American Swedish History Museum
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1900 Pattison Ave., 215/389-1776,
www.americanswedish.org
HOURS: Tues.–Fri. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Sat.–Sun. noon–4 p.m.
COST: $6 adult, $5 senior and student, free child under 12 and member
Swedish colonists settled in the Delaware Valley in the mid-1600s—long before William Penn arrived—and this museum aims to preserve their history. The nation’s oldest Swedish museum was founded in 1926 on the 150th anniversary of the drafting of the Declaration of Independence.
Built on land given to colonist Sven Skute by Sweden’s Queen Christina in 1653, the building was modeled after a 17th-century Swedish manor. Numerous artifacts fill the 12 galleries showcasing the history of the colonists, including collections of early Swedish furniture and handmade peasant dolls.
Other exhibits honor famous Swedes including author Carl Sandberg, inventor/seaman John Ericsson, and Alfred Nobel, who invented dynamite and established the Nobel Prizes.
It’s a bit out of the way in deep South Philly, but worth a trip for history buffs or anyone interested in Swedish culture.
© Karrie Gavin from Moon Philadelphia, 1st Edition
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