Fort Miles
Fort Miles was a United States Army World War II installation located on Cape Henlopen near Lewes, Delaware. 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 | |
|---|---|
| Part of Harbor Defenses of the Delaware | |
| Sussex County, Delaware | |
| Type | Fortification |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Public - State of Delaware |
| Controlled by | Cape Henlopen State Park |
| Open to the public | Yes |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1940–1942 |
| Built by | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| In use | 1942–1991 |
| Materials | Reinforced concrete, earth |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison |
|
Fort Miles Historic District | |
U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
Battery 519 at Fort Miles, Circa 1973 | |
| Location | Cape Henlopen State Park, Sussex County, Delaware, USA |
| Nearest city | Lewes, Delaware |
| Coordinates | 38°46′50″N 75°05′30″W |
| Built | 1940 |
| NRHP reference No. | 04001076 |
| Added to NRHP | September 30, 2004 |
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. The fort also operated a controlled underwater minefield to prevent ships entering the Delaware River estuary. One of these mines was revealed following 2016 Hurricane Hermine by local Cape Henlopen state park staff. The sea mine and anchor were archaeologically conserved.
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. The Army continued to use portions and in 1962 the Navy established Naval Facility (NAVFAC) Lewes, a Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) shore terminal there to replace the one at Cape May across the bay in New Jersey that was damaged in a storm. The NAVFAC was in commission 1 May 1962 to 30 September 1981. The headquarters building now houses the Biden Environmental Conference Center.
The fort is now Cape Henlopen State Park.