Dream Drives: History and Haunts at Fort Mifflin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Passengers taking off from Philadelphia International Airport fly over a little-known fort used in every major American war: Fort Mifflin.
You might not even realize how many times this historic spot was used in wartime before it was decommissioned. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1970.
"Welcome to Fort Mifflin," said executive director Elizabeth Beatty. "We're probably the most heroic historic site you've never heard of."
Fort Mifflin served in every major American war. In 1777, American Patriots battled the British navy for six weeks there.
"It was reconstructed as part of the first and second system of seacoast fortifications, garrison for the war of 1812, a federal prison during the Civil War, a Navy munitions depot during WWI, a munitions depot and anti-aircraft battery during WWII," Beatty said.
Fort Mifflin still has old-fashioned bomb protection.
"You have the impression that you're underground, right? But we're actually in tunnels called casemates or bombproof shelters," Beatty said. "They were built in the late 18th century. So this was built as barracks and in case of any future bombardment."
Fort Mifflin is also a hotspot for ghost hunters. Sometimes, a visitor who believes in the paranormal swears they saw something in these tunnels. One visitor, Beatty said, "came back up to the office and said, 'You didn't tell me you were having a Halloween party. There was a Civil War soldier in the back of the casemates.'"
Tourists "never know what you're going to see," Beatty said. "We often have a lot of added hands-on demonstrations."
Sometimes Fort Mifflin guide and all-around expert Alex Bell fires the reproduction weapons, such as the small Revolutionary War field cannon. In wartime, it would fire a cannonball weighing approximately three pounds.
"We love our black powder demonstrations here at Fort Mifflin," Beatty said. "We want to make sure everyone has a blast."
Fort Mifflin is at 82 Fort Mifflin Road, Philadelphia, PA 19153 and its website is http://www.fortmifflin.us
