Fortified History

A sprawling Revolutionary stronghold still has stories to tell.

Keeping watch over Philadelphia for nearly 255 years, Fort Mifflin is much more than a weathered structure overlooking the Delaware River.

Its faded white masonry walls still carry the scars of American freedom from 1777, when the fort became one of the fiercest sites of resistance during the Revolutionary War. Even its later history lingers in the walls. In 2006, an unearthed cell known as Casemate #11 was found to contain what is believed to be Civil War-era graffiti, along with a coin and wine bottle from that period.

Philadelphia’s Revolutionary story is usually told in meeting rooms, assembly halls, and signed documents. Fort Mifflin tells the part that happened under fire — where a few hundred soldiers held the Delaware long enough to help Washington’s army survive.

Built in 1771 on Deep Water Island in the Delaware River, the fort was known during the Revolution by a far less polished name: Fort Mud. The name fit. This was not the marble-and-parchment side of the Revolution. This was the river side — muddy, battered, strategic, and dangerous.

After defeating Washington’s army at Brandywine in 1777, British forces moved into Philadelphia with little resistance. The city fell quickly. The Delaware River did not.

TOUR OF DUTY

At Fort Mud, roughly 400 American soldiers dug in and disrupted British control of the river, blocking the fleet’s ability to freely supply the army occupying Philadelphia. The position was small, exposed, and badly outgunned, but highly strategic.

The British answered with the largest cannonade of the American Revolution. Day after day, Fort Mud absorbed the assault. By November 15, 1777, with its ramparts badly damaged and its guns nearly spent, the Americans abandoned the position. They left quite a calling card. Before slipping away, they set the fort ablaze, with the American flag still flying in the night.

The stand at Fort Mud bought Washington something his army badly needed: time. Soon after, the Continental Army made its way to winter encampment at Valley Forge.

The British held the fort until their retreat from Philadelphia in June 1778. After the Revolution, Fort Mud was rebuilt. In 1795, it received the name we know today: Fort Mifflin, honoring Continental Army officer and Pennsylvania governor Thomas Mifflin.

The fort’s story did not end with the Revolution. By the time repairs were finally completed in 1863, Fort Mifflin was being used to hold Confederate prisoners, including a significant number captured after the Battle of Gettysburg.

That chapter brought its own unrest. The fort endured a prisoner rebellion in 1863 and an ill-fated tunnel escape attempt in 1864. One prisoner was executed there later that year.

Fort Mifflin’s role changed again during the First and Second World Wars, when the old river defense became part of Philadelphia’s military supply network. A small railroad connected the site to the Army Corps of Engineers depot and nearby naval facilities, helping move and store ammunition and other wartime supplies through the area.

STANDING ORDERS

The Army declared the site a national historic landmark in 1915 and finally decommissioned it in 1954. Ownership was transferred to the City of Philadelphia in 1962. Three years ago, a replica signal cannon was stolen from the Fort’s 14-foot exterior wall.

Despite the loss of firepower, Fort Mifflin remains a terrific daytrip for locals and tourists alike. Tours are available, events are scheduled regularly, and weekends include a ceremonial cannon firing at Philadelphia’s aging fortress from a bygone era — one being celebrated across America this year.

The scenery is part of the draw, too. With nature trails and picnic areas overlooking the river, it is easy to see why Fort Mifflin is often described as one of the city’s best-kept secrets.

This summer, the calendar includes a ghost hunt on June 20 and a special 250th Anniversary concert by the Philly Fife and Drum Company on Friday, June 5, at 7PM.

Fort Mifflin on the Delaware
6400 Hog Island Rd (South Philly, near the airport)
Open March 1 – December 15,
Wednesdays thru Sundays (10AM – 4PM)
Adults $10, Seniors $8, Kids $6 (under 5 free)
215-685-4167 / fortmifflininfo@gmail.com
Follow @OfficialFortMifflinInfo on Facebook and @TheFortMifflin on Instagram

SPIRIT(S) OF ’76?

Mifflin has gained a reputation as one of the most haunted locations in Philadelphia. Over the years, visitors and paranormal investigators have reported all kinds of strange happenings around the fort. There are stories of soldiers in Revolutionary War and Civil War-era uniforms, the sounds of cannon fire and marching footsteps with no one in sight, and even the ghostly figure of a screaming woman known only as “Elizabeth.”

Whether you believe it’s the spirits of those who served and suffered here, or just the kind of imagination a place this old can stir up, Fort Mifflin has become a go-to spot for ghost tours, paranormal research, and curious visitors who enjoy a little spooky fun with their American history.

Thoughts? Questions? My friends, I love your feedback! Please click the links for more information, and reach out in the comments below. If you enjoyed this history, please see my previous piece on the World Cup Fan Fest’s storied site in the heart of Fairmount Park.