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Celebrating Colonists Day 2014 are, from left, Mark Hogate, Donn Draper, Aleasa Hogate, descendant of Anders Larsson Dalbo 1640, Donna Draper's granddaughter, Bill Hutchinson, portraying Peter Minuit, and Chief Dennis Coker of the Lenape Tribe. Check out the video of Colonists Day 2012 on this page, below left. News briefsFirst State National Historic Park, the nation's newest national park in Delaware, is expanding its activities to include grants to take school children on field trips to cultural and heritage sites. Click here for more on park developments. "The Landing of the Swedes" by Stanley M. Arthurs depicts the first contact in 1638 between the Swedish settlers and Native Americans. The meeting took place along the Christina River in present-day Wilmington. The image is made possible through the generosity of the Permanent Collection of the University of Delaware Click on the logo or name to visit us on Facebook New Sweden Centre TEL
302-429-0464 Email:
info@colonialnewsweden.org
Mail-Business Address:
Tours/visits by appointment:
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Welcome
The New Sweden Centre, Who are we?Volunteers, educators, history buffs What do we do?Promote Delaware Valley's history 1638-1776 with focus on Swedish, Finnish and Lenape culture Where are we?As a museum without walls, we have exhibits throughout the Delaware Valley. Our main exhibit is in JA Finance Park, reaching 10,000 students yearly at Junior Achievement of Delaware, 522 Walnut St., Wilmington, DE 19801 When can I visit?Make a reservation: call 302-429-0464 or send us an email How can I help?Join or donate. We always welcome new members interested in being museum hosts, reenactors, speakers or liaisons. Click here to go to the membership page. Click here to call up the volunteer form.
College internshipsInternships are available for a variety of interests and skills. Click here for details. |
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Don't miss the Festival at the FortColonial celebration has attractions for all ages
Everyone will find something fascinating at this year's Festival at the Fort, Sunday April 28, noon-4 p.m. The event will mark the coming of spring and celebrate colonial life in the Delaware Valley. There will be tours of Old Swedes Church and other historic buildings, tours of the tall ship the Kalmar Nyckel and a wreath ceremony at Fort Christina Park. There will also be special activities for children. Experience the rich heritage of the Wilmington Colonial-era cultures of the Lenape, Swedes, Finns, Dutch and English with an afternoon of fun and learning for the whole family. All events take place along the 7th Street Peninsula in Wilmington, Del. Parking available at the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation, 1124 E 7th St, Wilmington, DE 19801. Proceeds will Benefit the New Sweden Centre as well as the Old Swedes Foundation, the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation, the Delaware Swedish Colonial Society, and the New Sweden Alliance.
Premiere showing of videoWho Wore What When fashion show subject of filmFriends of New Sweden, you are invited to the premiere showing of the video of our "Who Wore What When" fashion show. The show was presented at the Hagley Museum. It featured clothing worn in the Delaware Valley from the colonial period up through the 19th Century. The professionally produced video captures the attire of a variety of cultures, from the Lenape to the Swedish, Dutch and English settlers. The video will be shown this fall. The date and location will be announced here as soon as it is set. We hope that you will be able to join us. Please RSVP with an email here. . |
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Do you recognize this woman? |
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This portrait of a woman modeling a traditional outfit was painted by Louise Della Rocca in 1938 for the 300th anniversary of New Sweden. The painting was recently donated to the New Sweden Centre by Louise's daughter, Della Hankel. But we do not know if the painting was done from a live model, or whether the woman was created from the artist's imagination. If you have any information about the painting, please send us an email: info@colonialnewsweden.org |
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Settlers trunks now available
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New Sweden Centre 'Museum Without Walls'Exhibits on display throughout regionDear Friends,2013 was a year of transition for the New Sweden Centre. While we may no longer enjoy the use of our own space at the Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard, we are making a smooth transition into a Museum Without Walls. We have already established partnerships with several local museums. • Our Captain Mannequin and colonial fireplace set are now located at the in the Delaware Military Museum at 1st Regiment Rd, Wilmington, DE 19808. • Our Swedish Lady and child, plus many of our kitchen items, are now located in the Hendrickson House in Wilmington, DE. • Our "Explore New Sweden" panels are now located in the Swedesboro-Woolwich History Museum in Swedesboro, NJ. • Our model of Fort Christina is now on display at the Redding City/County building, 800 N. French St., Willmington. • We are also serving as the "Non Profit Brand" in JA Finance Park, utilizing the Colony to Community panels as a temporary exhibit until we can create a new, youth focused exhibit at the Junior Achievement Center (JA) in Wilmington DE. This facility serves Salem County, NJ and New Castle County, DE and reaches approximately 10,000 students yearly. • Our Cabin corner and fireplace, Black Anthony, and our educational materials are now available for loan. • We are actively marketing the book, Africans in New Sweden by Abdullah R. Muhammad • We have a nice collection of colonial tools, old but not period historical, we would like to loan to another museum. We will have some of the miniature Historical figures to loan out. • We offer a traveling exhibit: "Colony to Community: The Story of New Sweden." This display, developed by the American Swedish Historical Museum, is now available for your conference or special event highlighting local history. Send us an email for more information. We are continuing to work with Old Swedes Foundation, the Delaware Swedish Colonial Society and the New Sweden Alliance in the annual celebration of the landing of the Swedes to be held at Fort Christina Park in Wilmington on April 17. Anyone interested in assisting us please get in touch. 302-429-0464 or e-mail us at info@colonialnewsweden.org. Feel free to call Education Director Aleasa Hogate at 856-678-5511 |
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Colonists' Day 2012Enjoy this five-minute video of the 2012 celebration and day's activities.  The hand of friendship extended at the ceremony celebrating the 374th Anniversary of the landing of the Swedes and Finns at "The Rocks" in Fort Christina Park at Colonists' Day, April 14th, 2012. Bill Hutchinison, left, in the persona of Peter Minuit, greets Dennis Cokerchief of the Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware, Inc. 375th Anniversary Conference presentations now online Lu Ann De Cunzo of the University of Delaware talks about the struggles the early settlers faced in the Delaware Valley in this online view. Her presentation is one of many from the 375th New Sweden Anniversary Conference now available here. The conference was held Nov. 8-10 at the university. The above link will bring up a web page listing the available talks with links to the recordings. Peter Minuit, founder of New Sweden,
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1938 painting by Louise Della Rocca
