Exhibitions | American Swedish Historical Museum

From the age of the Vikings to the settlers of the New Sweden Colony (1638-1655), to contemporary issues in Scandinavian society, the American Swedish Historical Museum will take you back in time and across the sea to learn the stories of Swedes in America.

Go behind the scenes of From Taste to Tech at this months FREE Third Thursday virtual program, THIS Thursday, April 16th from 12:00 - 1:00 PM!

UPCOMING

A Century in the Making: 100 Years of ASHM

Discover how a century of change has shaped ASHM into the Museum you know today. The special Museum-wide exhibition A Century in the Making: 100 Years of ASHM invites visitors of all ages to journey through time and see how the American Swedish Historical Museum has evolved with a dynamic blend of past and present through rarely seen artifacts, captivating photographs, and personal stories. This once-in-a-century exhibit looks to the past, honors, the present, and invites visitors to imagine ASHM's next 100 years.

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Collection Highlights

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Brass, steel, wood
c. 1880
United States
Gift of the United Engineering Trustees Inc.

John Ericsson Solar Model

Gravitational energy, solar steam engines, and tidal power … sounds like science fiction, right? Think again! Swedish-American inventor, John Ericsson, was ahead of his time when he researched such theories in the mid to late 1800s. Ericsson invented this solar-powered steam engine, for example, to reduce the use of coal.

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.36 caliber, 6-shot cylinder, 7 1/2 barrel
Engraved, "Nere A. Elfwing" along back strap
Steel; brass; wood
Colt's Manufacturing Company
Hartford, Connecticut

Colt model 1861 single-action Navy percussion revolver

Crafted with precision by Colt’s Manufacturing Company in Hartford, Connecticut, this masterpiece boasts a .36 caliber, 6-shot cylinder, and a commanding 7 ½-inch barrel.

The revolver belonged to Nere Albert Elfwing, who was born in Sweden in 1832. Elfwing later moved to America and was employed at the Swedish Embassy in Washington.

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Bust of Otto Goldschmidt in the Jenny Lind Room

Joseph Durham (1814-1877)
Marble
England, 1877
Gift of Ernst Goldschmidt

Bust of Otto Goldschmidt, Husband of Jenny Lind

Otto Moritz David Goldschmidt (August 21, 1829 – February, 24 1907) was a composer, conductor, pianist and educator originally from Hamburg, Germany. He gained renown across Europe for his lyrical compositions and virtuosic piano skills. Settling in England after marrying soprano Jenny Lind, Goldschmidt he became a notable conductor in London's music scene, conducting major venues and festivals, including the prestigious Crystal Palace concerts. His works include symphonies, chamber music, and lieder, blending romanticism with classical forms.

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American Swedish Historical Museum Cane Axe

Wood, iron, mother of pearl
Late-17th/ early-18th century
Dalarna or Uppsala, Sweden
Gift of Ormond Rambo Jr. 1982.716

Cane Axe (Käppyxa)

After a decline in traditional usage, cane axes saw a renaissance by the late 1600s. Young noblemen at Uppsala University wielded these axes not in battle or mining but instead as fashionable accessories. This particular axe—with its ornate mother-of-pearl veneer and runic inscriptions—was likely part of this rebirth.

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Iron, wood
9th – 12th century
Sweden
Gift of Ivar Thord-Gray

Viking Sword

While we often consider the Vikings as raiders, they were also crafty merchants and brilliant navigators. Spears and shields were more common weapons for Vikings while only the wealthiest warriors carried swords.

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Meerschaum, amber, and leather.
Mid-late nineteenth century.
Possibly made by Heinrich Gottlieb Ludwig Reichenbach.
Gift to the Museum, 1947.

Skull Pipe

Made in Belgium in the mid-to-late nineteenth century, this magnificently carved meerschaum pipe features an elegantly carved amber stem, and a grotesque bowl wrought in the shape of a grinning skull. Though not of Swedish make, the pipe is said to have been owned by Oscar II (1829-1907), King of Sweden and Norway around the turn of the twentieth century. It was donated to the museum in 1947.

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American Swedish Historical Museum - Grover Cleveland

Anders Zorn, after a portrait by Zorn
Ink on paper
Sweden
1899
Gift in memory of Mr. Harry C.W.S. deBrun

Etching of Grover Cleveland

The American Swedish Historical Museum is only one of six museums in the United States with a collection of Anders Zorn’s work. Our collection includes his well-known etchings of American presidents Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, and Howard Taft, among a number of other figures.

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Iron, paint
Early to mid-17th century
Likely Denmark, Holland, or Sweden
Gift of Mrs. Norman Grey

Sinnickson Chest

Sinnick Broer, a Finn, brought this painted iron strongbox to the New Sweden colonies in 1656.

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Sölve Hallqvist, 1952
Silver, garnets, pearls, turquoise
Gift of Margaret Hallqvist

Bridal Crown

Did you know that since the Middle Ages, Swedish brides sometimes wear bridal crowns? 👑

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Bronze
10th century
Likely Scandinavia or Ireland
Collection of the American Swedish Historical Museum

Cloak Pins

Archaeologists unearthed these cloak pins in Ireland, showing the extent to which the Vikings settled other lands.

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Bronze and steel
1600s
Sweden

Queen Christina's Chamberlain's Seal

The seal is made of bronze and steal and was made in the 1600s in Sweden. The inscription reads, ‘’Christina Stora Sjötulls Cammares Sigill’’ (Christina Large Duty Chamber Seal), indicating that this official stamp was used to approve customs.

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