NEW SWEDEN ALLIANCE INCORPORATED
Many Cultures in the Delaware Valley Since 1638
Celebrate New Sweden Day
— March 28, 2026
Join us from 1:00–4:00 PM at Fort Christina, First State National Historical Park in Wilmington, Delaware, as we commemorate the arrival of the Swedes and Finns on this date in 1638.
Experience living history, music, ceremony, and cultural displays as multiple organizations come together to honor Delaware’s earliest European settlement.
🛍️ Calling All Vendors
We invite local artisans and vendors offering handcrafts, Nordic goods, early colonial items, and Lenape-inspired products to reserve a table at this FREE community event. Deadline for registration: March 1
📩 Email info@newswedenalliance.org to request space.
💙 A $10 fee per table is required and supports the work of the New Sweden Alliance. Payment can be made through our Donate page.
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Celebrate New Sweden Colony
Established in 1638, New Sweden Colony--the first permanent European settlement in the Delaware Valley--brought innovation and friendly trade relations to the New World. Founded primarily by Swedes and Finns from the Swedish Empire, along with some Dutch from the Netherlands, the multicultural nature of the colony expanded in 1639 when Antoni Swart (Black Antony) arrived from the West Indies and settled in New Sweden.
The Swedish ship Kalmar Nyckel dropped anchor at “The Rocks” on the shores of the river that the settlers would name for their queen, Christina. Radiating from the original Fort Christina in present-day Wilmington, Delaware, the colonists formed Swedish settlements as far north as the Schuylkill River in Pennsylvania and in Swedesboro and other communities in New Jersey.
New Sweden Alliance Incorporated formed in 2012 in anticipation of working together to produce a 375th anniversary celebration. In May 2013, we were honored to host Their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden and Speaker of the Parliament of Finland, Mr. Eero Heinäluoma and his wife, Ms Satu Siitonen-Heinäluoma, at New Sweden sites in Philadelphia, Chester, and Wilmington in honor of the Jubilee 375th Anniversary Celebration. And so, the celebration of New Sweden continues.
For more about us, click here.
SUPPORT OUR MISSION
The legacy of the New Sweden Colony is a vital chapter in America's early history—yet it's one that many have never heard. Your donation to the New Sweden Alliance helps us change that. Every dollar supports programs, exhibits, and events that educate, inspire, and celebrate the contributions of the Swedish and Finnish settlers who helped shape the Delaware Valley nearly 400 years ago.
With your support, we can:
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Share this rich heritage with future generations
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Preserve historic sites and artifacts
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Bring engaging history programs to schools and communities
History lives when we tell its stories. Help us keep the spirit of New Sweden alive—donate today.
