League Island facts for kids
League Island was once an island in the Delaware River, located in the city of Philadelphia. It was just a short distance upstream from where the Schuylkill River meets the Delaware. This island became well-known as the site of the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Since the late 1900s, the area has been developed into a modern industrial park, now called "The Navy Yard."
League Island: A Changing Landscape
League Island is no longer an island today. The "Back Channel," which was a waterway that separated the island from the mainland, was filled in at its eastern end. This created new land for a military airfield called Mustin Field. This airfield closed in 1963. The western part of the old channel is now known as the Reserve Basin. This basin is where some ships of the U.S. Navy's reserve fleet are kept.
Today, the area that was once League Island is a busy industrial park. It is known as "The Navy Yard." Many different businesses and industries operate there. It is a key part of Philadelphia's economy, showing how a historical site can be reused for modern purposes.
