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With the opening of Experience New Sweden , in June 2007, the New Sweden Centre completed its move to new facilities at the Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard. Since then we've enjoyed record attendance and a growing membership. With our new location at the shipyard, a mere stone's throw from where the Swedes first landed in 1638, we are able to bring the story of New Sweden Colony and its people to many more visitors, including thousands of Delaware students who visit during the 4 th grade when they study state history. A visit to Experience New Sweden sets the stage for those interested in learning of Delaware's Swedish heritage and the interesting related historic sites throughout the region, but especially in Wilmington. The New Sweden Centre's activities are all education oriented and has two primary components. The first is Experience New Sweden and its living history program with top-caliber reenactors illustrating New Sweden Colony colonists from 1638, through the period of the American Revolution. The NSC outreach programs that have reached thousands of school children and others. We have also taken hands-on colonial games to various historical and cultural events and for school field trips. Founded in 1987 as the Kalmar Nyckel Museum Institute, we were incorporated as a non-profit corporation in 1991. Initially we were first located at 823 East Seventh Street and in 1995 moved to Trinity Lutheran Church at 500 Concord Avenue. The Board of Directors approved the name change to New Sweden Centre in 1998 to reflect the broadened scope of the collections, reflecting all of the Delaware Valley's colonial history and to avoid confusion with the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation. While the New Sweden Centre cooperates and work closely with the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation, each is a separate organization. In 1999, we launched our living history program with authentically dressed re-enactors portraying New Sweden citizens from all walks of life, including the Royal Governor Johan Printz, who for many years was portrayed by the late David Lewis. During the summer of 2000, we were offered a row house opposite Holy Trinity "Old Swedes" Church, which had been the rectory, but had fallen into disrepair and needed a lot of restoration. Following countless volunteer hours, the New Sweden Centre had its opening reception on September 12, 2000. While it was nice to have our own building, unfortunately the row house layout of rooms made it difficult to guide group tours through the narrow structure. In 2004, in cooperation with the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation, we launched another living history unit, our Båtsmanskompani. Dressed in authentic reproductions of 17 th Swedish sailors, they crew the Little Key, an 18 foot scallop built years ago to promote the building of the Kalmar Nyckel. In 2006 we created still another unit, The Swedish Governor's Guards, a ceremonial unit. In 2006, the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation agreed to rent space to the New Sweden Centre. Over the next year we planned the displays and made the transition to the new location, a former blacksmith shop at the shipyard. Experience New Sweden maintains the hands on history approach with many items readily accessible to visitors. The display is comprehensive, covering the Swedes and Finn colonists, the Lenape and Delaware's first African, Anthony. The new centerpiece of our display is an authentically depicted scale model of Fort Christina, to the best of our knowledge; it is the only one in existence anywhere. For the first time people can see what Christina looked like, all of it historically accurate. With the new location we reach thousands of people annually and the New Sweden Centre is prospering. Last year we added more than 100 new members who joined to support our work of presenting the story of New Sweden and the colonists to the general public. No history of our organization would be complete without referencing our founder Malcolm L. Mackenzie, whose vision for the New Sweden Centre brought about its creation and continues to guide the current leadership. |
New
Sweden Centre TEL
302-429-0464 Email:
RIDDER1640@aol.com
Mail-Business Address: Telephone:
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With Aleasa Hogate on the left, NSC President Emeritus Marianne Mackenzie, Swedish Embassy Press Counselor Anders Ericsson, State Senator Harris MacDowell and Kalmar Nyckel Foundation Herbert Connors prepare to “cut” the ribbon to officially open Experience New Sweden.