The adventures of Sweden’s favorite storybook hero, Pippi Longstocking, come alive at the Museum. Enjoy tales from this beloved children’s series while traveling through the Museum galleries as a “thing-finder”, creating a Dala horse craft, and tasting Pippi’s favorite cookies – pepparkakor.
Participate in a Swedish holiday tradition – the Lucia festival. Lucia, the saint of light, has long been honored on December 13th, the longest night of the year. Children will learn the legend of Lucia, explore Swedish Christmas traditions, and experience the magic of a traditional Lucia procession. Don’t forget your camera!
Celebrate holidays the Swedish way! Even though we may celebrate some of the same holidays in the United States, Swedes have many unique traditions. From Midsommarfest, to Easter, to the Lucia festival before Christmas, children will participate in and discover how Swedish holidays differ from our own.
Did you know that the Swedes were the first Europeans to settle the Delaware Valley? This program focuses on the founding and legacy of the New Sweden Colony, established in 1638 along the Delaware River. Using Museum collections and hands-on artifacts, children will explore how and why the settlement began, learn more about Swedish relations with local Native Americans, and experience elements of colonial daily life, like making real butter!
You can tie nearly everything that the American Swedish Historical Museum does to the word ‘home.’ Our founder sought to celebrate the Swedes who had made America their new home, we preserve and interpret the artifacts used within our ancestors’ homes, and we remind Swedes and Scandinavians that, among friends and family at our cultural celebrations, they should consider the Museum as another home.
“The Jenny Lind mania still continues, like a snow ball, which – crescit eundo – grows larger as it rolls.” – “Jenny Lind in the Metropolis,” The New York Herald, September 5, 1850
-Dr. Hanna Rydh, Women in the Ancient North, 1926
2018 has been a year of momentous elections in Sweden and America. As newly-elected representatives decide upon issues of immigration, social policies, and globalism, we reflect upon the histories of progressivism and human rights that have pushed both countries onto the world stage today.
Break out bell bottoms and platform shoes! What better place to celebrate the iconic music of ABBA than the American Swedish Historical Museum. DJ Drake will spin the throwbacks as everyone lets out their inner Dancing Queen. Highlights of the evening will include a dancing and costume contest along with a few surprises! Tickets include food, cash bar. $30 members, $35 non-members. Costumes are encouraged but not necessary.