HistoricSiteMarkers
American Revolution

Fort Mifflin

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

Marker Inscription

Laid out in 1771 by the engineer John Montresor. Heroically held by the Americans under British siege until they were forced out, Nov. 15, 1777. Rebuilt 1798-1800 according to L'Enfant's design and enlarged in the 19th century. A U.S. military post until the 1950s.

Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

The Story

Laid out in 1771 by the British engineer John Montresor, Fort Mifflin guarded the Delaware River approach to Philadelphia. In the autumn of 1777 its small American garrison endured one of the fiercest bombardments of the Revolution, holding out against overwhelming British firepower until forced to abandon the ruins on November 15—buying precious time for Washington's army. Rebuilt around 1800 to a design associated with L'Enfant and enlarged in the nineteenth century, it served as a U.S. military post into the 1950s.

Why it matters

Fort Mifflin's desperate 1777 defense helped shield the Continental Army during a pivotal season of the Revolution, and its long service life makes it a rare thread connecting the founding era to the modern military.

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Related people

  • · John Montresor
  • · Pierre Charles L'Enfant

Related events

  • · Siege of Fort Mifflin, 1777

Themes & tags

American RevolutionBattlefield

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