Colony to Community: The Story of New Sweden
New Exhibition Delves into the Local Legacy
of the Early Swedish Settlement
TRENTON, NJ - On Saturday, January 24, the New Jersey State Museum will debut the " Colony to Community: The Story of New Sweden" through May 17, 2009. This unique exhibition depicts the journey of the Swedes and Finns who came to the Delaware Valley in 1638 to establish the New Sweden Colony, an outpost used to give Sweden a foothold in the emergent fur and tobacco trades.
Organized by the American Swedish Historical Museum in Philadelphia, the Delaware Historical Society in Wilmington and the New Jersey State Museum, the exhibition will trace the history of the New Sweden Colony from 1638 to 1655 in the lower Delaware River Valley and the cultural continuance of the Swedish-American presence in the area into the 21 st century. Included in the exhibition will be archaeological evidence of the Indians encountered by the Swedish colonists and the relationships they developed and early Swedish material culture. The religious mission, physical and cultural survivals of the Swedish presence will also be displayed, as well as contemporary relations between Sweden and the area today.
"This fascinating exhibition is a wonderful way to usher in 2009," said Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells. "As one of the nation's first state museums founded with an educational mission, the Colony to Community: The Story of New Sweden is yet another chapter in the long and storied history of the State Museum, a legacy that grows stronger with each passing year."
This collection encompasses over 2 million prehistoric and historic specimens from nearly 100 years of excavation and over 2,000 ethnographic objects. Archaeology specimens are recognized as the definitive systematic research collection for the study of New Jersey prehistory and one of the most important collections for regional study of northeastern North America.
Developed through professional excavations by Museum staff and archaeologists from universities and consulting agencies, the collections provide data on the entire span of human occupation of New Jersey from prehistoric to historic 19 th century.
"Quite simply, Colony to Community: The Story of New Sweden is a historic treasure, and one that will appeal to visitors of all ages," noted Eric Pryor , the Museum's executive director. "Included in the exhibition are works in the traditional crafts materials of textile, ceramic, metal and wood, as well as some materials and methods that expand the concept of craft."
The New Jersey State Museum is located at 205 West State Street, Trenton, NJ. The main building and auditorium are open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 am - 4:45 pm, and Sunday, noon to 5:00 pm. The Museum is closed Mondays and all state holidays. Exhibitions are also presented in the Museum's satellite gallery next door in the Department of State building at 225 West State Street. Exhibit hours at this location are Monday through Saturday, 9:00 am - 4:45 pm; closed Sundays and all state holidays. On weekends, free parking is available in lots adjacent to and behind the Museum.
The New Jersey State Museum/Department of State has received generous support for its exhibitions and programs from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/NJ Department of State; New Jersey Network Public Television and Radio; The Bunbury Company; The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation; the Friends of the New Jersey State Museum; Merrill G. & Emerita E. Hastings Foundation; The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey; the New Jersey Historical Commission; New Jersey Council for the Humanities; the National Endowment for the Arts; the Hyde & Watson Foundation; PSEG, PSE&G; Atlantic City Electric; AT&T; Bank of America; and the New Jersey Division of Travel & Tourism.
For more museum information, please call the Museum's recorded information line at (609) 292-6464 or visit its website at www.newjerseystatemuseum.org . Please visit www.trentonparking.com for a number of options for parking in downtown Trenton.
The New Jersey State Museum offers an exciting range of family-friendly programs and events throughout the 2008/2009 school year. In conjunction with Young Audiences New Jersey, the Museum offers family performances on the second Saturday of each month, art festivals in October and May, and school-day performances throughout the year. In addition, the Museum also offers science-based school-day performances, gallery tours on the first Friday of each month, weekly film screenings at 1:00 pm on Wednesdays, and exhibition-specific demonstrations and classes. Program information, exhibition schedules and more can be found at www.newjerseystatemuseum.org .
The Friends of the New Jersey State Museum was founded in 1968 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) to support the Museum's collections, exhibitions and programs through fundraising, volunteerism and advocacy. Friends members comprise the core docent group for the Museum. The Friends also operate a gift shop selling merchandise related to the Museum's exhibitions and New Jersey history and culture. Proceeds support the Museum's publications. This year marks the Friends' 40 th anniversary and four decades of a highly successful, rewarding partnership with the Museum.
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