Milford Hundred in Kent County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Observation Tower at Big Stone Beach

Photographed by Don Morfe, November 10, 2019

1. Observation Tower at Big Stone Beach Marker

Inscription. The metal observation tower at Big Stone Beach was one of five constructed in Delaware between World Wars I and II to reinforce nearby Fort Saulsbury. These towers formed an integral part of the fort’s fire control system. Built from metal and corrugated siding, each tower featured two or three observation decks; each deck supported a particular gun located at Fort Saulsbury. Military personnel positioned at the Big Stone Beach tower first worked to identify and confirm enemy targets, then relayed the information gathered to the fort. This tower is the only remaining observation tower used to support Fort Saulsbury, which was decommissioned in 1946.

Erected 2015 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number KC-115.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, World I • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives series list. A significant day of the year for for this entry is May 31.

Location. 39° 0.03′ N, 75° 19.704′ W. Marker is near Milford, Delaware, in Kent County. It is in Milford Hundred. It is on North Big Stone Beach Drive. The marker is near the

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

tower on Big Stone Beach Road at the intersection of South Big Stone Beach Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Big Stone Beach Road, Milford DE 19963, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Mid-Atlantic,

on the Delmarva Peninsula,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Fort Saulsbury (approx. 4.6 miles away); Birds (approx. 5.3 miles away); Town of Bowers (approx. 5.7 miles away); The Atlantic Horseshoe Crab (approx. 6.1 miles away); The Memorial Vol. Fire Co. (approx. 6.1 miles away); Absalom Jones (approx. 7.2 miles away); Barratt's Chapel (approx. 7.2 miles away); a different marker also named Barratt's Chapel (approx. 7.3 miles away).

Photographed by Don Morfe, November 10, 2019

2. Observation Tower at Big Stone Beach Marker

Photographed by Don Morfe, November 10, 2019

3. Observation Tower at Big Stone Beach Marker

Photographed by Don Morfe, November 10, 2019

4. Observation Tower at Big Stone Beach Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on May 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2019, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 708 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 13, 2019, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.