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Welcome to Fort
Miles, home of the
261st Coast
Artillery.
Built in 1941, the
massive coastal
fortification was
designed to defend
assets along the
Delaware River and
Bay such as oil
refineries and
factories, as well
as the city of
Philadelphia during
the Second World
War. It was
one of the largest
and most heavily
armed coastal
fortifications ever
built, and it was
home to some of the
finest cosmoliners
on the east coast of
the United States.
Today Delaware State
Parks is working to
restore a portion of
that facility so
that visitors may
experience what took
place here. |
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About
FortMiles.org |
Next Event |
If it is information
you seek,
FortMiles.org is the
largest source of
information on Fort
Miles available
anywhere. This
website is made up
of information from
the Fort Miles
archives, consisting
of photographs,
manuals, and primary
US Army documents
relating to the
facility. You
will find
information on the
weapons and
equipment used here
in the Firepower
section, events from
1900 to present in
the Timeline
section, and
information on the
role that the Navy
played at Fort Miles
both during WWII and
beyond.
Navigation is
designed so that you
can easily click
through the site to
learn more about
what made Fort Miles
work.
This site is also
designed as an
informational source
for re-enactors who
are currently
"serving" at Fort
Miles. We are
fortunate to have a
very dedicated and
hard working group
of people that call
Fort Miles a home. |
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Join Us! |
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Ticket Information |
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The next Fort Miles
Special Event "The
Dog Days of War" will take
place on Saturday,
02 August 2008.
Step back in time at
Fort Miles when
re-enactors with
period uniforms and
equipment bring the
WWII coastal
fortification back
to life. Witness gun
drills, firing
demonstrations,
and garrison life at
Fort Miles from 10
am (1000) to 4 pm
(1600). Then from 5
pm (1700) to 7 pm
(1900) join
re-enactors in a
garrison street
party with a brass
band playing tunes
of the 40's.
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Admission to the
Fort Miles Historic
Area is included in
the park entrance
fee for Cape
Henlopen State Park.
Guided tours of
Battery 519 are
$3.00 per person
during special
events. All other
events are free
during the day.
Get more information by
calling the Fort
Miles office at
(302) 644-5007. |
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Quick Facts
Active 1940 - 1996.
Size: Approx 5000 acres.
Armament: 16 major caliber
weapons.
Home to 2200 soldiers.
Second largest coastal
fortification in the US at
the time of its
construction.
Outgunned only by
Fort Story.
Named after Lt. General
Nelson Appleton Miles. |
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Donate
Fort Miles receives funding
through Delaware State Parks, but a
large part of our success comes from
donations from our visitors.
Learn how you can make a difference.
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FortMiles.org is maintained by
Michael Rogers, park historian at
Fort Miles, Cape Henlopen State
Park. |
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