Cape Henlopen State Park is situated at the mouth of the Delaware Bay and has 6+ miles of coastline. The “Point” of Cape Henlopen, which is where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, shaped the history of this landscape. For millenia, native people lived off the land’s abundant and rich resources. For example, in the late 1600s, William Penn granted the land and allowed citizens to harvest many of the same resources. As a result of the area’s strategic position, it led to the construction of Fort Miles during World war II––with its iconic fire control towers along the Atlantic coast and, which served as a federal defensive site, training area and testing location both during and after the war. A diverse collection of habitats makes up the coastal ecosystem of Cape Henlopen State Park. Barrier dune, coastal beaches, and maritime forest are home to many species of plants and animals. Visitors are encouraged to visit the Seaside Nature Center to participate in an interpretive program or learn about the park’s native plants and animals.