One of the oldest military bases in the United States— one that pre-dates the Declaration of Independence— Fort Mifflin, on the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Commissioned in 1771, it was originally known as Fort Island Battery and, sometimes, as Mud Island since it sits on Mud Island. Renamed in 1795, the name honors continental Army officer and first post-independence Governor of Pennsylvania, Thomas Mifflin.
While the fort's military engagements date back to the American Revolutionary War, the Union utilized Fort Mifflin to house Confederate prisoners of war as well as Union soldiers and civilian prisoners during the Civil War. The fort served part of a Naval Ammunition Depot in World War I. In World War II, the Army also stationed anti-aircraft guns to defend the nearby Fort Mifflin Naval Ammunition Storage Depot and the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.
Fort Mifflin stands at the crossroads of old and modern Philadelphia, holding within its walls 250 years of American history. The landscape still bears its Revolutionary roots. Visitors can tour the Commandant’s House or wander through the dark corridors of the casemates. Observant eyes, however, can spot some of Fort Mifflin’s more elusive markers scattered throughout the site.
During our trip, we spotted a placard placed above the main gate. Although now weathered, the sign commemorates individuals integral to Fort Mifflin’s early history. It honors John Adams, the second President of the United States, and John McHenry, the Secretary of War during Adams’ tenure. The last line is nearly indecipherable. A crack branching through the concrete eroded the name of the third individual. After some detective work, the person was finally given a name – Louis Tousard, the engineer who helped plan Fort Mifflin’s reconstruction.
The Revolutionary War left destruction in its wake, and Fort Mifflin contended with its share of damage. In 1795, Tousard initiated its reconstruction using the plans created by Pierre L'Enfant, the very man who mapped out what would become Washington, D.C. Tousard revitalized Fort Mifflin. He engineered improved defenses and barracks that could accommodate more soldiers, upgrades that would ultimately carry the Fort into the War of 1812.
The Fort witnessed countless moments in our nation’s history. On your next visit to Fort Mifflin, take time to take in the small, hidden details so often overlooked. You’ll never know what you might find.