A Journey to the Dark History of Fort Delaware

Fort Delaware is an island that is accessible in a ferry in Delaware City. The first sight of the fort was intimidating. The fort dates back to the American Civil War. It served as a prison camp for confederate soldiers. The walls still have graffiti, inscriptions, and drawings made by prisoners. The prisoners faced extreme heat in the summer and bitter cold in the winter. The diary entries of the prisoners give a glimpse into their lives and how they survived. Around the fort, in the marshy area, there are nesting areas for wading birds, ducks and gulls, including the nearly endangered Red Knot species. I compared this prison with Alcatraz prison in California and found the conditions of Fort Delaware much worse.