Lower Swedish Cabin facts for kids
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Lower Swedish Cabin
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Lower Swedish Cabin, November 2009
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Drexel Hill, Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 1.7 acres (0.69 ha) |
| Built | 1640–1650 |
| Architectural style | Swedish Plan |
| NRHP reference No. | 80003484 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 9, 1980 |
The Lower Swedish Cabin is a very old log cabin located in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. It sits right by Darby Creek. Many people think it might be one of the oldest log cabins still standing in the United States! It's also one of the last cabins built by early Swedish settlers that is still in good shape.
Contents
History of the Cabin
Early Days and Swedish Settlers
The Lower Swedish Cabin was probably built a long time ago, between 1640 and 1650. It was built by Swedish immigrants. These people were part of a group that started a colony called New Sweden. This colony was in North America.
Filming Location and Changes
In the early 1900s, a movie maker named Siegmund Lubin used the cabin. He filmed several movies there. The filming became a bit of a problem for workers at a nearby mill. The mill owner even asked for filming to stop during work hours.
The cabin was a private home until 1937. That year, it was officially recorded by the Historic American Buildings Survey. This group helps document important old buildings. In 1941, the cabin became property of Upper Darby Township.
Community Use and Restoration
After becoming township property, the cabin was used by local Girl Scouts. They used it as a campsite for several years. Later, different people appointed by the Township lived there until 1964.
In 1976, some work was done to fix up the cabin. This was for the Bicentennial celebration of the United States. The cabin was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
A big project to restore the cabin happened in 1989. Experts carefully fixed it up and also dug around it. This digging, called an archeological excavation, helped them learn more about its past. Today, a group called the Friends of the Swedish Cabin takes care of the site.
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Visiting the Cabin
You can visit the Lower Swedish Cabin from April through October. It's open on Sundays from 1 PM to 4 PM. There is no charge to get in, but donations are welcome.
More to Explore
- List of the oldest buildings in Pennsylvania
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Delaware County, Pennsylvania
