro. of painting by John Trumbull, copyrighted by Ed Frossard, N.Y.
Click for more information.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 17, 2026
5. Nearby Blue Star Memorial Highway sign
Memorial Highway
Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut
Credits. This page was last revised on September 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 23, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 23, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on September 23, 2026. 4, 5. submitted on September 23, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
