Fort Delaware State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Delaware State Park |
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An aerial view of Fort Delaware State Park
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| Location | New Castle County, Delaware, United States |
| Area | 248.55 acres (100.58 ha) |
| Elevation | 3 feet (0.91 m) |
| Established | 1951 |
| Administered by | Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control |
Fort Delaware State Park is an exciting place to explore on Pea Patch Island. This island is about 248 acres large and sits in the middle of the Delaware River. It's a Delaware state park that's full of history and nature!
The fort was first built by the United States Army in 1815. Its job was to protect the important harbors of Wilmington, Delaware and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Later, during the American Civil War, it became a Prisoner of War camp. Fort Delaware kept protecting the river's entrance through World War I and World War II.
Today, Fort Delaware State Park is one of Delaware's first state parks, opened in 1951. You can only get there by ferry! Visitors come to learn about history, have picnics, and go hiking. The island is also a super important stop for migratory birds like herons.
You can catch a ferry to the park from Delaware City or Fort Mott State Park in New Jersey. The ferry ride is about half a mile long from Delaware City. Your ferry ticket also lets you visit Fort Mott State Park!
Contents
The History of Fort Delaware
How Pea Patch Island Got Its Name
Pea Patch Island started as a muddy bank in the Delaware River a long time ago. A fun story says that the island got its name when a ship carrying peas crashed there. The peas spilled out and started growing all over the island!
In the 1790s, a planner named Pierre L'Enfant thought the island would be a great spot for defenses. These defenses would help protect nearby cities like New Castle, Delaware and Philadelphia.
Building the Forts on Pea Patch Island
By 1814, the island was big enough to build a fort. The first Fort Delaware was a five-pointed wooden fort, built between 1815 and 1824. Sadly, this fort was destroyed by a fire in 1831.
Work began on a much bigger, stronger fort in 1836. But there was a long legal fight about which state owned the island. Delaware eventually won! So, construction started again in 1848 on the fort you see today. This brick and concrete fort was mostly finished by 1860.
Fort Delaware During the Civil War
During the American Civil War, Fort Delaware became a prison camp. The Union Army used it to hold Confederate soldiers they captured. Many prisoners from the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863 were sent here. Many prisoners who died at the fort are buried at Finns Point National Cemetery in New Jersey.
After the war, most of the soldiers and prisoners left. The fort was mostly empty by 1870, with only a small group of caretakers.
Fort Delaware in Later Wars
In 1898, tensions grew between Spain and the United States. Fort Delaware was made ready to protect the Delaware River again. Big guns were installed on the island, along with smaller ones. Other forts, like Fort DuPont and Fort Mott, were also built nearby. Soldiers were stationed at Fort Delaware until 1903.
The fort was used again during World War I in 1917, but most troops left in 1919. It was also manned during World War II after the Attack of Pearl Harbor in 1941. However, the defenses around Pea Patch Island were later removed. A newer fort, Fort Miles, took over the job of protecting the river's mouth. The guns were taken away in 1943, and the fort was abandoned in 1944.
Becoming a State Park
In 1947, Pea Patch Island and Fort Delaware were given to the state of Delaware. Then, in 1951, Fort Delaware State Park officially opened to the public!
Wildlife on Pea Patch Island
A Home for Migratory Birds
Fort Delaware State Park is a very important place for migratory birds. It has a huge bird rookery, which is like a bird nursery. It's considered the largest heronry (a place where herons nest) north of Florida!
Scientists believe that ibises, egrets, and herons started nesting on the northern part of Pea Patch Island in the 1950s or 1960s. This area was created with extra land by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The number of nesting birds grew a lot, from about 2,000 pairs to 12,000 pairs. This happened as birds were pushed out of their nesting spots on the mainland by people.
Protecting the Bird Population
Recently, scientists have become worried because the number of birds on Pea Patch Island is decreasing. Today, there are about 7,000 nesting pairs. Studies have shown that almost half of the baby birds born here in the last five years have not survived to leave their nests.
Experts have looked for problems at the park, like beach erosion. They think that changes in how land is used around the river might be affecting the birds. Many groups, including local, state, and federal governments, are working together. They have created a special plan to help the bird populations at Fort Delaware State Park grow again.
To protect the fort and the island from erosion, the United States Army Corps of Engineers built a 3,500-foot-long seawall during the winter of 2005-2006.
