Originally called Newbold’s Landing, Delaware City was given its present name in 1826 as the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal was being built. Promoters anticipated growth and prosperity for the town in the early days. Delaware City’s visions of greatness were first hindered in the late 1850’s by expanding railroads and again in 1927, when a new sea-level entrance to the canal opened two miles south of town.

Fishing, hunting, and trapping were once popular activities in Delaware City. By 1930, pollution had destroyed the fishing industry. Fortunately, conditions have since improved.

Delaware City is the departure point for the Delafort, the passenger ferry boat that transports visitors to Fort Delaware State Park on Pea Patch Island. Originally built to protect the ports of Wilmington and Philadelphia, this fort should not be missed on your tour of the coast. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this U.S. Army fortress dates back to 1859 and once served as a prison for Confederate prisoners of war.

The State of Delaware acquired the fort from the federal government in 1947 and named it one of Delaware’s first state parks in 1951. The ¾-mile Prison Camp Trail and living history programs allow visitors to capture the mood of the Civil War period and discover what life was like for prisoners, guards, and other residents of the fort.

In addition to the park’s historical significance, there are many natural treasures to observe on Pea Patch Island—the summer home to nine different species of herons, egrets, and ibis. The park offers a nature trail and observation tower which allow visitors to explore the island’s natural beauty.

Nearby Fort DuPont State Park is also located along the Delaware River. Named for native Delawarean and Civil War naval commander Rear Admiral Samuel Francis du Pont, the fort underwent three major periods of coastal fortifications, dating from the Civil War through the First World War. When visiting the park, take time to walk the Fort DuPont Trail. This one-mile trail travels through the remnants of a military heritage dedicated to defending the Delaware River.

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