American Swedish Historical Museum



The American Swedish Historical Museum was founded in 1926, the year that marked the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Americans from all backgrounds celebrated their heritage and their contributions to the United States of America. A group of Swedish-Americans was inspired to build the Museum as a permanent monument to Swedish contributions in the United States.
The Museum is located on land that was once part of a 17th-century land grant from Queen Christina of Sweden to colonist Sven Skute. The main building was modeled after a 17th-century Swedish manor house, and the arcades are patterned after those of George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon.
Three of the Museum’s 12 galleries are devoted to the history of the New Sweden Colony, established in the Delaware Valley in 1638. The museum provides a wealth of information about this often unfamiliar period in our history. Other galleries, ranging in style from Art Deco to International, concentrate on more recent Swedish contributions, including those of John Ericsson, who built the Monitor; Fredrika Bremer, novelist and women’s rights activist; and Jenny Lind, the soprano.
A Swedish farm-house interior, or stuga, honors the large wave of Swedish immigration during the second half of the 19th century, and one gallery is dedicated to Alfred Nobel and the Nobel Prizes. Included in the collections on display are beautiful examples of Swedish glass and works by Carl Larsson, Carl Milles, and Anders Zorn.