Hendrickson House Museum, Wilmington
Hendrickson House is one of the oldest houses in the state of Delaware and one of the oldest surviving Swedish-American homes in the United States. It forms part of Old Swedes Historic Site, a National Historic Landmark, which includes Holy Trinity Church (Old Swedes) (1698鈥�99) and burial ground (1638) with gravestones dating back more than 400 years.
The house was originally built in 1690 in Ridley Township near Chester, Pennsylvania as the home of Swedish farmer Andrew Hendrickson and his wife, Brigitta Morton, both native of the New Sweden colony. Overall, three generations of Hendricksons had lived here. Enlarged in the 1790s, the property consists of one large room on the first floor for all the family's daily activities and a large bedroom on the second floor.
The family sold it in 1788, upon which the house was used for accommodating tenant farmers. A fire in the early 1900s destroyed many wooden parts thereof. Still a fine example of a typical farmhouse, this historic home provides insight into late 17th-century life in America. In 1958 the house was moved to its current location in Wilmington, Delaware, to prevent it from being torn down, where it then underwent a restoration process.
The pine mantel and woodwork around the large fireplace are original, but the floorboards were taken from a Massachusetts farmhouse of the same period. The pine ceiling beams were made by hand as part of the restoration. Existing doors and windows were used as patterns for new ones, and the curved staircase was reconstructed in accordance with marks on the walls. The straight staircase is new; it was added for safety reasons. The house is now used as the church offices and a small museum.
The latter is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
The house was originally built in 1690 in Ridley Township near Chester, Pennsylvania as the home of Swedish farmer Andrew Hendrickson and his wife, Brigitta Morton, both native of the New Sweden colony. Overall, three generations of Hendricksons had lived here. Enlarged in the 1790s, the property consists of one large room on the first floor for all the family's daily activities and a large bedroom on the second floor.
The family sold it in 1788, upon which the house was used for accommodating tenant farmers. A fire in the early 1900s destroyed many wooden parts thereof. Still a fine example of a typical farmhouse, this historic home provides insight into late 17th-century life in America. In 1958 the house was moved to its current location in Wilmington, Delaware, to prevent it from being torn down, where it then underwent a restoration process.
The pine mantel and woodwork around the large fireplace are original, but the floorboards were taken from a Massachusetts farmhouse of the same period. The pine ceiling beams were made by hand as part of the restoration. Existing doors and windows were used as patterns for new ones, and the curved staircase was reconstructed in accordance with marks on the walls. The straight staircase is new; it was added for safety reasons. The house is now used as the church offices and a small museum.
The latter is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
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Hendrickson House Museum on Map
Sight Name: Hendrickson House Museum
Sight Location: Wilmington, USA (See walking tours in Wilmington)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Wilmington, USA (See walking tours in Wilmington)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Wilmington, Delaware
Create Your Own Walk in Wilmington
Creating your own self-guided walk in Wilmington is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Quaker Hill and Downtown Historical Buildings
For many visitors to Delaware's Wilmington, the downtown district is the main area of interest.
Indeed, the majority of Wilmington's most distinguished attractions are found here. Steeped in history, this part of the city still carries legacy of its first Swedish settlers much as that of the du Pont family who left a great deal of mark on the town's history. Some of the key local... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Indeed, the majority of Wilmington's most distinguished attractions are found here. Steeped in history, this part of the city still carries legacy of its first Swedish settlers much as that of the du Pont family who left a great deal of mark on the town's history. Some of the key local... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Wilmington Introduction Walking Tour
Wilmington is the largest city in Delaware. It lies at the confluence of the Brandywine and Christina Rivers. Wilmington was originally home to the Lenape people. However, the land was purchased from Chief Mattahorn by the Swedish South Company in 1638. They built Fort Christina at the mouth of what would later be called the Christina River.
The Swedish lost control of the Fort Christina... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
The Swedish lost control of the Fort Christina... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles