Fort Saulsbury

Fort Saulsbury is a coastal defense installation featuring two batteries positioned along the Delaware shoreline and originally equipped with heavy artillery guns. The structure consists of concrete gun emplacements and bunkers oriented toward the ocean.

The fort was built in 1924 to serve as the primary heavy gun defense system protecting Delaware Bay during World War II. It was deactivated in 1943 after the war and has remained under private ownership since 1948.

The fort is named after Willard Saulsbury Sr., a US Senator from Delaware, and its battery positions honor Revolutionary War officers. Visitors can still see these names marked on the existing structures, connecting the site to the figures of its past.

The fort has been under private ownership for many decades and visits are not readily available to the general public. Anyone interested in viewing the site should contact the Delaware Historical Society in advance to inquire about access and documentation.

The fort was originally supported by five fire control towers that guided artillery toward targets, with only one tower still standing today. This remaining structure offers a glimpse into the sophisticated technology used during World War II coastal operations.

Location: Slaughter Beach

Inception: 1924

GPS coordinates: 38.93417,-75.33056

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:22