- State and federal funds are being used to improve the experience for visitors at the Civil War-era fort on Pea Patch Island near Delaware City.
- The projects include a reconstructed tram path from the pier to the fort, upgraded trails, a screened-in pavilion for picnics and a rebuilt birdwatching platform with ramps for better accessibility.
A visit to Fort Delaware starts with a ferry ride to Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River.
At the fort, you’ll be greeted by staff members dressed in Civil War-era clothing, portraying life at the military prison camp in the 1860s.
While history is reenacted at the island near Delaware City, visitors also flock to the park to see birds. The island is the largest heron nesting site outside of the state of Florida on the East Coast, said Delaware State Parks director Ray Bivens. About 1,200 nesting pairs of herons make their home there, along with egrets, ibises and other birds.
To improve the experience for visitors, the state has made the largest investment in the park’s history, $4 million, and recently unveiled the renovations and new projects. Along with state funds, the money came from the U.S. National Parks Service Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Delaware Community Foundation’s Pea Patch Island Endowment which was started with funds from an oil spill settlement years ago.
What improvements have been made?
Visitors now have a smoother tram ride from the island’s pier to the fort on the reconstructed tram road which is about four-tenths of a mile. Park trails have been upgraded.
The birdwatching platform has been rebuilt, with ramps to improve accessibility in line with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
A new screened pavilion with 16 picnic tables provides space for groups to have lunch shaded from the sun or rain and protected from insects. The pavilion can be reserved for weddings, family reunions or other celebrations.
The project also included a new building to store equipment and perform maintenance.
A ‘hidden gem’ that beats Fort Sumter, governor says
On Friday, Gov. John Carney joined DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin, state park staff, Delaware City Council members and reenactors from the 2nd Delaware Volunteer Infantry to celebrate the improvements at the park.
This was Carney’s first visit to the fort.
“I can’t think of a place that is really more special than this….It’s kind of a hidden gem,” Carney said.
He said he recently visited Fort Sumter in South Carolina, but it pales in comparison.
“We’ve got that place beat by a lot,” Carney said. “The DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation has done a great job preserving this historic site and bringing it to life for the public.”
The fort was built in the mid-1800s to protect Wilmington and Philadelphia from enemy attack. During the Civil War, the Union used it to house Confederate prisoners of war. After the Battle of Gettysburg, the population of prisoners swelled to over 10,000. Manned briefly during World War I and WWII, the island and fort were transferred back to Delaware in 1944. The state park was started in 1951.
Garvin said, “Our work today expands on generations of preservation efforts by park stewards and ensures Fort Delaware will remain a historical destination for generations of visitors to come.”
More than 10,000 toured the fort last year.
What can you do and see at Fort Delaware?
The park is a living-history museum where visitors can experience life during the Civil War, as described and demonstrated by staff members in period clothing. As you enter, check out the moat around the fort and the huge steel doors. Inside, tour the officers’ quarters, barracks, kitchen, blacksmith shop and ordnance room.
Teacher Marilynne Dickinson from St. Ann School in Wilmington has been bringing students to the fort for about five years.
The tours “put you in the shoes of people in history who shaped our lives,” said Dickinson.
Students can read the letters and journals of people who lived at the fort.
Demonstrations are a real eye-opener – how difficult it was to fix meals, sew and wash clothes and make tools and building supplies at the blacksmith shop.
“The reenactors really put forth an amazing effort to portray the whole concept of life at Fort Delaware,” said Dickinson.
Visitors can hear stories of great escapes, and watch a demonstration of the fort’s Columbiad cannon, capable of firing a 65-pound ball over two miles.
The fort was featured on the TV show “Ghost Hunters” and other paranormal shows. Ghost tours and mystery escape-room programs are offered at special times.
Herons, egrets and ibis can be seen at one of the largest wading bird nesting areas on the East Coast. A hiking trail and observation platform provide places for photography and nature study.
Along with the regular park tours, Fort Delaware staff offer special demonstrations free with park admission on certain days. For example on Saturday, May 13, join the crew in a cannon-firing presentation at 12:15 p.m., followed by a musketry demonstration at 2:15 p.m. For the schedule of special demonstrations, see the website.
Operating hours, ferry schedule and admission fees
Visitor access to Fort Delaware is only allowed on the ferry Delafort, operated by the Delaware River and Bay Authority. Private boats including kayaks and canoes aren’t permitted to dock on Pea Patch Island.
The ticket office and ferry dock are at 45 Clinton St., Delaware City.
Park hours through June 11 are Saturday and Sunday only, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. From June 14 to Sept. 3, the fort is open Wednesdays through Sundays and holidays, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. From Sept. 9-24, hours are Saturday and Sunday only, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The ticket office is open those days from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m.
The fort is closed after Sept. 24 until April.
The ferry takes visitors to the fort at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m., noon, 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. From the fort, the ferry goes back to Delaware City every half hour from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Fees are $12 for ages 13 and up, $7 for children 2-12, free for children under age 2, $11 for military personnel and seniors 62 and over with ID.
What to know, what to bring, what not to bring
Same-day tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the ticket office. However, to ensure a place on the ferry at the time you want to visit, reservations are recommended. For reservations, see the website or call 1-877-987-2757.
If reservations are canceled, a refund will be given if the cancellation is made at least seven days before the tour date, minus a $5 fee. No refund will be given if the cancellation is less than seven days from the tour date. If the park cancels tours because of bad weather, visitors will receive a refund.
Visitors under age 16 must be accompanied by someone 18 or older.
No pets are allowed, but service dogs are welcome.
No alcoholic beverages are allowed.
Tips and recommendations:
- Arrive early. Tickets must be bought at least five minutes before the ferry leaves, and parking may be a five-minute or more walk away from the ticket office.
- Wear closed-toe shoes. Some of the terrain is uneven, with small stones and gravel. Visitors will be asked to step onto wet biomats to prevent spreading of spores that cause white-nose syndrome in bats. The spores don’t affect humans but can be deadly to bats.
- Bring a water bottle and/or a picnic lunch. Picnic tables and a pavilion are available. Light snacks and soft drinks are available to buy on the island but quantities may be limited. All trash must be taken with you.
- Bring insect repellant and sunscreen or apply beforehand.
- Bring a light jacket in case of bad weather.
Reporter Ben Mace covers real estate and development stories. Reach him at rmace@gannett.com.
