Join us at the Archives for September’s First Saturday Program: Prisoners of Fort Delaware

Nearly 33,000 Confederate prisoners of war passed through Fort Delaware during the Civil War. 

Originally built as a coastal defense fortification in the Delaware River, Fort Delaware took on a very different role during the conflict, becoming one of the federal government’s largest and most notorious military prisons. 

This Saturday, September 5, at 10:30 a.m., join us at the Delaware Public Archives for Prisoners of Fort Delaware, presented by Taylor Reynolds, Chief of Cultural Resources at the Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation. 

The program will draw upon primary-source materials created by those imprisoned at Fort Delaware to explore the routines, restrictions, and challenges that shaped their experiences. Through their firsthand accounts, attendees will gain a closer look at the individuals behind the number of prisoners held within the isolated fortress. 

Today, Fort Delaware State Park welcomes visitors to tour the historic fort and reconstructed prisoner barracks, offering a tangible connection to this complex chapter of Civil War history. 

The program is free and open to the public. 

For more information about the Delaware Public Archives or to learn more about upcoming events and programs, visit archives.delaware.gov.