Picture of Fort DuPont

Fort DuPont State Park


Find Your Adventure at Fort DuPont State Park

Battery at Fort DuPont

Walk the River View Trail

Walk along the River View Trail and see both Battery Elder and Battery Read and Gibson. Stop to consider the role of Fort DuPont as part of a three-fort system in the evolution of coastal defense. Bring binoculars for spotting wildlife along the trail.

WWII movie theater at Fort DuPont

Explore the Grounds

Walk around the property and read the waysides to discover the history of this park, which served as a military base from the Civil War all the way through World War II.

About the Park

the gun battery

Named for a Civil War U.S. Naval hero, Fort DuPont was built to protect port cities along the Delaware River, like Wilmington and Philadelphia from enemy ships. When its weaponry became obsolete after World War I, Fort DuPont’s role switched primarily to training. The backbone of Fort DuPont’s coastal defense included its rifle, mortar and rapid-fire batteries that can still be seen today. A theater built in the 1930s still stands on the property, as well. The Riverview Trail is a prime spot to watch wading birds fly between Pea Patch Island and the mainland. Visitors can also see ospreys dive for fish in the river during the summer months, a variety of waterfowl in winter and bald eagles year-round.

Fishing and Boating

TThe park is bounded on two sides by the scenic Delaware River and the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. Use the boat launch to get out on the water to fish and explore the Delaware River. Click for information about fishing and fishing permits.

Recreation

The River View Trail takes you alongside the Delaware River and affords a glimpse of the site's rich historic past. Six gun batteries were built at Fort DuPont during what is known as the “Endicott Period” (1898-1910), and five of them can be seen along the trail: Batteries Read and Gibson, completed in 1898; Batteries Rodney and Best, and Battery Elder, completed in 1899; and Battery Elder, completed in 1904.

Upcoming Events

World War II Stories from Fort DuPont

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

6:30 PM

Fort DuPont was a very busy military post during World War II. For this program, we will draw out some stories from the Fort DuPont 'Flashes,' the soldier newspaper that was published during the war. There are some great stories and people that we will talk about! This program will be held via Microsoft Teams. It is free, but registration is required to get the sign-on link. Please register by emailing Jake at Jacob.miller@delaware.gov, or by calling 302-601-6382.

Add to Calendar 4/9/2024 6:30:00 PM 4/9/2024 7:30:00 PM America/New_York World War II Stories from Fort DuPont Fort DuPont was a very busy military post during World War II. For this program, we will draw out some stories from the Fort DuPont 'Flashes,' the soldier newspaper that was published during the war. There are some great stories and people that we will talk about! This program will be held via Microsoft Teams. It is free, but registration is required to get the sign-on link. Please register by emailing Jake at Jacob.miller@delaware.gov, or by calling 302-601-6382. Fort DuPont

Walking Tour

Saturday, April 13, 2024

2:00 PM

Fort DuPont may seem quiet now, but in the 1930s and 1940s it was an important, bustling military base! Come along with our park historian as we talk about life at the fort in this period, and imagine what it would have been like to live here. Wear sturdy, waterproof shoes for this one-hour tour. This program is free, but participants are encouraged to register in advance by calling our office at 302-834-7941.

Add to Calendar 4/13/2024 2:00:00 PM 4/13/2024 3:00:00 PM America/New_York Walking Tour Fort DuPont may seem quiet now, but in the 1930s and 1940s it was an important, bustling military base! Come along with our park historian as we talk about life at the fort in this period, and imagine what it would have been like to live here. Wear sturdy, waterproof shoes for this one-hour tour. This program is free, but participants are encouraged to register in advance by calling our office at 302-834-7941. Fort DuPont

Walking Tour

Saturday, May 18, 2024

10:00 AM

Fort DuPont may seem quiet now, but in the 1930s and 1940s it was an important, bustling military base! Come along with our park historian as we talk about life at the fort in this period, and imagine what it would have been like to live here. Wear sturdy, waterproof shoes for this one-hour tour. This program is free, but participants are encouraged to register in advance by calling our office at 302-834-7941.

Add to Calendar 5/18/2024 10:00:00 AM 5/18/2024 11:00:00 AM America/New_York Walking Tour Fort DuPont may seem quiet now, but in the 1930s and 1940s it was an important, bustling military base! Come along with our park historian as we talk about life at the fort in this period, and imagine what it would have been like to live here. Wear sturdy, waterproof shoes for this one-hour tour. This program is free, but participants are encouraged to register in advance by calling our office at 302-834-7941. Fort DuPont

Battery Hike

Saturday, June 1, 2024

10:00 AM

Fort DuPont began its life as an artillery post, defending the river passage to Philadelphia from enemy ships. How was it prepared for this role? In this hike, we will discuss all of the various weapons systems at Fort DuPont, and how they worked. We will also see the remaining concrete emplacements from the early 1900s. Wear sturdy, waterproof walking shoes that you don't mind getting dirty for this one-hour tour. This program is free, but participants are encouraged to register in advance by calling our office at 302-834-7941.

Add to Calendar 6/1/2024 10:00:00 AM 6/1/2024 11:00:00 AM America/New_York Battery Hike Fort DuPont began its life as an artillery post, defending the river passage to Philadelphia from enemy ships. How was it prepared for this role? In this hike, we will discuss all of the various weapons systems at Fort DuPont, and how they worked. We will also see the remaining concrete emplacements from the early 1900s. Wear sturdy, waterproof walking shoes that you don't mind getting dirty for this one-hour tour. This program is free, but participants are encouraged to register in advance by calling our office at 302-834-7941. Fort DuPont

Map and Directions