Be Prepared for Fort Mifflin!

A Word to Those Who Would Enter the Fort
Should you be bound for Fort Mifflin, situated upon the marshy island below Philadelphia, there are certain things a prudent traveler ought to know before passing through its gates.

The Fort is no drawing-room. It was raised upon an island of mud, water, wind, and stone—and when the weather turns foul, the ground may prove as
formidable an enemy as any army.

Come prepared.

The Mire of Mud Island A Soldier’s Vigil at Fort Mifflin
by Silas Ainsley

Footwear: Lace Them Well

A stout pair of boots shall serve you best—tightly laced, firmly tied, and, if possible, waterproof.

The island upon which the Fort stands was built upon mud, and when heavy rain or snow arrives, that mud may become exceedingly deep and treacherous. There have been occasions when the earth itself has laid hold of a traveler's footwear and sucked the shoes clean from their feet.

Heavy rains may also bring flooding to portions of the Fort and the ground surrounding it.

Thus, let your boots be stout, your laces secure, and your expectations prepared for a little mud.

Fort Mifflin occupies a peculiar station, caught between the Delaware River and the Philadelphia International Airport. The open waters and surrounding grounds leave little to restrain the wind.

On a bitter day, the crosswinds may come hard and cold, cutting through clothing with the determination of a British musket ball.

The temperature may change the character of the Fort entirely. A mild day may become raw and unforgiving when the wind rises.

Dress accordingly.

There is another modern artillery piece stationed near the Fort—though it bears no resemblance to the cannon of 1777.

The airport lies immediately beside the historic grounds, and aircraft may pass overhead roughly every twenty minutes. When they do, the sound can be extraordinarily loud.

Those sensitive to loud noises may wish to bring ear protection.

Do not be alarmed when the heavens roar. It is not the British fleet returning.

And now, traveler, comes the greatest wonder of all.

During Siege Weekend, some of the Fort's reenactors make their quarters within its walls for the entire weekend. They sleep in the Casemates, the Soldiers' Barracks, and wherever else a weary soldier might find a place to lay his head.

Families take part as well—even children—and they come dressed in the clothing of the period. Then something remarkable occurs. You pass through the gates of Fort Mifflin, and for a moment, the present seems to fall away. The modern world grows distant. Soldiers walk the grounds. Families live within the walls. The barracks and casemates are occupied once more. Voices carry through the old passages. The Fort ceases to be merely a historic site and begins to feel like a place still living in the year 1777.

Do not merely observe it. Enter into it.
Speak with the reenactors. Ask questions. Be curious. Do not be afraid to ask anything.

These men, women, and children have come because they love this history. They are eager to speak about the people, the soldiers, the weapons, the clothing, the food, the hardships, and the extraordinary circumstances of the Revolution.

The more you ask, the more you shall discover. For those few hours, Fort Mifflin offers something that cannot be found in a book or behind the glass of a museum.

It offers the chance to walk into the past.

So lace your boots.