Fort Miles

Fort Miles is a fortified military installation in Cape Henlopen State Park featuring concrete bunkers, gun positions, and watchtowers spread along Delaware Bay. The structures were built to defend the coastline and monitor incoming maritime traffic during wartime operations.

The U.S. Army built Fort Miles in 1940 in response to rising European tensions and to protect Delaware's industrial sites. The installation remained operational throughout World War II and was gradually abandoned afterward.

The fort is named after a general and represents how coastal communities experienced wartime conditions during the 1940s. Visitors can observe the cramped quarters where soldiers worked and how military duties shaped daily routines.

Visitors can explore Fort Miles during Cape Henlopen State Park hours, where guided tours and information boards help explain the site. The location sits at the tip of a peninsula and is best navigated on foot to fully experience the scattered military structures.

The site preserves original radar equipment and gun emplacements that were used during coastal patrols. These technical systems reveal how early electronic surveillance became part of coastal defense operations.