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!
Are you a crafter, maker, or person who loves to create things by hand? We want you! Don't miss the opportunity to be a vendor at the American Swedish Historical Museum's Lucia & Christmas Market.
The event will be held on Saturday, December 6th - 7th from 10 am – 4 p.m. with an optional additional sales opportunity on Friday evening December 5th. This pop-up shop will give vendors the chance to sell their work to an engaged community audience in South Philadelphia.
The American Swedish Historical Museum is proud to participate with Wawa Welcome America to offer free museum admission on Sunday, June 29th from 12:00-4:00 p.m.
Admission includes access to all of our galleries, including our newest exhibition, And Let Victory Tell the Rest: 250 Years of Shipbuilding in Greater Philadelphia.
There are so many boats at ASHM this month! Come see boat images and models in our permanent galleries and two of our temporary exhibitions: Across the Atlantic: Sloopers and the First Organized Emigration from Norway to America and Let Victory Tell the Rest: 250 Years of Shipbuilding in Greater Philadelphia. Learn about different types of boats and what makes them float as we play Sink or Float and build and test our own boats.
In honor of Norway’s special anniversary in 2025, highlighted in our current exhibit Across the Atlantic: Sloopers and the First Organized Emigration from Norway to America, join us for Toddler Time all about Norway! Learn about Norwegian culture with Scandinavian Viking activities and crafts inspired by Norwegian folk art.
We’re all engineers at this month’s Toddler Time! Learn about what engineers can build and then make your own creations! Kids will try out different building materials, complete building challenges, and make a project to take home.