Elk Landing

Elk Landing is a two-story fieldstone residence featuring three bays and a gable roof that extends two bays deep into the property. The house contains original corner fireplaces and interior moldings, while archaeological remains of an earlier Swedish structure lie buried on the grounds.

Swedish trader John Hansson Steelman founded a trading post here in 1693 that operated for nearly five decades. The site later attracted Lutheran priests from Sweden who came to strengthen the church's presence in this former colonial settlement.

This site served as a meeting point where Swedish merchants and Indigenous communities engaged in regular trade and exchange. Today, visitors can sense how this trading hub shaped daily life and left marks on the landscape that reflect those early connections.

The property sits along Landing Lane and visitors can explore both the main house and the outdoor grounds where archaeological work has uncovered earlier remains. Comfortable walking shoes are helpful since you may want to view the site from different angles and see where excavations have taken place.

The house has survived more than three centuries while most buildings from its era have disappeared entirely. This longevity makes it a rare witness to early construction methods and daily life during that formative period in the region.

Location: Maryland

GPS coordinates: 39.59580,-75.84110

Latest update: December 14, 2025 16:40