Civil war by federal troops, it remained garrisoned until 1870 when the fort was deactivated. Fort delaware 18471944 a third system coastal masonry fort on pea patch island, new castle county, delaware. From may through october, visitors to fort delaware experience authentic civilian and military civil war reenactments. Sep 19, 2016 this abandoned fort in delaware is one of the most haunted places in the world. See more ideas about delaware, island and delaware city. It is a low, marshy island, located in new castle county, facing delaware city on the delaware shore, and finns point on the new jersey shore. Today, visitors can reach pea patch island by ferry. Tour detail fort delaware state park, delaware city ferry. The fort is located in the middle of the delaware river and a ferry takes you to from delaware city out to the island also know as pea patch island. This particular structure is built in a pentagonal manner and reflects that of a military structure. Upon entering the visitors center at fort delaware state park, the modern visitor encounters a very large scale model layout of pea patch. Visitors take a halfmile ferry ride from delaware city to pea patch island. Submitted on august 16, 2009, by bill coughlin of north arlington, new jersey. Pea patch island has limited air conditioning and transportation from the island can be difficult for a person experiencing a heat emergency.
Delaware birding trail, fort delaware state park, pea patch. The maintenance vehicle crossing located at the southern end of the parking lot is designated for equestrian access to the beach. Paranormal investigations at fort delaware prove that it. Find available tours fort delaware state park park tour. Fort delaware is a former harbor defense facility, designed by chief engineer joseph gilbert totten and located on pea patch island in the delaware river. Pea patch island is a small island, approximately 1 mi 1. It was originally built to protect the ports of wilmington and philadelphia. The last day for questions shall be friday, november 8 at 12. The idea of modeling pea patch island goes back to the days of the founders of the fort delaware society. Pea patch island, located just off delaware city, hosts one of the largest breeding colonies of herons and egrets in the midatlantic region.
Top 10 reasons not to move to jacksonville, florida. Restaurants near fort delaware state park, delaware city on tripadvisor. Legend has it that pea patch island was formed when a cargo of peas sank in the shallows of the delaware river just downstream of new castle, delaware, a riverbank settlement colonized by the dutch in 1651. Fort delaware, the union fortress dating back to 1859, once housed confederate prisoners of war.
The 178 acre island was named from a colonialday tale that a boat loaded with peas ran aground and sprouted in the sandy loam. There are two picnic areas with tables on pea patch island. The 10 best restaurants near fort delaware state park in. Government ciango, d f historic american buildings survey public works administration. Fort delaware state park is a 288acre 117 ha delaware state park on pea patch island in new castle county, delaware, in the united states. Pea patch island is just like a summer home to nine different species of herons, ibis in the u. So this is fort delaware, built back in the 1800s and used as a prison and to defend the delaware river. Delaware river basin commissionpea patch island nj. Custom house 200 chestnut street philadelphia, pa 19106.
First garrisoned in 1861 at the beginning of the u. Visitors can take the night ferry from delaware city to pea patch island where fort delaware is located to participate in a threehour recreational paranormal investigation, led by. The founders envision a budding metropolis capitalizing on the newly created shipping channel, however, the advent of the railroad soon derails those dreams. Daily activities include folks in civil war period dress, bustling around and doing civil war period things, and there is a daily firing of an 8 inch. Delaware state parks situated on pea patch island, a 10minute passenger ferry ride from delaware city, fort delaware is a majestic civil warera masonry fort. In the early days of the civil war, prison life at fort delaware on pea patch island in the delaware river was, by most accounts, tolerable. A channel is created connecting the chesapeake bay and the delaware river. Fd20 table of contents 00 01 00 1 specifications for this project are arranged in accordance with the construction specification institute. History lovers can enjoy an exciting day in the 19th century when they take roundtrip boat excursions to these military sites on the delaware river. In its first year of operation in 1862, the population varied from 3,434 prisoners in july to only 123 later that year due to routine prisoner exchanges between the north and the south. Fort delaware fort delaware state park is a 288acre delaware state park on pea patch island in new castle county, delaware, in the united states. The forts ferry crossing links historic civil war fort delaware on pea patch island with fort mott and delaware city.
Fort delaware state park delaware city 2020 all you need to. Upon entering the visitors center at fort delaware state park, the modern visitor encounters a very large scale model layout of pea patch island as it appeared in 1864. This abandoned fort in delaware is one of the most haunted places in the world. The decision to close the park is based on safety to the park staff, volunteers and guests. Paranormal investigations at fort delaware prove that it is. Pea patch island nature preserve provides valuable habitat for one of the largest wadingbird. Tickets now on sale for paranormal adventures at fort delaware. Fort delaware state park pea patch island improvements october 14, 2019 project manual division of parks and recreation project no. In addition to the historic features of the state park, the island provides a. Dnrecs fort delaware state park closed due to dangerous. Delaware state parks situated on pea patch island, a 10minute passenger ferry ride from delaware city, fort delaware.
The ferry will again be making stops at fort mott in pennsville. As a federal medical inspector wrote, though, pea patch island is an utterly unfit location for a prison. Jul 01, 2015 fort delaware pea patch island fort delaware state park, delaware city, delaware official website fort delaware state park ferry information forts ferry crossing directions you can leave from the pier at fort mott state park in pennsville, nj or from the dock at fort delaware state park in delaware city, delaware. It took almost more than ten years to complete the construction. Trailers and tow vehicles must park in the towers ocean parking lot. Tour park detail fort delaware state park, delaware. The post is well known for its use prison camp during the civil war, housing more than 12,000 confederate prisoners at one time. Sandwiches are available at the delaware city ticket shop, and light snacks and drinks may be purchased in the fort gift shop. Visitors can take the night ferry from delaware city to pea patch island where fort delaware is located to participate in a three. Fort delaware state park at pea island curious craig. Visitors will get a taste of the paranormal investigative experience with the help of the diamond state ghost investigators, a. Pea patch island nature preserve provides valuable habitat for one of the largest wadingbird nesting areas on the entire east coast. Herons, egrets, and ibis leaving and returning to the colony are tallied.
Fort delaware state park delaware city 2020 all you need. Fort delaware and pea patch island south jersey trails. It is a low, marshy island, located in new castle county, facing delaware city on the delaware shore, and. These are fort delaware state park and pea patch island nature preserve.
Fort delaware state park delaware city 2020 all you. Fort delaware, sitting on pea patch island in the middle of the delaware river, has a rich history that you may have learned about on a school field trip. Delaware birding trail, fort delaware state park, pea. A jitney provides transport from the island dock to the granite and brick fortress. Here, costumed interpreters take you back to the summer of. The state of delaware took possession of the fort in 1947, and officially made all of pea patch island into fort delaware state park in 1951. In 1794, the french military engineer pierre charles lenfant surveyed the island as an ideal location for a river defense fort.
Henry gale which sits in the delaware river, between delaware city, delaware and fort mott, new jersey. Today, fort delaware state park is a popular tourist attraction. A fortress was built on pea patch island by the united states army in 1815, near the conclusion of the war of 1812, to protect the harbors of wilmington, delaware and philadelphia, pennsylvania. One shows fort delaware on pea patch island, another depicts pea patch island from fort mott, and the last is an aerial view of the three forts on the delaware river. See a replica of pea patch island as it appeared in 1864 and artifacts from the island s past. Fort delaware state park pea patch island improvements page 4 11 all questions shall be faxed or emailed to brooks cahall, brooks.
Pea patch island heron survey delaware ornithological. Fort delaware, situated on pea patch island in the delaware river, was a harbor defense facility built to protect the ports of wilmington, delaware and philadelphia, pennsylvania. It is a low, marshy island, located in new castle county, facing delaware city. Pea patch island, delaware city ticket price timings. The state of delaware deeded pea patch island, located in the delaware river between delaware and new jersey, to the u. Fort delaware state park delaware city, 8347941, pea patch island has large heron rookery fort dupont state park 45 clinton st. Make a day of it and visit fort mott in new jersey as well. It was later dismantled and in 1821 a masonry fort was constructed. North carolina state conservation commission o, l a poke, william national park service u. Pea patch island improvements at fort delaware state park. De56a pea patch island delaware city vicinity new castle county delaware photographs written historical am descriptive data historic american engineering record national park service northeast region u. A restored fort delaware state park remains a valuable history lesson and. Fort delaware is built on pea patch island by the u.
Small charcoal grills are located in the picnic area outside the fort, but visitors must take used charcoal and ashes with them when they leave. Fort delaware is located on pea patch island in delaware and is considered to be a haunted prison. If this is your first time here, we would like to extend our warmest welcome and invite you to take a tour of what our community has to offer. Visitors take a 12 mile ferry ride from delaware city to pea patch island. Sep 21, 2018 as a federal medical inspector wrote, though, pea patch island is an utterly unfit location for a prison. Pea patch island, as it was known to the locals, was a private hunting ground for dr. Fort delaware is situated on pea patch island, in the delaware river, just one mile from delaware city. One is located outside the fort, and the other is located inside, in the food concession area. During the american civil war, the union used fort delaware as a prison for confederate prisoners of war, political prisoners, federal convicts, and privateer officers.
Landmarks in the area fort delaware fort delaware is a former harbor defense facility, designed by chief engineer joseph gilbert totten and located on pea patch island in the delaware river. Fort delaware state park visit delaware delaware vacation. Fort mott returns as stop for delaware river passenger ferry. Fort delaware pea patch island fort delaware state park, delaware city, delaware official website fort delaware state park ferry information forts ferry crossing directions you can leave from the pier at fort mott state park in pennsville, nj or from the dock at fort delaware state park in delaware city, delaware. Delaware city is a historic waterfront community that has rich history and great charm. Fort delaware on pea patch island picture of fort delaware state. Pea patch island heron survey delaware ornithological society. Established on the site of previous fortifications in 1847 and construction continued until 1859. Today, however, it is home to two of delaware s outdoor wonders, one manmade and the other natural. Fort delaware on pea patch island check out tripadvisor members 362 candid photos and videos of fort.
To get to fort delaware at pea island i must catch the ferry in delaware city. The delafort passenger ferry is seen on the delaware river near fort delaware state park on pea patch island. The dnrec division of parks and recreation takes a monthly census of birds using the colony, let by counter chris bennett. The wet peas sprouted and grew, catching sand and silt, eventually transforming the bar into an island. Fd20 table of contents 00 01 00 1 specifications for this project are arranged in accordance with the construction specification institute numbering system and format. The fort is located in the middle of the delaware river and a ferry takes you tofrom delaware city out to the island also know as pea patch island. Furthermore, staff and volunteers wear civil warera costumes made from wool. Fort delaware, pea patch island, delaware city, new castle. Fort delaware, delaware city, delaware legends of america.
521 1261 1545 1105 1441 745 84 412 1447 604 216 1570 772 1180 1155 417 1615 962 742 637 1296 269 878 254 1486 1554 366 337 784 1594 1355 1649 1513 1128 1171 789 1131 586 1551 1231 569 737 59 791 1062 653 104 1497 433 81