June 13, 2023
@Fort_Mifflin/Twitter
A 300-pound replica cannon was reported stolen from a wall at historic Fort Mifflin in Southwest Philadelphia. The theft happened sometime between May 27 and June 4.
A 300-pound replica cannon that sat on top of a 14-foot wall at Fort Mifflin in Southwest Philadelphia has been reported stolen.
The one-inch bore signal cannon went missing between May 27 and June 4, according to the nonprofit that runs the historic fort.
Though it was not an antique, the cannon remains an important aspect of the fort.
"We're a small nonprofit, and this is sort of a sentimental cannon for us," Beth Beatty, the executive director of Fort Mifflin, told 6ABC.
Security cameras did not catch anyone removing the cannon. The Philadelphia Police Department is investigating the incident.
"It had to be removed from this box and then removed down from the top of the wall," Beatty said. "Then it would have to be moved across the parade ground and loaded into a truck."
The cannon, which costs $3,000, does work, Beatty said.
Fort Mifflin, located on the Delaware River near the Philadelphia International Airport, played a role in the Revolutionary War, with the British sieging the base from Sept. 26 to Nov. 16, 1777.
The fort initially was named Fort Island Battery and was renamed after Thomas Mifflin, a Continental Army officer and the first governor of Pennsylvania. It also was an active base during the Civil War.
Despite being used primarily as a tourist destination in the 1900s, Fort Mifflin played a part in the homefront efforts to support troops during World War I. It was named a national historical monument in 1915. Fort Mifflin also served as a U.S. Navy ammunition depot during World War II.
In 1962, Pennsylvania transferred ownership of Fort Mifflin to Philadelphia, and it was named a national historic landmark in 1970.
Today, Fort Mifflin offers "guided tours, living history programs, and a wide variety of events, including group tours, education programs, historical reenactments, scout programs, and paranormal investigations," according to its website.
Anyone with information about the stolen cannon is asked to contact Fort Mifflin at (215) 685-4167 or Philly police.
