Fort Christina Park
Travel back to 1638, when
Kalmar Nyckel voyaged up the Christina River and landed on "The Rocks" in present-day Wilmington. Visit Fort Christina Park to see Swedish sculptor Carl Milles's monument marking the site. Free interpretive tours include Underground Railroad history of 19th century freedom seekers who boarded and disembarked from boats on the same rocks on their journey north.
Fort Christina Park is one of six sites that makes up Delaware’s First State National Historical Park. From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day and Saturdays in September and October, the Park is staffed with guides who offer free interpretive tours to the public.
- Children can earn Junior Ranger badges throughout the summer, with specific events announced by the National Park Service.
- Collectors of the National Park Passport Stamps can also obtain the Fort Christina Park stamp. Admission is free.
Background
In 1638, the Kalmar Nyckel and Fogel Grip arrived with Swedish and Finnish settlers who went on to establish the colony of New Sweden–the first permanent European settlement in the Delaware Valley. "The Rocks" at Fort Christina are also an official site on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, used as a landing place for freedom seekers on the maritime Underground Railroad.
On the park’s riverbank stands the Swedish Tercentenary Monument, which depicts the Kalmar Nyckel, surmounting a granite column. Crafted by renowned Swedish sculptor, Carl Milles, it was a gift from the people of Sweden to the United States in 1938, when the park was dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Royal Crown of Sweden.
Site hours and activities are supported by a partnership between the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs, the National Park Service and the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation.
- Location: 1110 East 7th Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
2024 Hours
The Park is open from Saturday, May 25 on Memorial Day weekend through Monday, September 2 on Labor Day.
SUMMER HOURS (May 25-September 2)
Tuesday-Sunday 10:00am-4:00pm
FALL HOURS
September 7 - 29: Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am-4:00pm
October 5-26: Saturdays from 10:00am-4:00pm (CLOSED on Sundays)
Visits by appointment are available during closed hours throughout the fall, winter, and spring, pending staff availability. NPS passport stamps for Fort Christina are available at Old Swedes Historic Site (606 N Church St., Wilmington, DE 19801) during open hours.
Please note that due to the nature of the weather and conditions beyond our control, the Park’s schedule is subject to change without notice.
Private Events & Group Tours
The park is available for private events such as group picnics and celebrations by renting the site through the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation office (guided by the Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs policies). You may also schedule group tours for ten or more with arrangements made in advance. Please contact us (email form) with your request or call 302.429.7447.
