the site has been known as a historic site since 1921, when congress deeded the fort to the state, which turned it over to the city to maintain. the site was turned into a popular bathing and picnic area but pollution and the hurricane of 1938 brought such recreation to an end. the site, neglected, became overgrown and the fort fell into decay. in 1967, the fort nathan hale restoration project was founded by a group of concerned citizens interested in the restoration and preservation of fort nathan hale.