DELAWARE CITY, DE – Fort Delaware State Park will host its annual prisoner-of-war (P.O.W.) living history beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, August 10 and 11, 2019.
During this special weekend, Fort Delaware will come alive with re-enactors and historians dressed as they would have during the American Civil War. Visitors will be offered a fascinating and unique look at what life was like at Fort Delaware during the 1860s, including the reenactment of the prisoner in-processing procedures and speaking to the incarcerated rebels about their experiences. Guests will also observe prisoner mail call and firing demonstrations with blank charges on 19th century weapons.
With a number of additional re-enactors from a wide geographic range participating in the days’ events, visitors will see Delaware history as it happened almost 160 years ago.
Fort Delaware is a Civil War-era structure built to protect the city of Philadelphia from attack via the Delaware River. During the Civil War, it was used to house captured Confederates, Union criminals, and civilians arrested for acts of presumed disloyalty. Between the years 1862 and 1865, about 33,000 prisoners spent time at Fort Delaware. P.O.W. Weekends are the fort’s best opportunity to tell their stories.
Visitors also can view many of the park’s regular daily events, including seeing the fort’s blacksmith, listening to Civil War folk songs, watching musketry drills, and much more.
The event is free with the purchase of the ferry ticket which may be purchased same-day or online in advance. Most special programs at the park are free with Pea Patch Island admission.
The Fort Delaware ticket office and ferry launch is located at 45 Clinton Street, Delaware City, DE 19706. Fort Delaware is regularly open from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.