Fort Delaware State Park - Delaware City, Delaware

 

Fort Delaware State Park - Delaware City, Delaware

This was the prison for more than 30,000 Confederate, Federal and political prisoners during the Civil War. 

This is one of Delaware’s first state parks, created in 1951.  It is on the National Register of Historic Places.  The fort dates back to 1859 when it was originally built to protect the ports of Wilmington and Philadelphia.

The State of Delaware purchased the Fort from the Federal Government in 1947.

The visit to the Fort will take you on a journey of days gone by, lives of those early settlers that fought to survive in the early days of the United States.

The daily activities on Pea Patch Island are recreated by the first-person interpreters for both your education and enjoyment.  You will be able to visit the laundry and help the laundress wash cloths in the 19^th century way.  If you’ve never used a scrub board it will certainly make you appreciate your automatic washer.

You will meet the members of Ahl’s Independent Battery, 1^st Delaware Heavy Artillery, organized from Fort Delaware’s POW ranks in the summer of 1863.  Now they are in the Union Army, have been for a year, dealing with the mistrust of both sides.  You will learn how they felt and the lessons learned from men who were in both armies.

The Blacksmith Shop and hear the stories of the dozens of African Americans who helped to build and operate Fort Delaware during the Civil War.  Learn of the struggles and triumphs over slavery.

You will learn of the escape attempts from “prisoners” themselves. 

The Ordnance Sergeant (Keeper of the Guns) will tell you how his is in charge of all the ammunitions at the fort.  You will look inside the ordnance store room to see if you can find the sergeant at work.

You will be able to come to the kitchen and see how the cooks prepare different types of food for the comrades.

If you have heard the stories of the care of soldiers in the hospitals of the Civil War you will be given the opportunity to visit one and hear tales of working in the field camps of the army.  You’ll hear about the challenges and difficulties of both the highest surgeons and the lowliest POW patient.

From the parking area in Delaware City you will take a ½ mile ferry ride to Pea Patch Island.  A jitney provides transport for the island dock to the granite and brick fort.

Ferry Fees: Adults - $11; Children 2-12 - $6; Seniors (62+) and Active Duty Military (with ID) - $10.

Open: 10 am – 6 pm on weekends and holidays through September 28 and Wednesday through Sunday June 18 – August 29.

There is a food concession stand on the island but you are welcome to bring a picnic lunch, there are tables and grills for your use.

Your admission fee allows you to travel to Fort Mott State Park too, on the New Jersey side, where you will be able to visit Finn’s Point National Cemetery, the final resting place for 2,400 Confederate prisoners who died at Fort Delaware.

NOTE: No pets are allowed on Pea Patch Island and there are no private docking facilities.  Alcoholic beverages are prohibited on Pea Patch Island.

Address: Delaware City.

Phone: 302-834-7941

Email: Sharon.Menashes@state.de.us