New Sweden: The forgotten 17th-century colony that shaped America
This article explores the largely forgotten history of New Sweden, the smallest, shortest-lived, and least-populated European colony in what is now the United States. Founded in 1638 along the Delaware River (in present-day Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland), the colony introduced key innovations to America including the log cabin, which became an enduring symbol of the American frontier. Despite lasting only 17 years before being absorbed by the Dutch, New Sweden's settlers and their cultural contributions — from log cabins to place names and even the American tradition of smorgasbord-style holiday feasts — left a lasting imprint on the nation's development.
Key quotes
Sometimes called the 'Swedish Mayflower', the Kalmar Nyckel brought the first Swedish and Finnish settlers to New Sweden
It was the smallest, least-populated and shortest-lived colony in the US. But despite being virtually unheard of today, it helped shape the nation's birth 250 years ago.
New Swedish settlers introduced the log cabin to the US, which would become an enduring symbol of the nation's pioneering spirit
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