About Fort Delaware State Park
Fort Delaware State Park centers on the massive brick-and-granite fortress on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River. The fort dates to 1859 and was built to defend the approaches to Wilmington and Philadelphia; during the Civil War it became a major Union prison for captured Confederate soldiers. Its isolated island setting and surviving defensive works make the journey itself part of the historical experience.
Visitors depart from the Fort Delaware ticket office in Delaware City for a short ferry ride to Pea Patch Island, then continue by tram to the fort. Costumed interpreters portray life in 1864, exhibits display artifacts and models of the island, and scheduled demonstrations can include the firing of an 8-inch Columbiad with a gunpowder charge. Ferry capacity and the park’s seasonal schedule make advance ticket purchase advisable even though unreserved same-day tickets may be available first come, first served.
