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Fort Miles Battery Herring: A Silent Sentinel of WWII

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Discover Battery Herring at Fort Miles in Cape Henlopen State Park: a WWII coastal defense and Cold War listening post.

Explore Battery Herring, a historic WWII artillery battery within Cape Henlopen State Park. Once buried under sand, this site offers a glimpse into coastal defense strategies and later, Cold War operations.

A brief summary to Fort Miles Battery Herring

Eve
From Eve

Know before you go

Hi, I'm Eve. Here are a few practical things to know before exploring Fort Miles Battery Herring.

  • Combine your visit with a trip to the nearby Fort Miles Museum in Battery 519 to learn more about the fort's history.
  • Explore other attractions within Cape Henlopen State Park, such as the beaches, hiking trails, and the Seaside Nature Center.
  • Remember that a daily entrance fee is charged to enter Cape Henlopen State Park from March 1 to November 30.

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Getting There

  • Driving

    From Lewes, take Cape Henlopen Drive into Cape Henlopen State Park. Follow the signs for Fort Miles. Once inside the park, continue straight until you reach the Fort Miles area, which is well-marked. Parking for Fort Miles Battery Herring is near the Herring Point parking lot. Park entrance fees are $5/day for Delaware vehicles and $10/day for out-of-state vehicles, between March 1 and November 30.

  • Public Transport

    Take DART Route 204 to the Lewes Transit Center. From there, transfer to the park using a taxi or ride-sharing service. Alternatively, from the Lewes Transit Center, you can take a local bus to the DRBA Ferry Terminal and walk 32 minutes to the park. A one-way bus fare is approximately $2.00 - $4.00. Park entrance fees are $5/day for Delaware vehicles and $10/day for out-of-state vehicles, between March 1 and November 30.

  • Walking

    If you are already within Cape Henlopen State Park, follow the walking paths towards the Fort Miles area. Look for signs indicating the direction to Fort Miles and Battery Herring. The walk offers scenic views, but the distance varies based on your starting point.

Discover more about Fort Miles Battery Herring

Fort Miles Battery Herring, located in Cape Henlopen State Park near Lewes, Delaware, is a historical landmark with a rich military past. Constructed between 1942 and 1943 as part of Fort Miles, Battery Herring played a crucial role in the coastal defense during World War II. The battery was equipped with two 6-inch guns, ready to defend the Delaware Bay and River from enemy naval attacks. Like other batteries at Fort Miles, Battery Herring was originally covered with sand for camouflage and protection. After the war, in December 1945, the military repurposed the area around Battery Herring as a top-secret Bumblebee missile testing site. For two years, missiles were launched over the Atlantic from Herring Point. In 1962, the U.S. Navy took over the site and constructed a Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) shore terminal, known as Naval Facility Lewes (NAVFAC Lewes). The battery was excavated and expanded to house a generator that powered the terminal equipment building, which aided in the surveillance of Russian submarines during the Cold War. Although Battery Herring is currently not open to the public, its exterior can be viewed from the Herring Point parking lot.

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