Fort Miles, Delaware — History & Visitor Guide

Fort Miles (Lewes, Delaware, Delaware)

Lewes, Delaware · Delaware · World War II

Quick BriefFort Miles was a United States Army World War II installation located on Cape Henlopen near Lewes, Delaware. As the primary fort of the Harbor Defenses of the Delaware, it was built to defend Delaware Bay and the Delaware River and to protect domestic shipping from enemy fire between Cape May and Cape Henlopen, particularly from the German surface fleet. On 14 May 1945, the German submarine U-858 officially surrendered at Fort Miles; it was the first foreign surrender on American soil since the War of 1812. Today the site operates as a museum within Cape Henlopen State Park.

Coastal defenseOpen to visitors

History & Significance

Although funds to build the fort were approved in 1934, it was 1938 before construction began on the fort. On 3 June 1941 it was named for Lieutenant General Nelson A. Miles.

Fort Miles would house nearly 2,500 soldiers and civilian personnel, cover more than 1,000 acres, and cost $22 million to build – worth $420 million in today's dollars. In 1941, construction of two artillery batteries, Battery Smith (2-16-inch BC) and Battery 22 (4-155mm mobile) were begun, with Battery #519 (2-12-inches BC), Battery Herring (2-6-inches SBC), and Battery Hunter (2-6-inches SBC) undertaken in 1942.

Fort Miles ultimately included over 1,500 acres and stretched from little Lewes south to Rehoboth Beach and beyond, and included areas across the Delaware Bay at Cape May, New Jersey. Numerous batteries (ranging from 90 mm (3.5 in) guns up to 16-inch (406 mm)) were installed at the fort and a large mine field was laid in the waters off Lewes, Delaware in the following years, but the fort was to see no action during the conflict.

By 1950 the Army's coast defense role had been transferred to the Navy and coastal artillery defenses were obsolete with the fort becoming surplus. In 1964, 543 acres (2.2 km2) of federal land were donated to the State of Delaware to establish Cape Henlopen State Park. Over time, more land was transferred to the state park until Fort Miles ceased operation as a military MWR facility altogether in 1991.

Key Facts

StateDelaware

LocationLewes, Delaware

Established1941

Decommissioned1991

War / eraWorld War II

Current statusMuseum / Historic Site

Coordinates38.77722222, -75.08694444

NRHP reference4001076

Map

Loading map…

🧳 Visiting

What you’ll see when you visit:

Restored World War II artillery batteries with 3-inch to 16-inch guns
Observation towers offering Delaware Bay views
Historical exhibits on coastal defense and German U-858 surrender
Concrete gun emplacements and bunker structures
Located within scenic Cape Henlopen State Park

Best time to visitSpring (April-May) and fall (September-October) offer mild temperatures ideal for exploring outdoor battery sites; summer can be humid and hot along the Delaware coast.

Getting thereNearest airport is Cape May County Airport (WWD), approximately 30 km away; the fort is located in Lewes, Delaware.

From the nearest major airportAtlantic City International Airport (ACY)🚗 149 mi by road⏱️ ≈ 3 hr 47 min drive

Fort Miles (Lewes, Delaware, Delaware)

History & Significance

Key Facts

Map

🧳 Visiting

Sources

Other Forts in Delaware

Explore Other States