Out and About in Delaware's State Parks

Every year, more than a million people flock to Delaware’s largest state park, Cape Henlopen. These visitors come for numerous reasons such as bird watching, hiking, biking and camping. As popular as these activities are, the undisputed "top" destination for visitors is the parks’ beautiful beaches. While that may have been the case in the past, the situation may soon be changing…at least if park historian, Lee Jennings, has anything to say about it! Lee, with the help of Division staff, the Fort Miles Historical Association and other volunteers has begun the challenging task of bringing back Cape Henlopen’s rich military history. The following information was provided by Lee describing this exciting effort to create a unique outdoor living history museum at the park.

How many people know that Cape Henlopen State Park includes what was once one of the most heavily armed fortifications ever built in the United States? Fort Miles, built during the Second World War bristled with huge weapons designed to protect the vital shipping lanes into and out of the Delaware River. The largest of these weapons, two sixteen inch naval guns, could fire a 2,400 pound projectile more than twenty miles.

Today the most obvious remnants of Fort Miles are the tall cylindrical fire control towers that line the beach from the tip of the Cape to Fenwick Island. These towers housed the instruments used to determine range and bearing to the targets of the guns. Information gathered at these stations was relayed by telephone to a plotting room. Plotters determined the exact settings for the guns and relayed that information to the individual gun rooms. At the proper moment, the battery commanders ordered the highly accurate guns to fire.

Over the past several years, the Division of Parks and Recreation has taken on the task of "recreating" this important part of Delaware’s history. Staff have done painstaking research in an effort to accurately tell the story of this site. The process has included numerous interviews with military personnel who had previously been stationed at Fort Miles. The Division has also gathered a collection of similar weapons to those which were originally found there. All these efforts culminated this past summer with the introduction of living history tours at Fort Miles. Visitors to the site were greeted by interpreters who proudly wore the uniform and told the story of the 261st Coast Artillery, the Delawareans who manned the guns at the Fort.

Our accomplishments this past season are just the beginning. Restoration of the site will be on-going for a number of years. When completed, the Fort Miles "museum" will consist of two areas. Battery 519 which lies under the great dune will display the 12 inch gun together with all of its supporting equipment, shell and powder rooms, communications gear, and sporting a complete 1944 appearance. The balance of the 800 ft. long building will house exhibits describing the home front in Lewes, the war in the Atlantic, the role of the Delaware River pilots, and the surrender of a German U boat. The north gun room will house an ultra modern underwater listening station. Microphones placed on the continental shelf during the cold war to track soviet submarines will now connect to 15 computer work stations. Each of these will allow visitors to listen to sea mammals, or to play tracking games with passing ships.

The second area will evolve as an outdoor living history museum based around the barracks which housed the gunners who manned Battery 519. The Division plans to restore all the buildings in this area to their 1944 appearance. At the top of the nearby World War II tower authentic instruments will be available for visitors who wish to learn the art and science of Coastal Artillery.

Delaware State Parks takes a "hands on" approach to living history. We make every effort to have authentic equipment that our visitors can experience directly. All of the guns on site will be functional. Visitors will have the opportunity to join interpreters in practicing the drills for loading and shooting these weapons. Special event days with additional World War II reenactors will enhance the visitors’ experience in understanding the rigors of life at the Fort.

We hope visitors to the resort area will come out to Cape Henlopen to experience and help recreate this important part of our country’s military history. Check out our program guides for dates and times of future tours.

Fort Miles "Star" Attraction Gets a Face Lift
As part of the restoration efforts at Fort Miles, the Division has been involved in a lengthy and challenging effort to acquire numerous authentic weapons to recreate the appearance of the military site. This sometimes daunting process has been a bit of a logistical nightmare involving the cooperation of legislators and various state and federal agencies. Among the greatest challenges was arranging to move a 91-ton gun from Dahlgren Naval Surface Warfare Center in Virginia…not a simple task by any means! That weapon, a twelve-inch battleship gun, was moved to Cape Henlopen in the spring of 2002. Once on site, the job of restoring the piece was begun by a team of dedicated volunteers and professionals. After months of effort, work was recently completed giving the gun the facelift it so desperately needed. The gun must now wait for restoration work to be completed on Battery 519 which will be its future home.

Nature’s Best Bets
If you are looking for fun and exciting ways to spend your spare time, why not check out the Seaside Nature Center at Cape Henlopen State Park? The Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the year The Nature Center provides programs designed for individuals and families. A highlight of any visit is viewing the five 1000-gallon aquariums that feature different aquatic habitats. You’ll be glad you took the time to explore this exciting facility.

If you are looking for fun activities, here are a number of "best bets" at the Seaside Nature Center in Cape Henlopen State Park:

Special Event: Children’s Fantasy Trail • Friday & Saturday, Oct. 22 & 23 from 6 p.m.–8:30 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 24 from 5–7 p.m.
Bring the kids, (costumes welcomed and appreciated), to a bigger and better Fantasy Trail! New for this year, extended hours and more storybook characters. Entertainment is provided under the tent each evening by singer Jackie McCabe, storyteller Lollipop, and magician Jack Noel. $4 per person.

Note: Trail of Terror will no longer be held following the fantasy trail.

Basic Birding • Saturday, Oct. 30 and Nov. 20, 8:30 a.m.
Set out for an introductory bird walk as we explore different habitats in search of the many species of songbirds, waterfowl, seabirds, and raptors that migrate to or through the park each autumn. Binoculars and field guides are recommended.

Marine Muses • Saturday, November 6, 1 p.m.
Unravel the marine ecosystem that abounds within the area of Sussex County, Delaware. Each month will delve into various habitats as you venture to different site visits within the boundaries of this diverse county. Contact the nature center for site locations and activities.

For more information on these and other park programs, contact the Seaside Nature Center at 302-645-6852 or visit www.destateparks.com.