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Fort Delaware State Park
Fort Delaware LOC 384066pu.jpg
An aerial view of Fort Delaware State Park
Fort Delaware State Park is located in Delaware
Fort Delaware State Park
Fort Delaware State Park
Location in Delaware
Location New Castle, Delaware, United States
Area 288 acres (117 ha)
Established 1951
Named for Fort Delaware
Governing body Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
Website Fort Delaware State Park
Fort delaware
Fort Delaware, Delaware by Seth Eastman (1808-1875), painted 1870-1875

Fort Delaware State Park is a cool place to visit in Delaware. It's a 288-acre (117 ha) state park located on Pea Patch Island. This island is in New Castle County, Delaware.

A big fortress was built on Pea Patch Island way back in 1815. This was near the end of the War of 1812. Its job was to protect the important harbors of Wilmington, Delaware and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The first fort burned down, but a new one was built before the American Civil War.

During the Civil War, Fort Delaware became a camp for prisoners of war. It kept protecting the Delaware River through World War I and II. In 1945, the fort was no longer needed by the military.

Fort Delaware State Park was created in 1951. It was one of the first state parks in Delaware. You can only get to the park by ferry. It's a great spot for learning about history, having a picnic, or going hiking. The fort is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Visitors can catch a ferry from Delaware City or Fort Mott State Park in New Jersey. The trip from Delaware City is about 0.5-mile (800 m). Your ferry ticket also lets you visit Fort Mott State Park.

History of Fort Delaware

Pea Patch Island started as a small mud bank in the Delaware River. This was in the 1700s. A fun story says the island got its name when a ship carrying peas crashed there. The peas spilled and grew all over the island!

By 1814, the island was big enough for the first Fort Delaware. This first fort was made of wood. It was replaced by the strong brick and concrete fort you see today in 1859.

Fort Delaware During the Civil War

During the American Civil War, Fort Delaware was very important. The Union army used it as a camp for Confederate prisoners. Many prisoners captured at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863 were sent here. Sadly, many prisoners died at the fort. They are buried nearby at Finns Point National Cemetery in New Jersey.

After the Civil War, most prisoners left. The fort was mostly empty by 1870, with only a few people looking after it.

Fort Delaware in Later Wars

In 1898, there were worries about a war with Spain. So, Fort Delaware became active again. Big guns were put on the island to protect the river. Soldiers were stationed there until 1903.

The fort was used again during World War I starting in 1917. Most troops left in 1919. Then, after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Fort Delaware was manned again for World War II. The big guns were removed in 1943. The fort was closed in 1944 and given to the state of Delaware in 1947. Finally, Fort Delaware State Park opened to the public in 1951.

Wildlife at Fort Delaware

Fort Delaware State Park is a special home for migratory birds. It has a huge bird rookery, which is like a bird nursery. This rookery is the biggest one north of Florida!

Bird experts, called ornithologists, think that birds like ibises, egrets, and herons started nesting here in the 1950s or 1960s. They built their nests on new land created by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

The number of nesting birds at the park grew a lot. It went from about 2,000 pairs to 12,000 pairs. This happened because humans pushed them out of their nesting spots on the mainland.

Protecting the Birds

Recently, scientists have been worried. The number of nesting birds has gone down to about 7,000 pairs. Studies show that almost half the baby birds born here in the last five years have not survived.

Scientists have found that beach erosion is a problem. This is when the land slowly wears away. To help, the United States Army Corps of Engineers built a 3,500 feet (1.1 km) seawall in 2005-2006. This wall helps protect the island from the water.

People from different governments and wildlife groups are working together. They want to create a plan to help the bird populations grow again. They are trying to understand why the birds are struggling. Changes in the river area and surrounding land might be affecting them.

Nearby State Parks

Here are some other state parks close to Fort Delaware State Park (within 30 miles (48 km)):

Images for kids

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    Fort Delaware

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