FORT DELAWARE

Wednesday, we headed for the state of Delaware to visit Fort Delaware.The ride took us about 90 miles through New Jersey across the Delaware Memorial Bridge and south in Delaware to Delaware City. Along the way we passed a very large rodeo complex with a huge cowboy out front.

Just past the rodeo grounds we passed a shrine with a large Jesus.

This is the entrance to the state park.  It consists of a ticket counter/gift shop/restroom, a small shaded park area and the pier where the ferry docks to take you out to the fort. The fort is on an island in the middle of the Delaware River. I don't know why I didn't get a picture of the ferry, shame on me.

On the ride over we saw this container ship heading out to sea.

This ship is in dock when we went over. Two hours later on our return trip it was heading out.

Our first look at the fort

This fellow was there to welcome us to the fort

Fort Delaware is a harbor defense facility, designed by chief engineer Joseph Gilbert Totten and located on Pea Patch Island in theDelaware River.^[3] During the American Civil War, the Union used Fort Delaware as a prison for Confederate prisoners of war, political prisoners, federal convicts, and privateer officers. A three-gun concrete battery, later named Battery Torbert, was built inside the fort in the 1890s and designed by Maj. Charles W. Raymond. By 1900, the fort was part of the three point concept, working closely with Fort Mott in Pennsville, N.J. and Fort DuPont in Delaware City, Del. The fort and the island currently belong to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and encompasses a living history museum, located in Fort Delaware State Park.

During the Civil War, Fort Delaware went from protector to prison; a prisoner-of-war camp was established to house captured Confederates, convicted federal soldiers, local political prisoners as well as privateers.^[25] The first prisoners were housed inside the fort in sealed off casemates, empty powder magazines, as well as two small rooms inside the sally port. In those small rooms, names of confederates can still be seen carved into the brick. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the island "contained an average population of southern tourists, who came at the urgent invitation of Mr. Lincoln." The first Confederate general to be housed at the fort was Brig. Gen. Johnston Pettigrew. During the war, a total of about a dozen generals were held within the fort as prisoners-of-war.

They have a working blacksmith shop in the fort. For five dollars the smith will help you make a 

s hook. I passed on that one. 

One of many cannons. One interesting thing about the rearmament in the fort, it was never fired in defense of the fort. 

A reproduction of a prisoner barracks

This is a nice fort to visit. They have some really good interpreters placed around the fort playing different roles within the Civil War time period. They all did a pretty good job staying in character. The cost was $22.00 for both of us which included the ferry to the fort and entry into the fort.

When we passed through Delaware City on the way to the fort we passed this blacksmith shop. On the way home the door was open so I had to stop. I enjoyed talking with the smith for a while. Kerry Rhodes's (pictured below) calls his shop Forged Creations. This is a working shop that turns out some really nice ironwork.

Our bike out in front of the shop

This restaurant sign is one of many things that this smith has created. I really enjoyed looking through his portfolio. He does some incredible work.

The Delaware Memorial Bridge

We had a great ride and the weather cooperated with us. It rained a little while we were at the fort. There were storm warnings around the area. We were able to make the ride without getting wet. We rode through areas where it had rained but it never rained on us.

Til next time

Duane and Louise