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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 |
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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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Next Special Event |
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Ticket Information |
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The next Fort Miles
special event will
take place on August
15, 2009. This
event will feature a
re-enactment of the
surrender of U-858,
a German submarine
that surrendered to
US forces on the
mine dock at Fort
Miles. By
popular demand, this
event will also
include an extra
Battery Tour!
Click here for a
schedule of events.
We hope to see you
at Fort Miles on
August 15th! |
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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Join Us!
Interested in
joining the 261st Coast
Artillery re-enactment unit?
Click
here to learn
how. |
Donate
If you would like to
donate to the Fort
Miles project,
please send your
check or money order
to:
Fort Miles
42 Cape Henlopen
Drive
Lewes, DE 19958
Attn: Richard
Julian |
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Quick Facts
Active 1940 - 1996.
Size: Approx 5000 acres.
Armament: 16 major caliber
weapons.
Total Cost
$22 Million (1944 USD)
$334 Million (2008 USD)
Home to 2200 soldiers.
Named after Lt. General
Nelson Appleton Miles. |
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FortMiles.org is maintained
by Michael Rogers, Park
Historian at Fort Miles,
Cape Henlopen State Park.
This website is not
hosted by
Delaware State Parks. |
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