Explore Fort Mifflin ruins (new and old) this Sunday and next

Festival-goers are allowed to meander along the southern edge of Mud Island and explore both the newly added and long standing ruins. Identifying which came first is particularly challenging with some of the structures, but that’s the idea. Neiditz and Webber hope their work will blur the lines between new and old. Luckily for them, Fort Mifflin has plenty of old.

The fort was built beginning in 1771, captured by the British in 1777 and later reclaimed by the U.S. It was used as a prison during the Civil War, decommissioned by the military in 1962 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970, nearly two hundred years after its construction. 

In the 1870s, gun emplacements were built on the southern edge of Mud Island and that area became known as the “High Battery.” Brave festival attendees can walk inside two of these structures located along the Ruins at High Battery trail. Dark, coated with mold and harboring the beginning of some cave formations, those ruins may not appeal to all. Though for some, these features might add to the adventure. 

If you decide to go, be sure to wear shoes you don’t mind getting muddy. Neidtiz said all ladders are fair game, but warned they’re only for one climber at a time.

Some ruins are easier to find than others, so take your time walking through and keep your eyes peeled. Be sure to watch for the somewhat hidden trail that breaks off and heads to the boardwalk. From there you will find one of Philadelphia’s unique, secluded views of the Delaware River.