Established in 1863 as the Ten Gun Battery opposite Fort Delaware, Fort DuPont later saw construction begin in 1897 on concrete gun batteries armed with long-range rifles, rapid-fire rifles, and mortars. It was renamed in honor of Rear Admiral Samuel F. DuPont, U.S. Navy, for his distinguished service in 1899. During World War II, the fort served as a prisoner of war camp, housing roughly 3,000 POW’s who provided labor for a variety of industries. Fort DuPont was deactivated in 1946 and sold as surplus property, then reopened in 1948 as the Governor Bacon Health Center, and portions of its land were dedicated as a state park in 1992.