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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. New Sweden MonumentThis monument in Riverview Beach Park, Pennsville, N.J., was dedicated in 2004 to commemorate the contributions made by New Sweden. The monument is on the Delaware River, near the parking lot at the end of Pittsfield Street. |
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Who Wore What When video releasedDocumentary available for historical and educational groupsThis video, based on the "Who Wore What When" fashion show in the fall of 2017, is now avaialable. The program, which showcases clothing worn in the New Sweden territory from colonial days to the 20th Century, is free for all to watch and share. Scenes from the fashion show are complemented with historical background notes and imagees. It is tailored to be of special interest to educational and historical organizations. 
Seven log cabins show what a colonial Swedish farmstead would have looked like. The buildings are at the center of the completely rebuilt Governor Printz Park in Essington. Photo by Bill Moller Farmstead established in EssingtonColonial showcase at center of renewed Printz ParkThe New Sweden Farmstead Museum in Essington, Pa., has been completed and first opened for public tours Saturday, June 12, when reenactors demonstrated colonial life in the collection of log cabins. The cabins in the center of Printz Park replicate the type of farm the first Swedish settlers created in New Sweden when it was settled in the early 17th Century. Governor Printz Park sits on the ground that served as the capital of New Sweden starting in 1643. The farmstead was originally built in Bridgeton, N.J., where it was opened in 1988 as part of celebrations of the 350th anniversary of the founding of New Sweden. The renewed farmstead brings the attraction to a waterfront location that is easily accessible to the Philadelphia and Wilmington metropolitan areas. The village was constructed by The New Sweden Company with support from area historical groups. Covid rules will restrict access to the interior of the structures, but there is signage outside for each of the seven log buildings. For more information about the farmstead, click on this link and this link. Governor Printz Park is on the Delaware River at Taylor Avenue and West 2nd St, Essington, Pa 19029. The park is named after Johan Printz, governor of New Sweden from 1643 to 1654. For more information about the site, click here.Volunteers soughtIf you are interested in volunteering, please click here for the application form.
Take a look into our
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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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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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• A Leni Lenape mannequin in colonial period clothing.
1938 painting by Louise Della Rocca
