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Fort Delaware State Park

Delaware City, Delaware

Access to Fort Delaware is by ferry.
Fort Delaware is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Download a pdf of the season schedule, or call the Park Office.

Check out the exciting programs happening at Fort Delaware on July 4th weekend, July 3, 4 and 5. The park is closed July 6-7.

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Reserve your visit to Fort Delaware online or by calling 1-877-98-PARKS!
Fort Delaware is closed
on Mondays and Tuesdays

Laura Lee

Fort Delaware Highlights from park interpreter, Laura Lee.

Civil War Living History

Fort Delaware, the Union fortress dating back to 1859, once housed Confederate prisoners of war. It was originally built to protect the ports of Wilmington and Philadelphia.

Visitors take a ½ -mile ferry ride from Delaware City to Pea Patch Island. A jitney provides transport from the island dock to the granite and brick fortress. Here, costumed reenactors take you back to the summer of 1864.

Fill your day with hands-on history. Help the blacksmith hammer out new parts for a cannon or work with the laundress. Be on hand when the 8-inch Columbiad gun fires a live gunpowder charge! See a replica of Pea Patch Island as it appeared in 1864 and 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.

Travel on toFort Mott State Parkin New Jersey, and visitFinn's Point National Cemetery, the final resting-place for 2,400 Confederate prisoners who died at Fort Delaware.

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 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.
Download park programs in .PDF format.