Fort delaware on pea patch island check out tripadvisor members 362 candid photos and videos of fort. Pea patch heronry is carefully monitored each year to determine the success of the nearly 3,000 nesting herons, egrets, and ibises. This is the second model of the island to be displayed in the visitors center and the fort delaware society played a major role in its creation and funding. The three fort system remained in force until after world war i. Private boats are not permitted to dock on the island. This particular structure is built in a pentagonal manner and reflects that of a military structure. The founders envision a budding metropolis capitalizing on the newly created shipping channel, however, the advent of the railroad soon derails those dreams. 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. Furthermore, staff and volunteers wear civil warera costumes made from wool. Fort delaware, delaware city, delaware legends of america. Pea patch island, delaware river, new castle county, delaware. Fort delaware state park delaware city 2020 all you need.
Pea patch island, delaware the principal part of this project was to reconstruct the granite seawall on the remote 228acre island of pea patch, delaware. My 3xgreat uncle, john thomas conn, a confederate soldier from georgia, was held as a prisoner of war here in 1863, during abraham lincolns war to prevent southern independence. Sep 21, 2018 was fort delaware really a civil war hellhole. 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. Sep 19, 2016 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. 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. Fort mott was part of a three fort defense system designed for the delaware river during the post civil war modernization period. Aug, 2009 fort dupont on the delaware shore and fort mott on the new jersey side were designed and built during the last half of the nineteenth century to reinforce fort delaware. The evening will start with a short introduction at the entrance to the fort, after which small groups will be led by a park interpreter to the various areas of investigation.
In 1847, congress appropriated one million dollars to build the fort as the largest fort in the country to protect philadelphia and the harbor. The wet peas sprouted and grew, catching sand and silt, eventually transforming the bar into an island. The post is well known for its use prison camp during the civil war, housing more than 12,000 confederate prisoners at one time. Originally constructed in 1859, the fort was used as a prison camp for confederate prisoners of war during the civil war. This would help protect the approaches to major port cities such as wilmington, delaware and philadelphia, pennsylvania. Established on the site of previous fortifications in 1847 and construction continued until 1859. The newlyminted united states government identified the need for a fort along the delaware river. Here, costumed interpreters take you back to the summer of. Originally built to protect wilmington and philadelphia, it became infamous during the civil war as a jail for confederate pows. The remote marshes provide an outstanding habitat for one of the largest. Fort delaware state park pea patch island improvements october 14, 2019 project manual division of parks and recreation project no. Today, visitors can reach pea patch island by ferry.
The first fortifications were built at the end of the war of 1812, and the bulk of the present fort was built before the civil war. An old civil war fort and prison in the middle of the delaware river on an island. See more ideas about delaware, island and delaware city. Fort delaware state park, located on pea patch island, was part of a chain of three forts that defended philadelphia for well over 100 years. 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. Areas of pea patch islands civil war fortress to be investigated include the mess hall, officers kitchen, ordnance room area, officers kitchen and the west end of the endicott section. Fort delaware is also known for its ghostly activity and paranormal tours are offered in the fall. The interior is so cool, the breezing river, and the brick fort is such a comfortable and relaxing visit than spending time in those 90 degrees. Fd20 table of contents 00 01 00 1 specifications for this project are arranged in accordance with. Pea patch island is a small island, approximately 1 mi 1. Fort delaware stands on pea patch island in the delaware river. Historic fort delaware pea patch island, delaware river. 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. It is the right place for all ages and a better option to explore history.
Bidders and interested parties shall meet at the dnrec office located at 45 clinton street, delaware city, delaware and they will be ferried to the island. The other two forts in the system were fort delaware on pea patch island and fort dupont in delaware city, delaware. The protective structure extends along a perimeter of approximately 7,000 lineal feet and was initially built to protect the island and fort delaware from the swift waters. Pea patch island, as it was known to the locals, was a private hunting ground for dr. This particular structure is built in a pentagonal manner and reflects that of. Fort delaware state park visit delaware delaware vacation. 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. For more information, fort delaware fort dupont state parks, 3028347941. So this is fort delaware, built back in the 1800s and used as a prison and to defend the delaware river.
Fort delaware, delaware city, delaware page 2 legends of. They had seized it of a doctor named gale who had been using it as a private hunting ground and had refused to sell it. Visitors take a 12 mile ferry ride from delaware city to pea patch island. Tickets now on sale for paranormal adventures at fort delaware. Custom house 200 chestnut street philadelphia, pa 19106. State of delaware hiring fort delaware park maintenance in. Spooky 360 video of fort delaware paranormal tour 360 video. Find available tours fort delaware state park park tour. 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. Delaware ceded its claim to pea patch island to the us government for the construction of a fort. 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. 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.
It was originally built to protect the ports of wilmington and philadelphia. Fort delaware 18471944 a third system coastal masonry fort on pea patch island, new castle county, delaware. Pea patch island has limited air conditioning and transportation from the island can be difficult for a person experiencing a heat emergency. Delaware city is a historic waterfront community that has rich history and great charm. De56 page 2 historical overview of fort delaware pea patch island, the site of fort delaware, first appears as a recognizable landform as an unnamed shoal on a navigational chart of the delaware river prepared by joshua fisher in 1756. About 2,500 prisoners of war died there, and now countless st. The ticket office and ferry dock are located at 45 clinton street in delaware city. Fort delaware, the union fortress dating back to 1859, once housed confederate prisoners of war. Fort delaware, confederate hellhole, delaware city, delaware. 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. Introductionoriginally built to protect the ports of wilmington and philadelphia, pea patch island see this and similar jobs on linkedin. 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. 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. Top 10 reasons not to move to jacksonville, florida.
Located in the delaware river, just one mile from delaware city, access to pea patch island and fort delaware is by ferry only. Fort delaware, delaware city, delaware page 2 legends. The fort was garrisoned during the spanishamerican war, world war i, and world war ii. The pentagon shaped fort delaware stands surrounded by a moat on pea patch island in the delaware river near delaware city, delaware. Fort delaware, pea patch island, delaware city, new castle county. A jitney provides transport from the island dock to the granite and brick fortress. Pea patch island is a summer home to nine different species of herons, egrets, and ibis. In 1794, the french military engineer pierre charles lenfant surveyed the island as an ideal location for a river defense fort. 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. To get to fort delaware at pea island i must catch the ferry in delaware city. Once the location of strategic military defenses, the island is currently owned by the state of delaware as fort delaware state park. Fort delaware state park delaware city 2020 all you need to. The dank air of alluvial pea patch island, meager diet, inadequate shelter and poor medical care had an enervating effect.
The idea of modeling pea patch island goes back to the days of the founders of the fort delaware society. Fort delaware to present program on the heronry on pea. The forts ferry crossing links historic civil war fort delaware on pea patch island with fort mott and delaware city. Paranormal investigations at fort delaware prove that it is. Fort delaware, pea patch island, delaware city, new castle. 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 on pea patch island picture of fort delaware state. The need for a fort on pea patch island was due to the british blockade, and raiding of the delaware bay and river. 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 state of delaware deeded pea patch island, located in the delaware river between delaware and new jersey, to the u.
Visitors take a halfmile ferry ride from delaware city to pea patch island. Tour detail fort delaware state park, delaware city ferry. Fort delaware at pea patch island, delaware, was a us military fort and later pow prison. Tour park detail fort delaware state park, delaware. Feb 26, 2017 pea patch island, delaware city, delaware. Fort delaware state park delaware city 2020 all you.
Fort delaware is located on pea patch island in delaware and is considered to be a haunted prison. The dank air of alluvial pea patch island, meager diet, inadequate shelter and poor medical. A mandatory prebid meeting will be held on tuesday, october 29, 2019 at 1. Tour detail fort delaware state park, delaware city. By lombardo mint, a division of mississauga mint, ontario, canada.
What others are saying there are 50 states and state capitals in the united states. Pea patch island improvements at fort delaware state park. Fort delaware to present program on the heronry on pea patch. 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. Fort delaware, the union fortress dating back to 1859, once housed confederate.
Fort delaware state park at pea island curious craig. 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. 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. So this is fort delaware, built back in the 1800s and used as a prison and to defend. 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. Paranormal investigations at fort delaware prove that it. Fort mott state park new jersey side 454 fort mott.
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. Oct 28, 2016 experience the civil war era fort delaware, which housed close to 33,000 confederate prisoners. Later, it was used as to store guns and protect the ports of. 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. It is presently inactive and reportedly haunted by several ghosts. Henry gale which sits in the delaware river, between delaware city, delaware and fort mott, new jersey. Pea patch island had been owned by the us military since the 1810s.