Meet Pippi Longstocking
The adventures of Sweden’s favorite storybook hero, Pippi Longstocking, come alive at the Museum. Enjoy tales from this beloved children’s series while traveling through the Museum galleries as a “thing-finder”, creating a Dala horse craft, and tasting Pippi’s favorite cookies – pepparkakor.
Lucia Festival of Lights
Participate in a Swedish holiday tradition – the Lucia festival. Lucia, the saint of light, has long been honored on December 13th, the longest night of the year. Children will learn the legend of Lucia, explore Swedish Christmas traditions, and experience the magic of a traditional Lucia procession. Don’t forget your camera!
Swedish Holiday Traditions
Celebrate holidays the Swedish way! Even though we may celebrate some of the same holidays in the United States, Swedes have many unique traditions. From Midsommarfest, to Easter, to the Lucia festival before Christmas, children will participate in and discover how Swedish holidays differ from our own.
New Sweden Colony
Did you know that the Swedes were the first Europeans to settle the Delaware Valley? This program focuses on the founding and legacy of the New Sweden Colony, established in 1638 along the Delaware River. Using Museum collections and hands-on artifacts, children will explore how and why the settlement began, learn more about Swedish relations with local Native Americans, and experience elements of colonial daily life, like making real butter!
Toddler Time: Float Your Boat
Summer is the perfect time to explore boats, and Swedes have been expert ship builders for thousands of years. This month kids will learn about different types of boats and what keeps them afloat. Play Sink or Float and build your own boat! Be sure to come prepared to get a little wet!
Four Week - Themed Topic ASHM Swedish Language Class
Join us for a pop-up Swedish language class opportunity!
This language class session is open to all and is theme-based. We will touch on the history of the Swedish language, idiomatic expressions, words used for different sounds, compound words and why they can be difficult. We will also explore Swedish painter/artists Carl Larsson and Anders Zorn, Swedish pop culture, and popular phrases while traveling to and in Sweden.
Materials will be provided (PDF and photocopies). You only need to bring your pen and notepad!
Embroidery for Beginners
Many people hesitate in starting something new because it looks “too hard”, or “too complicated”. How many times have you said to yourself “I could never do that”? Or began to look things up and research, only to be confused by supplies, terminologies, and techniques? Far too many times!
Celebrate Sweden's National Day!
Celebrate Sweden's National Day at the American Swedish Historical Museum!
We invite you to visit the Museum on Thursday, June 6th for a fun day of celebration. The Museum will be open for extended hours to host special gallery tours highlighting Swedish-American history at 1:30 and 6:00 p.m. What's a party without cake? Traditional Swedish strawberry and cream cake will be available throughout the day.
Share your heritage by letting us know about national day celebrations in countries worldwide on our interactive map.
Toddler Time: The Dala Horse
Children who visit the museum love to see our larger than life wooden Dala horse sculpture! This month at Toddler Time, kids will learn why the Dala horse is an iconic symbol of Sweden. Listen to a story, go on a Dala horse hunt through the galleries, and even paint your own Dala horse!