Fort Christina, Swedish colonial fort in Wilmington, United States.
Description
Fort Christina is a historic fortification site along the banks of the Christina River in Wilmington, Delaware. A granite monument and several commemorative plaques mark the spot where European settlers first came ashore nearly four centuries ago.
History
In 1638, Swedish and Finnish colonists arrived here and founded the first permanent European settlement in what is now Delaware. The site later passed into Dutch and then English hands as European powers competed for control of the coast.
Culture
The name honors Queen Christina of Sweden, who was twelve years old at the time of the first landing. Visitors today see reconstructed Swedish settler cabins and a landscaped waterfront that recalls the early ties between Scandinavia and North America.
Practical
The grounds are open to visitors from Wednesday to Sunday during the summer months and lie within walking distance of downtown Wilmington. Those who come during daylight hours will find a landscaped riverside park with footpaths and places to sit.
Did you know?
The ships Kalmar Nyckel and Fogel Grip brought fewer than 30 people here in total, many of whom were Finnish. A replica of the Kalmar Nyckel docks regularly at the nearby harbor today.
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