Unlike any other landmark in our National Parks system, Delaware’s First State Historical National Park is made up of many landmarks throughout the state. You won’t find one large park set aside and preserved, but by visiting each of the designated historical sites, you can get a picture of what life was like in the earliest days of the First State. One of the sites – Old Swedes Church – is the oldest church in Delaware and it is so worth a visit.
Built in 1698 by settlers living in what was once the New Sweden colony, this house of worship has seen a lot of history. It’s situated on the grounds of Fort Christina, the first European settlement in Delaware.
Flickr / Boston Public Library
Old Swedes is considered the oldest church in the United States continually used for worship, and it’s part of First State National Historical Park
Wikimedia Commons
The church’s graveyard offers a glimpse into the past. It sits right on Fort Christina’s burial ground, which dates to 1638. There are more than 2,000 gravestones in the cemetery, and each one tells a story.
Flickr / University of Delaware Library
Over the years, the interior of the church has been updated for safety and routine maintenance - but otherwise, stepping into Old Swedes feels like stepping back in time.
Wikimedia Commons
The gorgeous stained glass windows behind the altar were added in the 1880s. Take a look at the impressive detail!
Flickr / Eric Lynch
For anyone growing up in New Castle County, Old Swedes is a timeless landmark. The oldest church in Delaware is a testament to those who have worked hard to build and keep up this historic house of worship.
Walter Bibikow / DigitalVision via Getty Images
You can support Old Swedes by volunteering to help preserve it, and by learning more about this historic site.
Flickr / Boston Public Library
Wikimedia Commons
Flickr / University of Delaware Library
Flickr / Eric Lynch
Walter Bibikow / DigitalVision via Getty Images
To read more about historic sites in the First State, check out 16 Historical Landmarks You Must Visit in Delaware.
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Address: Old Swedes Historic Site, 606 N Church St, Wilmington, DE 19801, USA
