The FMHA “Museum Happenings” is published monthly and more frequently as needed to keep you up-to-date on events at the Fort Miles Museum. This update is as of April 12th.

Fort Miles Outdoors Tours Resume!

Seaside History Hike, April 23rd
11:00 am

A park historian will lead you across a sandy trial ending at the Delaware Bay. See World War II relics and remnants, discover the Delaware Breakwater Quarantine Station and listen to tales of the pirates who once roamed the Bay. This tour begins at the Seaside Nature Center. For ages 7 and older accompanied by an adult. Limit 10. $3 per person. Please pre-register by calling 302-644-5007. Face masks required.

Artillery Park Walk, April 24th and 30th
11:00 am

Join historic interpreters for a walk through the Fort Miles Artillery Park and learn about the variety of artillery pieces brought into Fort Miles during WWII to help protect the entrance to the Delaware Bay and key cities north of the Bay’s entrance. Tours form at the Museum’s Orientation Building located at the base of the new Fort Miles parking area. For ages 7 and older accompanied by an adult.  Limit 10. Please call 302-644-5007 to pre-register.  Free with park entrance. Face masks required.

Cold War Bike Tour, May 1st
11:00 am 

Ride (your own bike) along with a park historian to see relics of the Cold War that developed between the U.S. and the USSR following WWII. Listen to tales of Doomsday ships, spies, Soviet submarine tracking and more. Tours meet at the Orientation Building located at the base of the new Fort Miles parking area. For ages 10 and older accompanied by an adult. Limit 10. Please call 302-644-5007 to pre-register. $5 per person. Face masks required.

Fort Miles Battery 519 Museum Tours

At present, the Museum continues to be closed to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions. As soon as indoor tours can resume an update will be posted on this website.

Exhibit Refresh Work Continues

While waiting for the go-ahead to resume indoor tours and other events at the Museum, work continues on a complete refresh of World War II exhibits related to Fort Miles as one of the most important U.S. coastal defense fortifications during the war.

The initial refresh provides a look at day-to-day life as a soldier at Fort Miles, community life in and around Fort Miles and mine planting operations, which became an important element of the Fort’s defense capabilities.

As 2021 progresses, additional exhibits will be introduced and existing exhibits refreshed to provide a more in-depth look at artillery operations. The complexities of spotting an enemy vessel, determining its target grid, moving powder bags and shells to one or both of two 12-inch guns and firing the gun are not insignificant and will be brought home as a result of these enhanced exhibits. In addition, the ultimate surrender of a German submarine at Fort Miles in 1945 will be presented in more detail in the Museum’s South Gun Room.

As these and additional exhibits and refreshes of current exhibits reach the final design stage, we will keep you updated. Thanks to all for your continuing interest in the Fort Miles Museum and its exciting future.

Cape Henlopen State Park

Cape Henlopen State Park’s amazing beaches are now open open! For information on programs and activities offered at the Park, visit www.destateparks.com/Cape.