Delaware State Parks Fort Delaware State Park -- Delaware State Parks


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Fort Delaware State Park

P.O. Box 170
Delaware City, DE 19706
(302) 834-7941


Port Penn Interpretive Center:
(302) 836-2533

E-mail the Park Office E-mail the Park Office
Visitor Amenities at Fort Delaware Visitor Amenities at Fort Delaware
Programs and Special Events at Fort Delaware Programs and Special Events at Fort Delaware
Ahl's battery 360° Views of Fort Delaware
Ahl's battery Living History at Fort Delaware
Ahl's battery Ahl's Battery
The Civil War Shop The Civil War Shop
Info for Reenactors
 Information for Reenactors
Fort Dupont and Port Penn Fort Dupont and The Port Penn Interpretive Center
Fort Delaware and the Civil War Ft. Delaware and the Civil War
State Park Locator map
 Maps and Driving Directions
Related Outside Links
visitthefort.com Visitthefort.com
Don Hubbard Eastern Field Music School Don Hubbard Eastern Field Music School
The Fort Delaware Society Fort Delaware Society
Fort Delaware Birding Locations Fort Delaware Birding Locations (Delaware Birdlist)
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Current weather conditions at Fort Delaware, Fort Dupont and Port Penn

 

Union soldier stands guardCivil War
Living History

Fort Delaware is one of Delaware's first state parks, created in 1951. On the National Register of Historic Places, the Union fortress dates back to 1859, and once served as a prison for Confederate prisoners of war. It was originally built to protect the ports of Wilmington and Philadelphia. The State of Delaware acquired the Fort from the Federal Government in 1947.

Aerial view of Fort Delaware


From the parking area in Delaware City, visitors take a ½ -mile ferry ride to Pea Patch Island aboard the DRBA's Three Fort Ferry. A jitney provides transport from the island dock to the granite and brick fortress. Here, authentically-clad historic interpreters begin your journey back to the summer of 1863.

Three Fort Ferry Passenger Fees

Adults

$11

Children 2 - 12

$6
Seniors (62+) and Active Duty Military (with ID) $10
Fort Delaware is open
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
on weekends and holidays through September 28, 
and Wednesday through Sunday
June 18 through August 29
(check the Three Forts Ferry schedule for arrivals and departures)

The Fort Delaware blacksmithYour day will be filled with hands-on history, which might include helping the blacksmith hammer out new parts for a cannon or working with the laundress. Watch our 8-inch Columbiad gun fire a live gunpowder charge! Our orientation room contains a diorama of Pea Patch Island as it appeared in 1864, and nearby exhibits contain artifacts from the Island's past.

Make a day of it — there is a food concession stand on the island. And if you like, you can bring a picnic lunch to enjoy in our picnic area - tables and grills are provided.

Quartermaster's areaYour regular admission fee allows you to travel on to Fort Mott State Park on the New Jersey side as well. Near there is Finn's Point National Cemetery, the final resting-place for 2,400 Confederate prisoners who died at Fort Delaware. Consult the park office for a ferry schedule and a listing of special events and programs.

Please note that no pets are allowed on Pea Patch Island and there are no private docking facilities. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited on Pea Patch Island.

Natural Treasures

Pea Patch Island also features many natural treasures. The island is a summer home to nine different species of herons, egrets, and ibis. The remote marshes provide an outstanding habitat for one of the largest wading bird nesting areas on the East Coast. A hiking trail and its observation platform provide opportunities for photography and nature study.

From river crossing to ramparts, Fort Delaware State Park promises an unforgettable experience each time you visit.
 
This page last updated

Read about
SciFi Channel's Ghost Hunters
and their first investigation of Fort Delaware in April '08 -- complete with photo gallery!

Fort Delaware Is Currently
Closed for the Season

But we'll be back in the spring with exciting new programs and all new ghost tours for '09. Make your travel plans now to visit this famous Delaware attraction!

Book your trip to Fort Delaware in advance with our online reservation system or call 1-877-98-PARKS
(1-877-987-2757)
Check Out the 360° Views of Fort Delaware!
Panoramic view of Fort Delaware

Dinner for the officers
Fort DuPont State Park is open all year from 8 am to sunset each day.

The Port Penn Interpretive Center is open Saturdays and Sundays from Memorial Day through the last weekend of September.

To ensure that the park or Interpretive Center are open on the date you plan to attend and to obtain program information, please be sure to contact the Park Office at
(302) 834-7941.

In the prison barracks

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