Fort Delaware State Park

Closed — Closed for the season. Reopens April 25, 2026. The park operates weekends and holidays from May through September, and Wednesdays through Sundays from mid-June until Labor Day.

About

Fort Delaware State Park preserves a significant piece of Civil War history on Pea Patch Island in the middle of the Delaware River. The Union fortress, dating to 1859, was constructed to protect the ports of Wilmington and Philadelphia and later housed up to 33,000 Confederate prisoners during the Civil War. Today, visitors experience immersive living history programs with authentically costumed interpreters who bring the summer of 1864 to life. The island offers more than just military history. The Prison Camp Trail leads visitors to an observation platform overlooking the Pea Patch Heronry, home to an estimated 1,000 to 1,500 breeding pairs of herons, egrets, and ibises. Osprey and bald eagles also nest on the island. Fort Delaware has gained notoriety for paranormal activity and has been featured on television programs including Ghost Hunters. Access to the park is exclusively by ferry from Delaware City, a half-mile journey across the Delaware River. The fort continued its defensive role through World War I and II before being declared surplus in 1945 and established as one of Delaware's first state parks in 1951.

Directions

Fort Delaware State Park is located on Pea Patch Island and is accessible only by ferry from Delaware City. The ferry departs from 45 Clinton Street, Delaware City, Delaware 19706.

Nearby Campgrounds