Fort Delaware, on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River, near Delaware City. The fort was built from Quincy granite between 1853 and 1859, replacing a star-shaped fort that existed from 1816 to 1827, and was demolished after a fire in 1831. The fort was meant to protect shipping centers of Wilmington and Philadelphia, but was located far downriver after it became evident during the War of 1812 that forts should not be so close to the cities that they defend. The fort was used as a prisoner of war camp during the Civil War, and was also used during the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II.