Fort Christina

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Location: Wilmington

Inception: 1638

Architects: Peter Minuit

Website: https://nps.gov/frst/planyourvisit/fort-christina.htm

GPS coordinates: 39.73712,-75.53846

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:25