Fort Delaware State Park, Military fortification state park on Pea Patch Island, Delaware.
Fort Delaware State Park is a military fortress on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River featuring thick brick walls, artillery positions, and barracks buildings from the 1800s. The installation occupies the entire island and displays the typical layout of a coastal defense structure.
The fortress was built between 1848 and 1860 to protect the ports of Philadelphia and Wilmington from attack. During the Civil War, it served as a prison camp holding over 33,000 Confederate soldiers.
The name reflects its role as a military defensive position, and visitors can observe through displays and living demonstrations how soldiers conducted daily operations during the 1800s. You can see the routines, equipment, and working conditions that shaped life inside this fortress.
Reaching the island requires taking a ferry from Delaware City, which operates seasonally depending on weather conditions. Plan your visit between April and October when tours run regularly and the grounds are fully accessible to guests.
The fortress walls include specialized ventilation systems and underground storage chambers designed to absorb cannon fire. These engineering features allowed the structure to withstand sustained bombardment despite its exposed location on a flat island.
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