Fort Christina Park

Address: Fort Christina Park, Wilmington, DE (near Christina River waterfront)

Website: https://destateparks.com/

Admission: Free to visit the site (state park settings); interpretive exhibits may have no charge

Fort Christina is the site of the first Swedish colonial settlement in North America, established at the mouth of the Christina River in 1638. The location is preserved as a historic site with interpretive markers and a monument commemorating the Swedish colony known as New Sweden.

The original fort and settlement were established by Swedish and Finnish colonists under Peter Minuit and were part of a short-lived colonial presence that ended when the Dutch captured the area in the mid-17th century. The site today interprets that early colonial era for visitors.

Fort Christina sits on the waterfront in present-day Wilmington, Delaware, where the Christina River meets the Delaware River; it is within the city’s historic district and readily accessible from downtown.

• Founding date: Established by Swedish colonists in 1638, it marks the first permanent Swedish settlement in what is now the United States.

What to See#

• Fort Christina site: A small state-managed park and historic site marking the spot of the 17th-century Swedish colonial settlement; includes a monument and interpretive displays about New Sweden.

Located in Wilmington, Delaware. Reachable by car or local transit; follow signs to the Christina Riverfront and Fort Christina Landing. Ample parking and riverfront walkways nearby.

• Visit the Christina Landing and the historical marker early in the day to avoid summer heat.
• Pair a Fort Christina visit with the nearby Delaware Riverfront sites and the Hagley Museum for a broader look at colonial-era Delaware.
• Bring a mosquito repellent in warmer months - riverfronts and parklands are marshy.