More than one-hundred US sailors were killed in one submarine attack off of the Delaware Coast during a Mid-Atlantic siege. It’s well known to natives that Delaware was an important spot for the US Military during World War II. These towering, concrete behemoths were part of America's coastal defense system during the war as a measure to protect the bay and coastal towns of the area from encroaching enemies. Delaware Aglands Foundation votes to extend district enrollment for next round Date Posted: August 19, 2020. One of the surviving towers ... A Fort Miles World War II Observation Tower used to protect the coast is located in Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes, Delaware. Cape Henlopen Park offers visitors a chance to see the large guns used during the war and bunkers hidden in the dunes. Tower 3 is 64 feet tall with a view that extends more than 14 miles from the observation deck. After all, when we walk on the beaches we can see the imposing Fire Control Towers along the shoreline, and we can even wander through Fort Miles at Cape Henlopen State Park. Tower #3 is located inside of the Delaware Seashore State Park just south of Dewey Beach, DE. 70 years later, the towers are still upright and still tell a chilling story. In the shadow of the tall observation towers that line the Cape Henlopen Coast lies abandoned World War II ruins at Fort Miles Historic Area, which is open for exploration year-round. Along the Delaware coast stands a series of watchtowers which helped protect the United States during World War II. It is a two storey tower. A portal for Delaware state government. in Look-Out Towers. It was renamed Fort Miles in 1941 and after the war became an Army training base, a naval facility, a recreational facility, and finally the U.S. turned it over to the State of Delaware … Part of the immense Harbor Defense of the Delaware system known as Fort Miles, the World War II Lookout Tower has played a major part in coastal defenses. N 38° 46.580 W 075° 05.566. Observation Tower, M5 (Prevote Tower) This Army Artillery Observation Post designated M5 is situated high on the south coast cliffs. Along the Delaware coast stands a series of watchtowers which helped protect the United States during World War II. Bethany Beach WWII Observation Tower, Delaware Silk Screen Print by Artist Charlie Barton These towering, concrete behemoths were part of America's coastal defense system during the war as a measure to protect the bay and coastal towns of the area from encroaching enemies. Exploring These WWII Ruins In Delaware Will Take You Back In Time. Ft.Miles Observation Tower # 7 - Cape Henlopen, DE. This was the site of a watch-house which was destroyed to build the tower. Join the Delaware Seashore Preservation Foundation and The Fort Miles Historical Association in the restoration of World War II Artillery Fire Control Tower #3 located within the Delaware Seashore State Park on Route One just south of … They’d climb rope ladders – 5 stories worth – to perch in their watch towers and scan the horizon. Visit 1940s bunkers and batteries, see machine guns up-close, and even climb a tower to relive the area’s involvement in the Second World War. See more ideas about delaware beaches, delaware, rehoboth beach. Buy Lewes, Delaware - World War II Observation Tower at Cape Henlopen State Park 9008168 (Playing Card Deck - 52 Card Poker Size with Jokers): Standard Playing Card Decks - Amazon.com FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases State of Delaware, New Castle County Launch $100M Grant Program for Small Businesses and Nonprofits Statewide Date Posted: August 19, 2020. Perhaps the most intriguing landmarks on the southern Delaware coast are the World War II observation towers. Fort Miles Historic Area at Cape Henlopen State Park: Climb the Observation Tower - See 171 traveler reviews, 96 candid photos, and great deals for Lewes, DE, at Tripadvisor. A three-mile pathway encompasses the park and is dotted with plaques explaining the significance of Delaware’s participation during World War II. “The Cape Henlopen Lighthouse Reservation” was turned over to the War Department in 1938. Take a "Trucking Through History" Tour Board an authentic WWII-era troop transport truck, and see the park from a new perspective! Fire Control Towers. Bethany Beach, DE; Bethany, DE - In City Limits; Dewey Beach; In-Town Lewes; In-Town Milton; In-Town Rehoboth Beach; Kings Creek Country Club; Lewes - East Of RT.1; Lewes Beach, DE; Rehoboth Beach Yacht & Country Club Not only did the tower's occupants spot the enemy, but they also helped forces on the ground tune in their artillery to make sure the enemy decided not to return. Towers built of concrete to last about 20 years. The soldiers were good at watching for Nazi ships. Fort Miles was a United States Army World War II installation located on Cape Henlopen near Lewes, Delaware. Location: Delaware, United States. There are 11 towers in Delaware. The Cape Henlopen tower was opened to the public through a partnership between the Delaware Seashore Preservation Foundation and The Fort Miles Historical Association. Delaware Seashore State Park, Rehoboth Beach Picture: WW2 observation towers from accross the marsh - Check out Tripadvisor members' 3,431 candid photos and videos of Delaware … They were used to look for enemy … There are 11 watch towers in Delaware and southern New Jersey. Swim, surf, fish and sun at the oceanfront park, which includes trails, the Fort Miles Historical Area with a World War II observation tower, and fish tanks and other exhibits at the nature center. Most are closed off from the public but are still reachable on foot for an up close view. Location: Cape Henlopen State Park, Rehoboth Shoreline, Bethany Beach Shoreline, Fenwick Island Shoreline. (Dover, DE: Public Archives Commission, 1955), 7. ... 2015 to identify the important significance of the target acquisition and control purposes of the towers during WW2. Known as ‘fire towers’, these simple statuesque buildings range in size from 50-feet to 64-feet high. You would expect that other great bays, such as the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, would boast similar towers. During World War II, soldiers monitored the same coastlines as they searched for approaching enemy ships or stealthy submarines. Mar 25, 2014 - Explore Terry Celano's board "Delaware WWII towers" on Pinterest. Currently, only one tower is open to the public. Dotted along the Delaware coastline are 11 of them - sentinels that were built to last only 20 years, yet still stand, strong and brave. The towers were created between 1939 and 1942, used as watch towers during World War II, and expected to stand for only 20 years. Miles. Soldiers would take readings on offshore targets. As the primary fort of the Harbor Defenses of the Delaware, it was built to defend Delaware Bay and the Delaware River and … Built between 1939 and 1942, the 11 observation towers along the state’s coastline were designed to last 20 years. Like the Henlopen tower, Tower #3 will be open to the public and for tours. 2 War Branch, The Adjutant General’s Office, Administrative Services Division, Strength Accounting Branch. On a clear day, visitors atop the Cape Henlopen tower can see 14-and-a-half miles of coastal scenery. Sign up for the latest updates from ShoreBread! Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware Seashore State Park, and Fenwick Island State Park are homes to the eleven concrete towers built during World War II. Delaware’s Ghost Towers, Standing Tall, WWII Towers, Delaware Beaches, Southern Delaware, Sussex County. Built in 1942, the tower was one of 15 towers that helped aim batteries of coastal artillery, stretching from North Wildwood, N.J. to Bethany Beach, Del. What's Trending . 18S E 491941 N 4291960. A network of numerous concrete and steel bunkers and observation towers were quickly erected across the tiny State of Delaware's coastline in the 1940s in an effort to keep an eye on German U-Boat patrols that were coming into the Atlantic Ocean and into the Delaware … Quick Description: Abandoned Observation Tower used during World War II to protect the Delaware coast - now restored and open to the public. Restored World War II observation tower. They were used to look for enemy … Picture at left shows the new marker with tower in background. Although funds to build the fort were approved in 1934, it was 1938 before construction began on the fort. More importantly was that these towers were unique along the United States shore. ... Twelve concrete observation towers along the coast were constructed during World War II to protect the state's coastal towns from German U-boat attacks. Reaching almost 100 feet tall, the observation towers built during the World War II era can still be found along the shores of Delaware today. Sitting high above water level, soldiers were able to spot enemy ships and submarines out in the distance. Wray continued to explain how the towers were used in pairs to triangulate large defense guns at Cape Henlopen. Across the Eastern Seaboard of Delaware, 11 cylindrical concrete towers rise above the coastal plains and marshes and overlook the Atlantic. The towers were created between 1939 and 1942, used as watch towers during World War II, and expected to stand for only 20 years. Restoration groups have a set a budget of $500,000 to preserve the tower. Eleven towers built along a 40-mile stretch in Delaware To find out more about restoration efforts, visit, A Remarkable Story of Holistic Healing With Zenna Wellness’s Chrissy Knight – and How You Can Do It Too. The cylindrical concrete towers were erected by the Army during World War II to watch for Nazi ships and submarines. Climb to the top of the WWII observation towers in Cape Henlopen State Park and discover 360-degree views of the Atlantic coastline. Efforts have been underway to restore a second tower, Tower #3, for years now. Dine out and shop on Second Street Second Street in Lewes, Delaware is a picturesque small town setting filled with delicious dining options and fun boutique shopping. Impeding German submarines patrolled the East Coast and sunk one US ship per week. One major upgrade was the Fire Control System capabilities with the construction of five observation towers in Delaware. The WWII Towers continue to stand tall. On 3 June 1941 it was named for Lieutenant General Nelson A. The towers were used in World War II to help defend the U.S. from enemy ships; crews kept a watch on the ocean and would have alerted the Army at Fort Miles had the enemy ever been spotted. The Delaware Energy Office offers grants up to 50% of the installed cost of photovoltaic, solar water heating, wind, and geothermal renewable energy technologies. Presenting high-level information about Delaware, links to state agencies, and connections to services for residents, businesses, job seekers, and visitors. Cape Henlopen, on Delaware Bay, has long been a public use area although it did not officially become a Delaware state park until 1964. The barreled guns could shoot a 2,700 pound shell about 25 miles. During the early ‘40’s, the United States Army was commissioned to build the towers. Address: Prevote Headland Towers were built from 1939 to 1942 to defend Delaware’s coastline in World War II, protecting the entrance to Delaware Bay from German ships. Reaching almost 100 feet tall, the observation towers built during the World War II era can still be found along the shores of Delaware today. The tower was originally clad with granite to camouflage it as a Napoleonic tower. One tower found in the Cape Henlopen State Park, known as Fire Tower #23, was recently restored and allows visitors a panoramic view of the Cape it once defended. Discover the purpose of these iconic towers and how they played an important role in WWII coastal defense. Update your browser to view this website correctly. 12” and 16” barreled guns were positioned along the coast, hidden in sand dunes and camouflaged in salt grass, and fired in the direction that coordinated with the incoming enemy ships. For 70 years, visitors to Delaware’s beaches have gone swimming in the shadow of strange concrete towers that are a grim reminder of a time when America was at war on these shores. Tower #1 Fenwick and Tower #2 Bethany Resotrations! Climb to the top of Tower 7, a World War II observation tower, for a panoramic view of the entire park! 70 years later, the towers are still upright and still tell a chilling story. To find out more about the park, check out their website: Money is still being raised to help fund the restoration of Dewey’s Tower #3. These towers are silent sentinels of WWII. Eleven towers dot the coast, stretching from Fenwick Island northward to … The fortifications along the Cape Henlopen, as well as the lone towers in Cape May and along the Delaware shore near Bethany Beach are a fascinating study. Filed Under: #Bethany Beach, #Cape Henlopen, #DE, #Delaware, #Delaware Bay, #Featured, #Fenwick, #Fire Towers, #Fort Miles, #History, #History, #MD, #Ocean City, #Tower, #War, #World War 2, #World War II. Posted by: Ernmark. 1 William H. Conner and Leon deValinger, Jr. Delaware’s Role in World War II, Volumes I and II. They are the subject of my post when we celebrate today the end of WWII. Today, these 65-year-old guardians no longer serve a purpose except to stand tall and preserve the memories, hardships and sacrifices of a generation who went to war. Tower #3 was built in 1942 and cost the US Army $17,900 to build. These are the observation towers - some call them fire- or watchtowers, built during the Second World War as a key piece in the nation's coastal defense to … Those readings would then be radioed back to a gunnery room at Fort Miles (a symbolic fort that encompassed land in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey). The triangulation calculations were turned into coordinates. Across the Eastern Seaboard of Delaware, 11 cylindrical concrete towers rise above the coastal plains and marshes and overlook the Atlantic. DNREC Offers Compost Bins and Rain Barrels at Discount Prices Date Posted: August 19, 2020 “The towers were the eyes of the fort,” said Gary Wray, president of the Fort Miles Association. 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