KalmarNyckelAGuidetotheShipandHerHistory

KalmarNyckelAGuidetotheShipandHerHistory

GuidetotheRecreationoftheTallShip

KALMAR NYCKEL

BecomeSomethingGreat
Americasoriginalpromiseandenduringchallenge.
ExcerptfromaletterbyPeterMinuitto
SwedishChancellorAxelOxenstierna

Asnavigationmakeskingdomsandcountriesthriveand
intheWestIndies[NorthAmerica]manyplaces
graduallycometobeoccupiedbytheEnglish,Dutch,
andFrench,IthinktheSwedishCrownoughtnotto
standbackandrefrainfromhavinghernamespread
widely,alsoinforeigncountries;andtothatendIthe
undersigned,wishtooffermyservicestotheSwedish
Crowntosetoutmodestlyonwhatmight,byGods
grace,becomesomethinggreatwithinashort
time[emphasisadded].

TheKalmarNyckelFoundation
Written&CompiledBy
SamuelHeed,Esq.
WithCaptainLaurenMorgens
&AlistairGillanders,Esq.

Firstly,IhavesuggestedtoMr.PieterSpiering[Spiring,
SwedishAmbassadortotheHague]tomakeajourneyto
theVirginias,NewNetherlandandotherplaces,in
whichregionscertainplacesarewellknowntome,with
averygoodclimate,whichcouldbenamedNova
Sweediae[NewSweden].

Coverphotograph:ThepresentdayKalmarNyckelcruisingonthe
PatuxentriverontheChesapeakeduringavisittoSolomons
Island,MDin2008.PhotographerAlistairGillanders.

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

YourExcellencysfaithfulservant,
PieterMinuit

Amsterdam,15June1636

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KalmarNyckelAGuidetotheShipandHerHistory

TableofContents
1

Introduction...........................................................................................4

TheKalmarNyckelABriefHistory...............................................5
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8

DUTCHBIRTH.......................................................................................................5
SWEDISHRECHRISTENING...............................................................................5
NEWSWEDENSFLAGSHIP.................................................................................7
FIRSTCROSSING1638....................................................................................8
HURRICANESTORMWIND................................................................................9
RECORDVOYAGESTWO,THREE,ANDFOUR................................................11
SWEDISHWARSHIPKALMARNYCKEL...........................................................11
SILENTENDFORANOBLESHIP.....................................................................12

KalmarNyckelHistoricDates..........................................................14

ShipSpecifications(KalmarNyckel,1997).................................15
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4

KalmarNyckelsReconstruction....................................................33
8.1 BUILDINGANDLAUNCH...................................................................................33
8.2 ORNAMENTALWOODCARVINGS....................................................................35

ShipyardandStatePark...................................................................39
9.1
9.2
9.3
9.4
9.5

BUILDERSANDCAPTAINS................................................................................15
DIMENSIONS.......................................................................................................15
MATERIALSOFCONSTRUCTION......................................................................15
OTHERDETAILS................................................................................................15

THEKALMARNYCKELFOUNDATIONSHIPYARD..........................................39
NEWSWEDENCENTRE....................................................................................40
FORTCHRISTINASTATEPARK........................................................................40
FDRTERCENTENARYDEDICATIONCEREMONY,27JUNE1938.............43
ANTHONYDELAWARESFIRSTKNOWNBLACKSETTLER.......................44

10 TheKalmarNyckelFoundation.....................................................45

PeterMinuit(circa15801638)...................................................17
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4

7.1.3 TheMainDeckandItsFeatures:...............................................27
7.1.4 TheCaptainsCabinandItsFeatures......................................28
7.1.5 TheQuarterDeckandItsFeatures:.........................................29
7.2 BELOWDECKS...................................................................................................29
7.3 LOOKINGALOFT................................................................................................31
7.3.1 TheAnatomyofaMast..................................................................31
7.3.2 TheKalmarNyckelMastsandSails.......................................32

10.1
10.2

MISSION........................................................................................................45
SUPPORTTHEFOUNDATIONANDTHEHISTORYOFDELAWARE.........45

EARLYAMERICANDREAMER..........................................................................17
THIRDDIRECTOROFNEWNETHERLAND(162631)..............................17
FIRSTGOVERNOROFNEWSWEDEN(1638)..............................................19
LEGACYANDMEANING....................................................................................22

AppendixA:TheKalmarNyckelSheer&DeckPlan.......................46

VoyagersAboardtheKalmarNyckel,1638................................24

AppendixC:FoundationMembershipForm........................................48

AppendixB:LearningtheRopes..............................................................47

6.1 NATIONALORIGINSOFTHECREWANDCOLONISTS...................................24
6.2 ROLESOFTHECREWANDCOLONISTS..........................................................25

ASelfGuidedTouroftheKalmarNyckel....................................26

7.1 WEATHERDECKS..............................................................................................26
7.1.1 TheForecastle(Focsle)HeadandItsFeatures:...............26
7.1.2 TheForecastle(Focsle)andItsFeatures:...........................27

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

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KalmarNyckelAGuidetotheShipandHerHistory

TheKalmarNyckelisservedbyacrewof300active
volunteersandledbythreeUSCGcertifiedofficers,a
Captain,FirstMate/ReliefCaptain,andSecondMate.In
additiontosailingandmaintainingtheship,officersand
crewteachduringtheonboardanddocksideeducational
programs.

Introduction

TheKalmarNyckelisafullscalerecreationoftheoriginal
17thcenturyship,whosehistoricsignificancerivalsthatof
theMayflower.ThepresentdayKalmarNyckelservesas
theDelawareregionsfloatingAcademyandGoodwill
Ambassador.Theshipprovidesauniqueplatformforthe
Foundationseducationalprograms,offeringthebestin
recentscholarshipandexperientiallearning.Studentsget
toexperiencetheAgeofSailfirsthandduringtheKalmar
Nyckelsfloatingclassroomprograms,helpingtosetsails,
heavecannons,steertheship,navigatewith17thcentury
instruments,andlearnaboutAmericasmaritimeand
colonialhistory.
TheKalmarNyckelalsoservesasacatalystforsocialand
economicdevelopment,hostingdiplomatic,recreational,
governmental,andcommemorativefunctions.
ThousandsofstudentsofallagesparticipateintheKalmar
Nyckelssuperbeducationalprogramseachyear.Fromher
homeportattheFoundationsshipyardontheChristina
RiverinWilmington,adjoininghistoricFt.Christinaandthe
originallandingsiteattheRocks,theKalmarNyckelsails
fromApriltoNovember,makingregularvisitsupanddown
theAtlanticseaboard,fromMassachusettstoVirginia.She
alsosailsregularlyfromhersecondhomeinLewes,
Delaware.

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

Figure1TheKalmarNyckelprovideshandsoneducationalprograms
andlifelonglessonstothousandsofstudentsandvisitors.
PhotographerAlistairGillanders.

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KalmarNyckelAGuidetotheShipandHerHistory

battlesarestillstudiedinmilitaryschools.Gustavus
wantedtoenhanceSwedenspositionasaGreatPowerand
tosecurehisrecentterritorialadditionsaroundtheBaltic.
Thiswouldrequirethebuildingofanavytomatchhis
powerfularmy.

TheKalmarNyckelABriefHistory

2.1 DutchBirth
TheoriginalKalmarNyckelwasbuiltbytheDutchinor
about1625asaPinnaceaclassofvesselsthatcould
operateeitherassmallwarshipsorasarmed
merchantmen.ThiswastheGoldenAgeofDutchnaval
powerandseaborneworldtrade,andtheDutchwerethe
mostadvancednavalarchitectsandshipbuildersofthe17th
century.Measuring93feetondeckandwithasparred
lengthof141feet,shewasstoutlybuiltandremarkably
seaworthy,characteristicsthatwouldserveherwell
throughoutherlongandremarkablecareer.Heroriginal
armamentprobablyconsistedof12sixpoundercastiron
cannon,withtwosmallerswivelgunsattachedtothe
quarterdeckrails.

2.2 SwedishReChristening
TheKalmarNyckelwaspurchasedfromtheDutchin1629
bytheSwedishcitiesofKalmarandJnkpingandgiven
hernewname.ThenamemeanstheKeyofKalmar,
whichderivesfromthe12thcenturycastlethatguarded
Kalmarharbor,afortressdefensetheshipwasmeantto
honorandaugment.

Figure2GustavusIIAdolphusiskilledduringthebattleofLtzenon6
November1632.HistoricalpaintingbyCarlWahlbom,1855.

TheKalmarNyckelwasoneofseveralDutchwarships
purchasedbySwedishcitiesaspartofthe
Skeppskompaniet(orShipsCompany),whichwas
designedbyGustavusasawaytoraiseanavyinquick
order.Thecitiespurchased16ships,100to150feetlong,
armedwith12to16cannoneachStockholmprovided

TheSwedishEmpirereacheditszenithunderKing
GustavusIIAdolphus(16111632),thegreatestwarleader
ofhisage,knownasthefatherofmodernwarfare,whose

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four;Gothenburgtwo;andthesmallercities,arrangedin
groupstopooltheirmoney,providedtheremainingten.In
theeventofwar,theshipsweretobeusedtoprotectthe
countryfromenemyattacks.Otherwise,theshipscouldbe
usedforcommercialvoyages,eitherbythecities
themselvesorbytheCrown,withtheincomefromthe
freightreturningtothecitiescoffers.

Figure4TheKalmarNyckelshistoricsignificancerivalsthatofthe
Mayflower.In1638shebroughtPeterMinuitandthefirstpermanent
settlerstotheDelawareValley.TheKalmarNyckelalsomadefour
documentedroundtripcrossingsoftheAtlanticmorethananyother
shipoftheera.PhotographerHerbConner.

Figure3KalmarCastle,Sweden,forwhichtheoriginalKalmarNyckel
wasrenamedafterherpurchasebythecitiesofKalmarandJnkping.
PhotographerAndersJohansson.

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

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TheKalmarNyckelmayhaveservednowandthenasa
merchantvessel,butin1634shewasdraftedfulltimeinto
theSwedishnavy.InanAdmiraltylistoftheperiod,the
KalmarNyckelisshownascarrying40sailors,28soldiers,
and12cannonprobablytypicalofherwartimestrength.

2.3 NewSwedensFlagship
In1637theNewSwedenCompanyacquiredtheKalmar
Nyckel,andasmallervessel,theFogelGrip(FlyingGriffen),
aDutchbuiltyacht,fromthenavyforuseinestablishinga
commercialcolonyinNorthAmerica.TheNewSweden
Company,aprivatecommercialenterprisepatternedafter
theDutchWestIndiaCompanyandcharteredbythe
Swedishgovernment,wasledbyPeterMinuitandbacked
byagroupofDutchandSwedishinvestors.

Figure5HollarsVastandFuriousOcean(1665)capturesthe
difficultiesencounteredas17thcenturyshipsattemptedtosailfrom
EuropetoAmericaacrossthreethousandmilesofstormtossedNorth
AtlanticOcean.Thesceneisreminiscentofthestormthatsmashedthe
KalmarNyckelandFogelGripastheyleftGothenburgharbor.
CourtesyoftheHuntingtonLibrary,SanMarino,CA.

Minuitsupervisedthepurchasingandloadingofthecargo
himself.MinuithadpreviouslybeenDirectorofNew
Netherland,andhewaspreciseaboutthekindsoftrade
goodsandothernecessariesthatwouldmakefora
successfulNorthAmericanventure.Heinsistedon
bringing500bricks,forinstance,purchasedfroma
Gothenburgbrickmakerandusedasballastonthetrip
over,becauseheknewwhatitwasliketobeinAmerica
withoutbricksforfireplacesandchimneys.Hewas
likewisecarefulaboutselectingthecolorandqualityofthe
duffel(fromthetownofDuffel,outsideAntwerp,wherethe
clothoriginated),knowinghowcompetitivethefurtrade
hadbecomeamongsttheEnglish,Dutch,andFrench,
knowingalsotheincreasinglysophisticateddemandsofthe

Delaysensued,butbySeptemberof1637PeterMinuithad
gatheredhisexpeditioninGothenburgharbor.CaptainJan
HindricksenvanderWateroftheKalmarNyckeland
CaptainAdrianJransenoftheFogelGripwerereadywith
theirshipsandwiththeircrewsofaboutfortytofiftyDutch
sailorscombined.TheSwedishgovernmentprovided
twentythreesoldiersunderCaptainNilssenKlingand
thirtymusketswithoneandahalftonsofgunpowder.Also
providedforthecolonysusewerehoes,shovels,peas,
beans,cabbages,twobarrelsofwheat,twobarrelsof
barley,oats,andrye.

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

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ChristinaRiver),amajortributarywhichflowedfromthe
west.Minuitheadedtheshipsabouttwomilesupthe
MinquasKill,wherefrompriorknowledgeheknewthere
existedashelfofprotrudingrocks(theRocks).These
rockswouldmakeanidealnaturallandingsite.Itwasmid
March1638,springtimeintheDelawareValley,with
weatherblissfullywarm.

Indians.So,too,theironaxesandknives,thetobaccopipes,
mirrors,gildedchainsandrings,wereselectedbasedon
Minuitsspecificknowledgeaboutthekindsofitemsthe
nativepeopleswanted.
MinuitsexpeditionfinallygotunderwayinlateNovember
1637,leavingGothenburg,Sweden,justintimeto
encounteranunusuallydestructiveNorthSeastorm.The
twoshipsbecameseparatedandalmostfoundered,the
KalmarNyckellimpingintoTexel,Holland,dismasted,
leaking,andbadlyinneedofrepairs.TheFogelGripturned
intoTexelafewdayslater.Extensiverepairsweremade
andthetwoshipsputouttoseaonthelastdayof
December1637.

TheKalmarNyckelandFogelGrip
EnterDelawareBay,March1638
ThefreshnessofMarchwasintheairasthetwovesselsflying
Swedishcolorsroundedthecapesunderfullsailandentered
DelawareBayfromtheAtlanticOcean.Theestuarydidnot
thenhaveitspresentnamebutwasknownasGodynsBay,
afteraDutchpatroon,buttheDutchoftenreferredtoitas
SouthBay.Theshipsturnedupstreamtoenterthemouthof
SouthRiveremptyingintotheBay.Thismajesticstreamis
nowknownastheDelawareRiver.Thecrewsfurledthetop
sailsallowingthemaincoursestocarrythevesselscautiously
northward.

2.4 FirstCrossing1638
TheAtlanticcrossingtooktheKalmarNyckelandFogel
Gripafurthertwoandahalfstormtossedwintermonths.
FiguringawintercrossingoftheNorthernAtlantictoo
dangerous,Minuitoptedforthelongerbutsafersouthern
route:firstheadingsouthfromHollandtotheCanary
Islands,whichlieabout300milestothewestoftropical
Africa;thenwestacrosstheAtlanticwiththefavoring
NEtradewindswhicharetypicallyatlatitudesof2N
25N at this time of year;thennorthuptheNorthAmerican
coast.LandfallwasmadeinearlyMarch1638astheships
reachedCapeHenlopenattheopeningtotheDelaware
estuary.MinuitproceededcautiouslyuptheDelaware,
headingtheKalmarNyckelfortheMinquasKill(todays
Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

C.A.Weslager,AManandHisShip(1990)

Minuitwastedlittletimescoutingandacquiringtheland,
buildingafort,andestablishingasmallsettlementinquick
succession.AfterconfirmingthatnoDutchorEnglish
settlementsexistedinthevicinity,hecalledagatheringof
fivechiefsfromthelocalLenape(sometimescalled

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barracksandtheotherastoragefacility,andtheplantingof
cropsforthefallharvest.Hisinitialmissioncomplete,
MinuitheadedtheKalmarNyckelbackforSweden,leaving
theRocksonorabout15June1638.Hewasanxiousto
makeareporttotheCompanyDirectorsandtobringback
asecond,largerpartyofsettlers,thistimeincludingwomen
andchildren,alldesignedtopromotethecolonysfuture.
Heleft24mentoholdthefortandprotectNewSwedens
legalclaimtotheterritory.

Delaware)andMinqua(Susquehannock)tribes.Withgreat
fanfare,includingthefiringofsignalcannon,Minuitinvited
thechiefsaboardtheKalmarNyckelandintotheCaptains
GreatCabinforaspecialmeetingtodiscussaSwedishland
purchase.
MinuitmadethecaseforSwedishacquisition * ofallthe
territorydrainingintotheMinquasKillandforpermission
toestablishaSwedishcolonytobesitedonthewestern
banksoftheDelaware.Minuitsexperiencenegotiating
dealsfortheDutchastheirGovernorofNewNetherland
helpedhimmakeapersuasivecase,andthedeedsof
exchangeweresignedallaround.Thesequenceis
suggestiveofMinuitsrespectforthenativesandtheir
priorownershipoftheland.Onlyafterthepaperswere
signeddidMinuitclaimthelandforQueenChristinaand
begintobuildthelittlefortandtradingpostthatboreher
name.

2.5 HurricaneStormWind
Homewardbound,Minuitagainchoseasouthernroute,
expectingtostopintheWestIndies,wherehecould
exchangewinefortobacco,thefoulweedwhose
phenomenaldemandhadreachedSweden.Thusitwas
thattheKalmarNyckelfounditselfanchoredinthe
CaribbeansideofSt.ChristophersIsland(todaysSt.Kitts).
Thereonthe5thofAugust1638fortuityfoundMinuit
happeninguponanold,Dutchfriend,theCaptainofthe
sloopFlyingDeer.HeandCaptainJanHindricksenvander
WaterwereinvitedtodineaboardtheFlyingDeer.They
werestilldiningwhenanunexpectedstormofunusual
ferocity,latercalledahurricanestormwind,hit
St.Christophers,theanchorage,andall20shipsinthe
harbor.TheKalmarNyckelrodeoutthehurricane,hardly
bruised.TheFlyingDeerwasoneofseveralshipspushed

MinuitsupervisedthebuildingofFortChristina,which
includedtwologcabins withinitsramparts,onea

*Europeanunderstandingofpropertyrights,whichincludethe

conceptsofprivateownershipandalienability,differedgreatlyfrom
NativeAmericanideasofsharedusage.NativeAmericanconceptsof
landedpropertyrights,however,arenotasalientousasissometimes
suggested,fortheyresembleWesternconceptsofhowwesharetheair
andinternationalwaters.
TheseiconsoftheAmericanfrontierwerethefirstlogcabinsbuiltin
theWesternHemisphere,designsandtechniquesbroughtbySwedens
forestFinnstotheNewWorld.

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

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reliefintheDutchWestFrisianIslands.Afteralayoverfor
repairsandfurtherdelaysinHollandcausedbyadispute
overimportduties,theKalmarNyckelreachedGothenburg
inearly1639.Theroundtriphadtakenhernearlysixteen
months,andshehadsurvivedtwodangerouslydestructive
oceanstormsandaCaribbeanhurricane.Butshemadeit,
andwouldbereadytosailagain.

outtoseaandneverseenagain.Shevanishedwithall
hands,includingMinuitandCaptainvanderWater.

Figure6St.Christophers,orSt.Kitts,surveyedbyAnthonyRavellEsqr.,
SurveyorGeneraloftheislandsofSt.Christopher,Nevis&Montserrat.
EngravedbyThomasJefferys,GeographertotheKing.London,printedfor
Robt.Sayer,Map&Printseller,no.53inFleetStreet,astheActdirects
20thFeby.1775.CourtesyoftheDavidRumseyMapCollection.

WithMinuitandtheCaptaingone,FirstMateMichel
SymonssenassumedcommandoftheKalmarNyckel.
SymonssensearchedinvainfortheFlyingDeer,waiting
nearlytwomonthsbeforefollowinghisemergency
instructions,whichcalledforhimtobringtheKalmar
NyckelhometoSweden.Thecrossingproveddifficult,with
Symonssenencounteringanothermajorstorm,whichthe
shipbarelysurvived,beforeeventuallyfindingemergency

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

Figure7SatelliteimageofHurricaneGeorgesshortlyafteritpassed
St.KittsinSeptember1998.Withmoderntechnologywenowgetearly
warningoftheapproachofthesemajorstorms.Inthe17thcenturyitwas
commontobetakenbysurpriseastheycanbeveryfastmoving.
ImagefromtheNOAAWebsite.

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OutfittedfornavalwarfarebyMayof1645,theKalmar
Nyckeltookpartinanumberofengagementsandsaw
bloodyaction.Withherreputationasaswiftand
seaworthyvessel,theKalmarNyckelwasusedprimarilyas
ascoutshipbyAdmiralAncharheim,commanderofthe
SwedishwesternfleetbasedinGothenberg.

2.6 RecordVoyagesTwo,Three,andFour
TheKalmarNyckelmadethreemoreroundtripcrossings
oftheAtlantic,from1640to1644,intheserviceoftheNew
SwedenCompany.Hertotaloffourroundtriptrans
atlanticcrossingsremainsthemostonrecordforanyship
ofthecolonialera,atestamenttohersounddesignand
sturdyconstruction,totheskillofhercaptainsandcrew.
Onhersecondcrossing,inthespringof1640,shebrought
womenandchildrentoNewSwedenforthefirsttimeas
wellasmuchneededsuppliesforthe25 * hardymen
holdingontoFortChristina.TheKalmarNyckelwas
accompaniedbytheCharitas(Charity),alargerfreight
vessel,onvoyagenumberthreein164142andbythe
Fama(Fame)onthefourthandfinalvoyagein163444,
eachtimebringingmoresuppliesandsettlersforan
expandingNewSweden.

2.7 SwedishWarshipKalmarNyckel
UponhersafereturntoSwedenin1644,theKalmarNyckel
wascommissionedimmediatelytoserveintheSwedish
DanishWar(164345),oneinaseriesofconflictsbetween
therivalkingdomsforseizureofterritoryandcontrolof
theBalticSea.

Figure8ThemoderndayKalmarNyckelfiringoneofher3lbcannon.
InsetisthesealofKingGustavusIIAdolphusthatisontodayscannon;it
wascopiedfromcannonrecoveredfromhisflagshiptheVasawhenshe
wasrefloatedfromtheseabed.PhotographerAlistairGillanders.

*Anthonyjoinedtheoriginal24settlersinearly1639(see9.5).

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

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Shesawherfirstactionwhileshadowingtheenemyfleet
outsideGothenberg,eventuallyengagingfourpursuing
Danishshipsinarunninggunbattlethatlastedseveral
hoursintheGreatBaeltStrait.Aftermorepicketand
intelligencegatheringduty,theKalmarNyckelengagedthe
largerSt.Peter(abbreviatedasSt.Peerinmostreports)ina
bloodycloseactionshiptoshipmleon8August1645.

neededsuppliesandreinforcementstostaveofftheDutch
WestIndiaCompanyasitmadeanumberof
encroachmentsonSwedishterritoryalongtheDelaware.
TherequestwasforwardeddirectlytoQueenChristina,and
shegaveherpersonalapproval.Anensuinginspectionby
theNavy,however,determinedthattheKalmarNyckels
conditionwassopoorthatshewouldnotlikelysurvive
anothertransatlanticvoyage.Areplacementship,theKatt
(Cat),wassenttoNewSwedeninstead.

TheSt.Peter,aDutchfljten(flute),withitssignificantly
heavierfirepowerof22largercalibergunsandasizably
biggercrew,wasboardedandtakenbytheKalmarNyckels
men,withhelpfromotherSwedishships.Asurvivingletter
fromamemberofthecrewwhowascrippledinthebattle,
oneMichellJohansson,statesthatonly12officersandmen
oftheKalmarNyckelsurvivedtheactionwhichresultedin
theseizureoftheSt.Peter.

On19June1651,QueenChristinaauthorizedthesaleofthe
KalmarNyckel,officiallydecommissioningheraftersome
22yearsofservicetotheSwedengovernment.Theship
wassoldtoCorneliusRolofsson,believedtobeaDutch
merchant,afterwhichsheglidessilentlyfromthepagesof
recordedhistory.

Thecrewmusthavesufferedheavycasualties,andwe
knowfromlaterreportsthatthedamagetotheshipwas
extensive.Fivedayslater,on13August1645,theDanes
signedanarmisticeandagreedtonegotiateapeace
favorabletotheSwedish.

TwocompetingstoriesexistabouttheKalmarNyckels
demise,neitheroneverifiedtoanydegreeofhistorical
satisfaction.Ononehand,thereisarecordintheDutch
archivesofavesselbelievedtobetheKalmarNyckel
makinganappearanceinHolland.Thisvesselwas
eventuallysunkbytheEnglishinaNorthSeabattleduring
theFirstAngloDutchWar(165254).

2.8 SilentEndforaNobleShip
WiththeSwedesvictoriousintheDanishWar,theNew
SwedenCompanyrequestedthatthegovernmentreequip
theKalmarNyckelandoutfitherwithsoldiersand
provisionssoassistancecouldbesenttoNewSweden.
GovernorJohanPrintzhadbeenpleadingfordesperately

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

12

Ontheotherhand,thereisanotherstory,alsounconfirmed,
thattheKalmarNyckelfinishedoutherdaysasamerchant
shipintheBalticandsankinKalmarharbor,whereshelies
tothisday.WehavenodirectevidenceofwhatRolofsson,

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mystery,andsomethingswejustdonotknow,likelywill
neverknow.

thebuyer,didwiththeKalmarNyckelafterpurchasingher
fromtheSwedishnavyin1651,andshedisappearsfrom
thewrittenrecords.

DecommissioningandSaleoftheKalmarNyckel
byOrderofQueenChristina
ChristinabytheGraceofGod,QueenofSweden,oftheGoths
andWends,GrandDuchessofFinland,DuchessofEstonia,
Karelia,Bremen,Verden,StettinPomerania,Kashubiaand
Wenden,PrincessofRuegen,DameofIngermanlandand
Wismar.
ConveyingOurparticularfavorandgraciousdisposition,in
Godalmighty.InasmuchasWe,withfaithfulmenand
servantstheLordsAdmiralandthewholeCouncilofthe
Admiralty,havegrantedCorneliusRolofssonindulgenceto
buytheshiptheKalmarNyckelwithitstackle;Itisinaccord
withOurgraciouswill,thatyoumaypermithimtoreceiveit
forareasonableprice.AndmayGodalmightycommendyou
withparticulargrace.FromStockholmthe19thJuneinthe
year1651.

Figure9Acopyoftheofficialdocument,inSwedish,signedbyQueen
ChristinaauthorizingthesaleoftheKalmarNyckel;thedateof19June
1651canbeclearlyseenatthebottom.Atranslationisprovidedopposite.
CourtesySwedishRoyalArchives,Stockholm.

Itremainsequallylikelythatsheservedouthertimeinthe
Balticasahumblefreighter,evenasafloating,dismasted,
warehouse,asitisthatsheendedherdaysaDutch
warship,gunsblazingasshewentdown.Historyisfullof
Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

[signed]CHRISTINA

Eitherendingfitsherworkmanlikecareerdualroleasan
armedmerchantmanandsmallwarshipandheryearsof
unpretentiousservice.Gonebutnotforgotten,sheis

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KalmarNyckelAGuidetotheShipandHerHistory

lovinglyrememberedtodayforbeingoneofahandfulof
themostimportantshipsinAmericanmaritimeand
colonialhistory.Hermemorylivesoninthereconstructed
KalmarNyckelandintheheartsofthewomenandmenof
theKalmarNyckelFoundationwhoarehonoredtoserve
andsailhernamesake.HeroriginalsignificanceasPeter
MinuitsflagshipcontinuestoechoacrosstheFoundations
shipyard,quietlyreverberatingofftheRocksnextdoor
andoutacrossthehillsofourbelovedDelawareValley.

14

KalmarNyckelHistoricDates

circa1625 BuiltbytheDutch
PurchasedbytheSwedishcitiesofKalmarand
1629
Jnkping.
ThefirstvoyagetoNewSwedenleaves
1637
Gothenburg
1638

thefirstvoyagearrivesattheRocksonthe
ChristinaRiverinpresentdayWilmington,DE.

1638

OnMarch29th1638Minuitmetwithlocalchiefsof
theLenapetribeinthegreatcabinoftheKalmar
Nyckelandsecuredthelanddealhewanted.

1638

TheKalmarNyckelbeginsthereturnvoyage,
survivingaCaribbeanhurricaneinwhichPeter
Minuitdies

1639
164041
164142

ThirdroundtripvoyagetoNewSweden.

164344

FourthroundtripvoyagetoNewSweden.
Outfittedfornavaldutyandtakespartinthe
SwedenDanishWar(164345);shehelpsseize
theSt.Peter.

1645
1651
1651

1650s

Figure10QueenChristinaofSwedenin1650,theyearin
whichshewascrowned.PortraitbyDavidBeck.

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

andarrivesbackinGothenburg.
Secondroundtripvoyage;bringingthefirst
womenandchildrentoNewSweden.

DecommissionedbyorderofQueenChristina
after22yearsofservice.
SoldtoCorneliusRolofsson,believedtobea
Dutchmerchant.
Uncertainend,perhapsintheNorthSeaorthe
Baltic

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ShipSpecifications(KalmarNyckel,1997)

15

4.3 MaterialsofConstruction

TheKalmarNyckelisaUnitedStatesCoastGuardcertified
smallPassengerVessel,approvedtotakethepublicsailing
onprotectedwatersoftheUnitedStates.

4.1 BuildersandCaptains

Framing

Purpleheart

Planking

SouthAmericanLocust

Decking

DouglasFir

Type

1625DutchPinnace

Spars

DouglasFir

Shipbuilder

AllenRawl

Knees

Hackmatack

NavalArchitects

ThomasC.Gillmer
MelbourneSmith

Fastenings

GalvanizedSteel

ExternalBallast

Lead

FirstCaptain
19972006

DavidW.HiottIV

InternalBallast

Lead

CurrentCaptain

LaurenMorgens

4.4 OtherDetails
Engines

4.2 Dimensions
SparredLength

141feet

LengthonDeck

93feet

NominalTopSpeed Sail:12.5knots
Power:9.25knots

LengthatWaterline 89feet
Draft

12feet5inches

Beam

25feet

HeightofRig

105feetwaterlinetomainflagstaff
65feetwithtopmastsdownrigged

SailArea

7600squarefeet

Displacement

298tons

RegisteredTonnage 168I.T.C.

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

2Caterpillardiesel3208s@180HP
each

FuelConsumption

13USgallons/hour@2200rpm

PassengerCapacity

49persons(daysails)
90persons(dockside)

Crew

24(voyages)
8(daysails)

Certification

USCGsubchapterT

Launched

28September1997

Commissioned

9May1998

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Figure11OriginallydesignedasaDutchwarship,theKalmarNyckelwas
extremelyfast,nimble,andseaworthyforherday.Sheremainsuniquely
attractiveandflexibleamongpresentdaytallships,capableofcarrying
49passengersfordaytrips.PhotographerAlistairGillanders.

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

16

Figure12Inthesetwopictures(thisandpreviousone)weseethe
moderndayKalmarNyckelduringadaysailontheChesapeakeBaynear
SolomonsIsland,MDinthelatesummerof2008.
PhotographerAlistairGillanders.

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Recordsofhislifearespotty,butweknowMinuitwaswell
respectedwithintheWeselbusinesscommunity,thathe
marriedthedaughterofthemayorfromneighboringCleve,
andthatheservedasdeaconinthelocalDutchReformed
Church.In1624MinuitandhiswifefledtoHolland,
seekingrefugefromSpanishtroopsthenoccupyingWesel,
onetinybutimportantdislocationproducedbythe
collectivehorrorsknowntohistoryastheThirtyYears
War(16181648).

PeterMinuit(circa15801638)

5.1 EarlyAmericanDreamer
PeterMinuit * wasamanofthemodernworld,Germanby
birth,HuguenotFrenchbydescent,DutchandthenSwedish
byadoptionandallegiance,Americanbychoice.Borninor
about1580alongtheGermanRhineinthetownofWesel,
withintheDuchyofCleves,aProtestantenclaveofthe
GermanicHolyRomanEmpire,Minuitwasthesonof
expatriateWalloonswhofledSpanishreligious
persecution.

5.2 ThirdDirectorofNewNetherland(162631)
MinuitsmovetoHollandputhimintouchwiththe
DirectorsoftheDutchWestIndiaCompany,anewly
formedenterprisedesignedtoexploitthevastresourcesof
whatatthetimeseemedalimitlessNorthAmerican
wilderness.MinuitwouldmaketwovoyagestoNew
Netherland(aterritorystretchinginthenorthfrom
presentdayAlbany,NewYork,toCapeHenlopenandthe
openingofDelawareBayinthesouth,encompassingallor
partsofwhatbecameNewYork,Connecticut,NewJersey,
Pennsylvania,andDelaware)onbehalfoftheDutch
Company,thesecondtimeservingasDirector(i.e.
Governor)oftheColonyfrom1626to1631.

Aleaderallhislife,Minuitstartedoutanupwardlymobile
entrepreneurwithaneyeonthefuture.Helackedmilitary
training,buthewasaquickstudy,combiningatakecharge
personalitywithsensiblejudgment.Andhealwayshada
keeneyeforlandanditspotential.Intheend,heprovedto
beoneofAmericasfirstgreatempirebuilders,withthe
vision,theenergy,andtherisktakingemblematicofall
thosewhowouldfollowinhisfootsteps.

*Noteonpronunciationandspelling:TheMinuitfamilyusedthe

FrenchpronunciationMinwee,meaningmidnight.Germansand
Dutchofthetimearticulatedthet.Americansthenandnowgenerally
sayminuet,asinthedance.Althoughasurprisingnumberof
partisansremaindogmaticonthissubject,eitherpronunciationis
acceptable,remindingusofMinuitscomplexheritage.Consistent
spellingwasnotapriorityin17thcenturyEurope.Archivalrecords
showMinuitsnamespelledvariouslyasMinnewit,Myniewit,
Minuyt,Mynnuit,Minuet,Minnewe,sometimeswithseveral
variantsinthesamedocument

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

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18

theMohawkstothenorth,forginganalliancethatwould
lastthroughthecolonyswholeexistence,purchased
extensivelandsalongtheHudsonRiverandtheDelaware
Bay,andopeneddiplomaticandcommercialrelationswith
thePilgrimsettlementinNewEngland.

PeterMinuitsDocumentList
PlanningtheNewSwedenExpeditionof163738

Figure13NewAmsterdaminthe1650s,fromawatercolorbyan
unknownartist.CourtesyoftheNationalArchivesoftheNetherlands.

ManhattanIslandbecamethecenteroftheDutchcolony
andflourishedunderMinuitsleadership.Minuitdid
actuallypurchaseManhattan,aswellasStatenIsland,
fromlocalIndiantribes,completingwhathasbecomethe
mostfamousrealestatetransactioninhistory.Exactly
whatitwastheIndiansconveyedandhowmuchMinuit
paidinreturnremainsatopicofmuchdebate.Weknow
thatMinuitmovedtheCompanyscapitalandmain
settlementfromNut(todaysGovernor)Islandto
Manhattan,builtafortattheislandssoutherntip,Fort
Amsterdam,andimprovedDutchrelationswithlocaltribes,
whichresultedinasubstantialincreaseinthefurtradeand
prosperityforthecolony.Heendedabloodyconflictwith

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

ConditionsUponwhichtheCompanyShallBeFormed
DraftoftheConditions:WhattheVeryLaudableGovernment
ofSwedenShallBePleasedtoDofortheCompany
InstructionstoServePeterMinuitontheVoyage
InstructionsfortheMarineCouncilontheVoyage
RationList
PlanforDistributingFood
ListforWetandDryFoodstuffsfor36menfor15Months
MemorandumofHowtheCommissariesandOtherOfficials
ShallPrepareTheirReports
ListofMunitions
InstructionsforPeterMinuitonhisVoyagetoSweden
MarinersChartoftheentireWestIndiesandFlorida
TallyofalltheCasksNeededAboardShipforaLongVoyage
SaltLicensethatistobeGiventoCharteredShipsfor
Transshipment
Regulations
ExtractfromCommissariesInstructions
BillofLadingForm
TwoLettersfromSamuelBlommaerttoAdmiralFleming
OneLetterfromPeterSpiringtoAdmiralFleming

ThesedocumentswereusedtogetSwedishGovernmental
approvalfortheformationofNewSwedenCompanyCharterand
Expedition.

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19

Companywasaprivatecommercialenterprisesponsored
byandwithacharterfromtheSwedishgovernment.The
Companysprimarypurposewaseconomic,butthe
motivationsoftheindividualSwedishandDutchinvestors
anddirectors,someofwhomwerealsoSwedishcrown
officials,variedwidely.WeknowfromMinuitssurviving
letters,forinstance,thathehopedtouseNewSwedenasa
havenforhisfellowRhinelandersdisplacedbytheravages
oftheThirtyYearsWar.

Beforebecomingembroiledinanastydisputebetween
Companydirectors,whichresultedinhisbeingrecalledto
HollandanddischargedfromtheCompany,Minuitcould
lookwithprideatthepeaceandprosperityhebroughtto
theburgeoningcolony,theonewiththemagnificentharbor
atthecenteroftheNewWorldthathesecured.Thathe
wouldbeangryatthefactionofCompanydirectorswhoso
badlytreatedhim,withtheunderhandedaidofhisNew
Amsterdamrival,theRev.JonasMichaelius,helpsexplain
Minuitsnextforayintheempirebuildingbusinessthis
timeonthebanksoftheDelawareRiver.

Aftercountlessdelayslogistical,bureaucratic,diplomatic,
Minuitsillhealththeexpeditionfinallylaunchedin
November1637.Minuitwasthereonthequarterdeckof
hisKalmarNyckelasshesailedfromGothenburgharbor,
Sweden,joyfultobewellagainandfinallyunderway,the
yachtFogelGripalongside.

5.3 FirstGovernorofNewSweden(1638)
F.ScottFitzgeraldscommentarynotwithstanding,there
aresomenotablesecondactsinAmericanhistory.Minuit
wasbroughtoutofretirementin1635byaDutch
businessmanwithinternationalinvestmentsandaglobal
reach,oneSamuelBlommaert.BlommaertwasaDirector
andoriginalinvestorintheDutchWestIndiaCompany,but
hehadsouredontheCompanysprospectsfollowing
Minuitsfiring.Blommaertalsohappenedtohave
investmentsandconnectionsinSweden,andhewaseager
toenlistMinuittotryanothercommercialventureinNorth
America,thistimeonbehalfoftheSwedishgovernment.

TheRocks,Minuitsplannedobjectivefromthebeginning,
cameintoviewnearlyfivemonthslater,midMarch1638.
Thecrossinghadbeendifficultandtempestuous,requiring
anemergencylayoverandrefitinTexel,Holland,but
springtimewarmthandgreenerygreetedtheexpeditionas
itdroppedanchor.

TogetherBlommaertandMinuitworkedwithChancellor
OxenstiernaandtheSwedishgovernmenttoestablisha
NewSwedenCompany.LiketheDutchWestIndia
Companyafterwhichitwaspatterned,theNewSweden
Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

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HereattheRocks(presentdayWilmington,Delaware),
abouttwomilesuptheMinquasKill(laterrenamedthe
ChristinaRiver * ),onamajorwesterntributaryofthe
DelawareRiver,Minuitlocatedwhatwouldbecomethe

20

firstpermanentEuropeansettlementintheentire
DelawareValleywatershed.

*Thehistoryandderivationofplacenamesisaninterestingfieldof

studyallitsown.ThenameoftheChristinaRiverfollowstheimperial
fortunesandculturalsensibilitiesofthepoliticalentitieswhich
controlledit.FromthetimeofNewNetherland,theDutchcalleditthe
MinquasKill,killbeingtheDutchtermforriverorcreek,Minquas
describingtheriverastheaccesswaytotheinteriorlandscontrolled
bytheMinquatribealongtheSusquehannaRiverValley.
In1638,PeterMinuitrenamedittheElbe,althoughthenamenever
stuck.TheElbeseemsanoddchoicetoustoday,butperhapsnotso
muchwhenweconsiderMinuitsGermanbirthandcommitmentto
Germanwarrefugees.
WithMinuitsdeath,theSwedesasearlyas1639begantorefertoitas
theChristinaRiver,honoringbothQueenChristinaandtheFortwhich
borehername.TheDutch,havingneverformallyrecognizedNew
Sweden,continuedtorefertoitastheMinquasKill,whichprevailedon
DutchmapsandinDutchcorrespondenceuntilatleast1664.
WiththeEnglishconquestofNewNetherlandin1664,theChristina
wasAnglicizedtoChristiana.ItstayedthatwaythroughtheAmerican
RevolutionandDelawareStatehooduntil1938andthetercentenary
visitoftheSwedishRoyalfamily,whenDelawarereturnedthenameto
itsSwedishformChristina.Mattersarefurtherconfusedbecause
thecolonialportvillageofChristiana,Delaware,whichAnglicizedits
namefromChristinafollowingtheEnglishtakeoverin1664,rejecteda
reversiontoChristinainthe1930s.Delawareansthushavea
Christiana,famousforitsmodernshoppingMall,locatedonthe
ChristinaRiver.

Figure14StanleyArthursLandingoftheSwedes,1638
UniversityofDelaware,MitchellHall.

Finally,thatwedonotknowtheoriginalnamegiventotheRiverbythe
localLenapePeopleremainsasuggestivecommentaryonourcultural
andhistoricalsensibilities.

MinuitpickedtheRocksbecauseheknewwherehewas
goingandwhathewantedtoaccomplishoncehegotthere.

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

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FromhistimeasDirectorofNewNetherland,noEuropean
knewmoreabouttheDelawareValley,Dutchlandclaims
andoperationsintheregion,orthelocalnativetribes.He
hadchosenhissitewell:

heenjoyedtheopportunitytousetheDutchlegalsystemto
hisadvantagewhilestrikingablowattheWestIndia
CompanyDirectorswhohadoncewrongedhimsounfairly.
PurchaseTreatyof1638

1. ItwasoffthemainchanneloftheDelawareand
hiddenfrompryingDutchandEnglisheyes;
2. Ithadahugeoutcroppingofrocks(theRocks)that
madeforaneasylandingsite,allowingforthedirect
offloadingofcargofromshiptoshore;
3. Itwasdefensiblegroundonanarrowpeninsula
formedbetweentheBrandywineandChristina
Rivers,withmarshlandsasbuffers;
4. ItwasonamajorIndianthoroughfareconnectedto
theinterior,especiallyimportantandconvenientfor
futurefurtradingconsiderations;and
5. Mostimportantly,Minuitknewitwasonlandto
whichtheDutchhadneveracquiredlegaltitlefrom
thenativetribes.

Thepartieswerethereforeagreedwithoneanother,and
thereupon,onthetwentyninthofMarch[,1638,]appeared
andpresentthemselvesbeforetheabovementionedships
council,inthenameoftheirnationsorpeople,fivesachems
orprinces,bythenameofMattahorn,MitotSchemingh
[Mitasemint],EruPacken[Elupacken],Mahamen,andChiton
andinthepresenceofthewholeshipscouncilceded,
transported,andtransferredalltheland,asmanydays
journeysonallplacesandpartsoftheriver[MinquasKill]as
they[theSwedes]requested;upwardsandonbothsides.
DepositionmadeinAmsterdambyFourSailorswho
accompaniedMinuitsNewSwedenexpeditionof1638and
survivedthereturnvoyage.

TheDutchhadacquireddeedsforlandseastofthe
Delaware(presentdayNewJersey)fromthelocaltribes,
buttheyhadneglectedtosecuretitlefromthetribesonthe
westernboundaryoftheRiverandBay(presentday
DelawareandPennsylvania).

Note:TheoriginaldeedssignedbytheIndianchiefshavebeenlostto
history,alongwithMinuitsaccompanyingsketchofFortChristina.These
paperswerewithMinuitsmissinglogbook,andthelastrecordofthem
wasaletterfromSamuelBlommaertstatinghehadsentthemtoAdmiral
KlasFleming.

ReadingMinuitsmotivesfromthedistanceofalmost400
yearsisachancybusiness,butwecansafelyspeculatethat

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

21

Afterspendingashorttimescoutingtheheadwatersofthe
MinquasKillandthereachesofthelowerBrandywineto

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confirmthatnoDutchorEnglishhadsettledinthearea,
Minuitcalledaconferenceoflocalchiefsandsachems.
Displayingtheuncommonregardandcourtesytothetribes
forwhichhewasknown,Minuitfiredcannonsinsaluteand
heldthemeetingintheKalmarNyckelsGreatCabin.Five
leaders,includingChiefMattahorn,werepresentfromthe
LenapeandMinquatribes.On29March1638Minuitwas
successfulinmakingthecasethatitwouldbeinthe
IndiansbestinteresttoallowSwedentoacquirelandand
buildatradingpostwithinasmallfort.Giftsweregiven,
deedsweresigned.Afulltributaryfanfareensued,
completewithceremonialtrumpetersanddrummers,by
whichMinuitraisedthestandardoftwelveyearoldQueen
Christinaandtookofficialpossessionoftheland.

laterdescribedbyBlommaertasthehurricane,an
extraordinarystormwind,caughttheFlyingDeerand
blewherouttosea.Theshipvanished,withallhands,
includingMinuit.
TheKalmarNyckelsurvivedthehurricaneandmadeitback
toSweden.ThetinysettlementatFortChristinaalso
survived.NewSwedenwouldlastuntil1655,whenit
wouldbeseizedbytheDutchunderPeter(Petrus)
Stuyvesantsleadership.TheEnglishinturnwouldtakethe
territoryfromtheDutchin1664.Delawarewouldbecome
aseparateEnglishcolonyunderWilliamPenn,anditwould
stillbethereasaStatein1787whenitwasthefirstto
ratifytheConstitutionthatformedtheUnitedStatesof
America.

Thereafter,MinuitoversawthebuildingofFortChristina
andtheplantingofbarley,wheat,andcorn.Withhis
settlementestablished,andleaving24ruggedsoulstoman
thefortandoccupythelandclaim,Minuitheadedbackto
Swedenforasecond,largerexpeditionofsettlers.He
decidedadetourtotheCaribbeanforthepurchaseofWest
Indiantobaccowouldbenecessarytoaugmentthe
enterprisesprofits.TheKalmarNyckelmadeitswaysouth
totheislandofSt.Christopher(St.Kittstoday),where
Minuitranintoanoldfriend,thecaptainoftheDutchsloop
theFlyingDeer.On5August,1638,hewasinvitedaboard
fordinnerandanexchangeofnewsandgossip.Amidstthe
wininganddining,afreakishlysuddenandviolentstorm,

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

22

5.4 LegacyandMeaning
PeterMinuitsmysteriousanduntimelydeathina
Caribbeanhurricaneremindsusofthehappenstancethat
driveshistoryandthedangersofAtlanticvoyagesinthe
ageofsail.HislegacyasanempirebuilderintheAmericas,
thefounderofwhatwouldbecomeNewYorkCityalongthe
HudsonandWilmington,Delaware,alongtheChristina,
makeshimanhistoricalfigureofenduringimportance.His
multiethnicandmultinationallifestory,hisenergetic
entrepreneurialdrive,hisastutecomprehensionofand
relianceonanemergingbodyofinternationallaw,his
humanedealingswiththenativetribes,hisvisionof

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23

AmericaasahavenfordownontheirluckEuropean
refugees,togethermarkMinuitasamanofanew,global,
modernworld.Minuitwasoneofthefirstofthe
hyphenatedAmericans,oneofthefirsttoleadthewaywest
acrosstheAtlantic,oneofthefirsttorealizethatthe
worldscenterofpower,wealth,andimaginationlay
increasinglyalongtheshoresofNorthAmerica.The
curiouscaseofPeterMinuitandtheSwedishinvasion
launchedfromtheKalmarNyckelreinforcesinourminds
theextenttowhichAmericanhistorydidnotjusthappen.
Realpeople,withreallives,realmotivations,andreal
vision,madeithappen.

Figure15PlaqueinWesel,Germany,inPeterMinuit'shonor.
Freelytranslatedthisreads,PeterMinuit,thesonofourcitywho
foundedthemetropolisofNewYorkin1626,andin1638theAmerican
cityofWilmington.PhotographerAllenC.Rawl.

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

Figure16ThisisFortChristinaStateParkwhichisatthesiteof
theRocksinWilmington.ThepeopleofSwedenerectedthismonument
tothememoryofthefirstSwedishsettlementonAmericansoilandgave
itincustodyoftheStateofDelaware.PhotographerAlistairGillanders.

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24

VoyagersAboardtheKalmarNyckel,1638

6.1 NationalOriginsoftheCrewandColonists
Weknowthenamesandsomethingaboutmanyofthe
peoplewhovoyagedwithPeterMinuitaboardtheKalmar
Nyckelonthe1638expeditionthatestablishedthefirst
permanentsettlementintheDelawareValley.Nocomplete
musterbookfromtheoriginalvoyagesurvives,butsomeof
thepapersandlogsbelongingtoPeterMinuitexist,ones
thatwerecarriedbacktoSwedenbyFirstMateMichel
SymonssenfollowingMinuitsdeathinthehurricaneon
thatfateful5dayofAugust,1638.

Rank/Role

Name

PlaceofOrigin

Leader and
Governor
Captain

PeterMinuit

German,Huguenotparents,
Frenchbydescent
Dutch

JanHindricksenvan
derWater
FirstMate
MichelSymonssen
SecondMate JacobEvertssen
Sandelin
Gunner
JohanJochimssen

Estimatessuggestthat20to30sailorsmannedtheKalmar
NyckelwhenshesailedforAmericain1638,andthatshe
carriedabout24soldiers.MostofthesailorswereDutch
andmostofthesoldierswereSwedishorFinnish.Names
alonecannotbeusedtodeterminenationality,because
manypeoplebearingDutchnameswereScandinavianand
viceversa.InconsistentandcarelessspellingbybothDutch
andSwedescompoundstheconfusion.

Dutch
Scottish
Danish orGerman,Coppel
inSchleswigHolstein
Dutch,BernsterinHolland
Dutch

Boatswain
Indian
Interpreter
Commander
Soldiers

PeterJohanssend
AndressLucassen

Commissary

German,Minuitsnephew
fromWesel
GotfriedHarmer
Germanboy,Huygens
cousin
Numbersandnames MostlyDutch
unknown
HermanAndersson
Swedish
JohnSwensson
Swedish
SanderClerck
Swedish
KlasJansson
SwedishorFinnish
HansJanecke
German,Konigsbergin
Prussia
TimenStiddem
Swedish

Apprentice
Seaman
Seaman
Seaman
Seaman
Freeman
Barber
Surgeon
Barber
Surgeon

MnsNilssonKling
Twentythreenot
named
HendrickHuygen

SwedishorFinnish
MostlySwedishorFinnish

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

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Boatswain:Theboatswain(bosun)wasresponsibleforthe
conditionoftheshipsrig,andkeptthecrewbusywith
constantmaintenanceandrepairprojects.

6.2 RolesoftheCrewandColonists
Leader,Governor:Expeditionsofficercommanding;
governorinchargeofallmajordecisionsconcerningthe
establishmentofthecolony;chiefadministrativeofficer,
directlyresponsibletoNewSwedenCompanyInvestors
andSwedishGovernmentalCouncilors.

Seaman:Theseamenworked
underthedirectionofthe
KalmarNyckelsofficersand
crew,completingallthetasks
necessarytosailandmaintain
theship;thesesailorswere
oftenilliterateandpoormen
whoriskedtheirlives
regularlyaspartoftheir
duties.

Captain:TheKalmarNyckelscommandingofficer,
responsibleforwelfareanddirectionoftheshipandits
sailingcrew.
FirstOfficer:TheChiefMatewasthesenioroftwowatch
standingofficers.Hewasresponsibleforthecorrect
executionoftheCaptainscommands.Hewouldhave
sufficientexperiencetotakecommandoftheshipifthe
Captainshouldbecomeincapacitated.

Commissary:Amost
importantcolonialofficialor
armyofficer,thecommissary
wasresponsibleforproviding
thecolonistsandsoldierswith
foodandothersupplies;in
Europeancolonialsettlements
oftheperiod,thecommissary
waschargedalsowithstoring
andoverseeingthetrade
goodsusedtobargainwiththe
nativepeoplesandwith
safeguardingthefursand

SecondOfficer:TheSecondMatewasthewatchstanding
officeroflessseniorityandgenerallylessexperiencethan
theChiefMate.Instandingwatch,theMatesalternated
leadingtheirwatch,orhalfoftheirmen,inshifts
throughoutthe24hourday.
Gunner:TheGunnerorgunnersmateoversawthecare
andoperationoftheKalmarNyckelsguns(believedtobe
abouttwelvecannon,amixofsixpoundersandthree
pounders,withtwoadditionalsmallswivelguns)aswellas
allofthemuskets,pistols,andgunpowderaboard.

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

25

Figure17AmodelofaSwedish
seamandressedinclothesfound
intheVasa.Courtesyofthe
SwedishMaritimeMuseum.

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KalmarNyckelAGuidetotheShipandHerHistory

othermaterialsacquiredfromanyexchange.

translationofvariousnativeIndianlanguages;an
importantpositioninNorthAmericancoloniesgenerally,
wherethevastvarietyofIndianlanguagesanddialectsand
thesubtletiesofidiomaticexpressionrequiredtremendous
skillandexperience.

Apprentice:Generallyanyyoungassistant,inthiscasea
boywhohelpedthecommissary.
Commander:Acommissionedarmyofficerinchargeof
leadingandoverseeingthecolonyssoldiers;onceonland,
hetookdirectionfromtheGovernorbutnottheships
captain.

ASelfGuidedTouroftheKalmarNyckel

7.1 WeatherDecks
NotePleasebeginyourtourfromthebow(front)ofthe
shipandworkyourwayafttowardthestern(back).

Soldiers:Menenlistedforserviceinthearmy;usually
denotesalevelofprofessionalismandproficiency,but
training,experience,andpayvariedwidely;inNew
Sweden,soldierswereoftenpensionedcriminalsand
othersforcedintoservicebyhardluckandpoverty.
BarberSurgeon:Apersonexperiencedinthemattersof
cuttinganddressinghairandbeardsaswellasinthe
treatmentofwoundsandillnesses;dualrolesuggeststhe
levelofmedicalandsurgicalcompetencybeforetheadvent
ofmodernmedicineinthelatterhalfofthe19thcentury.

Figure18Thelayoutoftheweatherdeckanddecksabove.Theweather
deckrunsallthewayfrombowtosternandsealsouttheweatherfrom
gettingbelow;thinkofitastheroofonthehullthatformsthefloorfor
thesailorstosailtheship.Theotherdecksabovethisonlyrunpartofthe
lengthoftheship(thefocsleheadandthequarterdeck).

Freeman:AnadultmalecolonistnotemployedbytheNew
SwedenCompanyortheSwedishgovernment,
qualificationsunspecified.

7.1.1 TheForecastle(Focsle)HeadandItsFeatures:
TheAnchors:KalmarNyckelhastwotraditionalwooden
stockedboweranchors,eachweighing900pounds.They
areraisedbyhandusingthewindlassonthemaindeck.

IndianInterpreter:Apersonwithspecificlanguage
qualifications,heredenotingexperiencewiththe

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

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TheBell:Asailorslifeaboardshipisdividedinto
watches,orperiodsofworkandrest.Sailorstaketurns
standingwatch,sothattheshipismannedatalltimes
throughoutthedayandnight.Traditionally,thebellwas
rungeveryhalfhourtoannouncethetimeandkeeptrack
ofthechangesofthewatch.Atypicalwatchlasted4hours,
or8bells,andtheywouldstartagainfrom1bellafterthat.

7.1.3 TheMainDeckandItsFeatures:
TheWindlass:Oneofthemostimportantsimplemachines
onboardtheKalmarNyckel,thewindlassisahuman
poweredwinchofferingamechanicaladvantageof
approximately10:1.Thecrewmemberswrapalinetobe
hauledaroundthewindlass,andthenuptoeighthandsuse
thelongbarsasleveragetoturnit.Aversatiledevice,the
windlassisusedforhaulingbackanchors,trimmingsails,
hoistingtopmastsandyards,andanyotherusethecrew
mightneeditfor.

TheChimneyHatch:TheoriginalKalmarNyckelwould
havehadawoodburningstoveintheforecastle(focsle)
forcooking.Onthemodernship,wehaveoptedtosave
storagespaceanddowithoutastove,butthefocslehead
isfittedwithahatchthroughwhichsmokecouldbevented.

TheForwardHatch:Thisisanexampleofatraditionally
designedcargohatch.Itsexpansivesizeandremovable
gratingsmadeloadingconvenient.Oncefilled,thehatch
wouldhavebeencoveredwithlayersofwaterproofed
canvassecuredinplacebyasystemofwedgedwooden
battensaprocessknownasbatteningdownthehatches.

7.1.2 TheForecastle(Focsle)andItsFeatures:
TheHawseHoles:Theselargeholesforwardallowanchor
cablesandmooringlinestopassoutofthefocsle,and,in
badweather,allowseawatertotravelin.Sailorslivingin
thefocslewouldprobablyhavegonetoconsiderable
lengthstoplugthehawseholeswhenoffshore,buttheystill
likelycontributedtothediscomfortoflifeinthefocsle.

TheMainHatch:Thishatchsystem,knownasa
Doghouse,islesstraditionalthantheopengratingsofthe
Forehatch;nevertheless,itprovidessafer,moreuser
friendlyaccesstocrewspacesitadmitsastaircaseand,
unlikeabattenedhatch,itcanbeopenedfrombelow.
Traditionally,themainhatchwouldhavebeenidenticalto
theforehatch.

TheForemast:Shipsinthe17thCenturyhadtheir
foremastsmountedorsteppedfarforwardcomparedto
laterdesigns.TheKalmarNyckelsforemastpassesright
throughthefocsle.Later,sailorswouldinventthe
expressionbeforethemast,referringtolaterfocsles,
whichwereforwardoftheforemast.

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

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DeckGuns:TheoriginalKalmarNyckelwasarmedto
varyingextentthroughoutherlife,whetherasamerchant

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vessel,awarship,oracolonialship.Themodernshipis
buildwithfittingsfortendeckguns.Becauseofspace
constraints,wecarrytwosixpoundcannons(forward)and
twothreepoundcannons(amidships).Gunswere
describedintermsoftheweightoftheshotfired;oursix
poundersthemselvesweighabout1,000pounds.

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shipwiththewhipstaff,alargestickthatisusedtopushthe
shipstiller(below)backandforth.Thewhipstaffandthe
tillerarebothleversthatworktogethertomovethe3,200
poundrudderthatcontrolstheship.Thecrewknowsthat
thisdeviceearnedthenamewhipstaffwithgoodreason;
steeringtheKalmarNyckelcanbeaphysicallydemanding
task,especiallyinroughweather.

TheMainMast:Thisisthelargestmastontheship.Like
theforemast,itwasmadefromseveralverticalsections
fittedtogetherlikepiecesofapie.Ropescalledwooldings
arewrappedtightlyaroundthemasttoholdthepieces
together.Today,wealsomadeuseofmodernepoxyresin
forthispurpose.

TheNavStation:Thisareaishometothenavigational
equipmentthatprovidesKalmarNyckelsofficerswiththe
informationtheyneedtokeeptheshipsafeandoncourse.
KalmarNyckelisequippedwithallmannerofnavigational
materialsfromthetimehonoredpaperchartsandsextants
tomodernradarsandstateoftheartchartplotter.

TheCapstan:Ahumanpoweredwinch,thecapstanisan
importantexampleofthemanysimplemachinesonboard
theKalmarNyckel.Uptosixteencrewmemberscanhaul
tightalinewrappedaroundthedrumofthecapstanby
marchingaroundthecapstanandpushingonthebarsfitted
throughitwiththeirchests.Attheendofeachbar,the
capstanprovidesamechanicaladvantageof5:1.The
capstanisausefuldeviceforlongpulls,ascrewcanmarch
indefinitelywithoutstoppingtoresetthebars.Itcanbe
usedforhandlingdocklines,hoistingmastsandyards,
settingsail,andanythingelsethecrewneeds.

7.1.4 TheCaptainsCabinandItsFeatures
Opulentdecor:TheGreatCabinoftheoriginalKalmar
Nyckelwasprobablyveryornatelydecoratedinhopesof
providinganimpressivevenueforaDutchmerchant
captaintodobusiness.Themodernshipsdcor
representsacombinationofsymbolsoftheStateof
Delawarewithdesignsofcarvingsandpaintrecovered
fromthewreckoftheSwedishwarshipVasa,whichsankin
Stockholmharborin1628.IntricatedetailsoftheVasa
survivedtoberefloatedinthe20thCenturyandprovidea
remarkableexampleofthedecorativestyleoftheperiod.

TheWhipstaff:BecausetheKalmarNyckelpredatesthe
inventionofthesteeringwheel,thehelmsmancontrolsthe

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Captainsbunk:Now,asthen,theCaptainslivingspace
doublesastheshipsoffice,whichaccountsforthemodern
officeequipmentthatisoftenvisible.

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7.2 BelowDecks
NoteThistourbeginsinthewardroomsinthestern(back)
oftheshipandproceedsforwardtowardthebow(front).

Sterngallerydoors:Provideaccesstothesmallbalcony
knownasthesterngallery.Thecrewusesthisspaceto
handlesternlineswhendockingandundocking,andto
launchKalmarNyckelssmallboat.
7.1.5 TheQuarterDeckandItsFeatures:
EngineControls:TheOfficersofthemodernKalmar
Nyckelcancontroltheshipstwoenginesfromthe
quarterdeck.Theycannotsteertheshipfromhere,
however,butmustrelyonahelmsmanatthewhipstaffto
carryouttheircommands.

Figure19Layoutofcabinsandfeaturesbelowdeck.

TheWardroom:Nowastraditionally,theWardroomisthe
homeoftheKalmarNyckelsofficers,wholiveinsmall
cabins.TallerWardroominhabitantsneedtowatchtheir
heads,becausethetillerliveshereaswell,movingbackand
forthoverheadashelmsmenondecksteertheship.

MizzenMast:TheaftermostmastoftheKalmarNyckelis
significantlymoreangledorrakedthantheothertwo
masts.Shipsofthisperiodwereriggedwithafanned
effect,withthemizzenmasthavingmorerakethanthe
mainandtheforemastbeingentirelyvertical.

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

TheEngineRoom:Behindthescenes,theKalmarNyckelis
averymodernvessel,andtheengineroomistheheartof
theshipssystems.Inadditiontotwo180horsepower
Caterpillardieselengines,theengineroomishometo
generators,batterybanks,bilgeandfirepumps,andallthe
toolsthattheshipscrewneedstokeepeverythingrunning
smoothly.

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TheSaloon:Hometotheshipsdiningtable,theSaloonis
thecommonspacewherethecrewoftheKalmarNyckel
caneat,relaxandsocializewhennotworking.Courtesyto
shipmatesisimportant,though,ascrewmembersbunks
linebothsidesofthespace.Boththemainmastandthe
capstanpassthroughthediningtable,makingitimpossible
forhungrycrewtoseealltheirshipmatesseatedforameal.

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theirbelongings.Thisistheextentoftheirpersonalspace
onboard,andmostlearnquicklytopacklight.

TheGalley:TheGalleyistheshipskitchen,wherethe
mostanticipatedpartofasailorsdaymealsareborn.
Cookingatseacanbearealchallenge,sotheKalmar
Nyckelsgasrangeisoutfittedwithadjustablerailingsor
fiddlesthatkeeppotsandpansinplaceovertheirburners.
Likethesaloon,thegalleyisfullofbunksforthecrew,who
canlookforwardtowakinguptosmellsofhotfood
cooking.
TheForepeak:Thissmallcompartmentatthebowofthe
shipishometotheboatswains(bosuns)stores:allmanner
ofthingsarestoredheree.g.,sparerope,wood,extra
blocks,tackles,sandpaper,rags,paintbrushes.Ifasailor
needsit,thenitsprobablyintheforepeak.Keepingthis
tinyspaceorganizedwhenitisfullofshipsstoresisa
continualchallenge.

Figure20Volunteersteward,RickBayard,preparinglunchinthegalley
ofthecurrentKalmarNyckelduringavoyagetoProvincetown,MA.
PhotographerAlistairGillanders.

TheHolds:Theholdsaretheareasbelowdecks,orstrictly,
belowthelowerdeck,wherecargoisstored.Onthe
modernKalmarNyckel,theholdsarehometowaterand
fueltanks,shipssystems,andextragear.

CrewBunks:Crewmembersareissuedbunksinthegalley
orthesaloon,wheretheysleepandwheretheystoreallof

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SotheKalmarNyckelhasfourmastseachmadeupof
threepartsasfollows(frombowtostern):

7.3 LookingAloft
7.3.1 TheAnatomyofaMast
Tallshipmastsbeforethe20thcenturywerewoodenand
originallystartedasasinglepieceoftimber,typicallythe
trunkofafirtree.However,fromthe16thcenturyonwards
shipsgrewlargeenoughtoneedmaststhatweretallerand
widerthancouldbemadefromasingletrunk.Thisledto
theuseofmultiplesectionsofmast,confusinglyalsocalled
masts.Eventually,onthelargestships,thiscouldbeupto
foursections;namedfromthedeckandmovingupwards
theywouldbethelower,top,topgallantandroyalmasts.

Mast

MastSection/Top

BowSprit

Sprit,sprittop, and sprittopmast

ForeMast

Forelowermast.foretop, and foretopmast

MainMast

Mainlowermast,maintop, and maintopmast

MizzenMast

Mizzenlowermast,mizzentop, andmizzen
topmast

Ontheearly17thcenturyKalmarNyckel,andthereforeour
modernrecreation,themastsareintwosectionslower
andtopmast(plusaflagpoleabovethat).Inthespecialcase
ofthebowspritthesprititselfformsthelowermast.
Finallyeachmastwasprovidedwithaworkingplatform,
usuallywherethelowermastandtopmastjoined;this
platformiscalledatop.Onwarshipsandarmed
merchantmenthetopswerealsoimportantduringbattleas
aplatformformarinesharpshootersandtheirloaders.
Becauseofthisthetopswerealsoknownasfightingtops
onthesevessels.

Figure21CrewvolunteersMaggieBrennerandVanWellsareworking
intheforetopabovethelowermastandbelowthetopmastpreparing
theforetopsailforuse.Alsovisibleistheforetopyardwhichisthe
horizontalsparthesailisattachedto.PhotographerAlistairGillanders.

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7.3.2 TheKalmarNyckelMastsandSails

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ThenewKalmarNyckelwasdesignedandbuiltbyNaval
ArchitectThomasC.GilmerandMasterShipwrightAllenC.
Rawl.KingCarlandQueenSilviaofSwedenwereamong
thethousandsofsightseerswhovisitedtheshipyardduring
theconstruction.

KalmarNyckelsReconstruction

8.1 BuildingandLaunch
TheKalmarNyckelskeelwaslaidinApril1995atthe
KalmarNyckelFoundationsshipyardontheChristina
River,adjacenttoFortChristinaandtheRocks.

Figure23Inthisview,aftlookingforward,PatrickFlynnissmoothing
theframesintofaircurves,aprocessknownas"fairing"theframes.
PhotographerJimDurborow

Figure22DeepintheSouthAmericanjungle,ShipwrightAllenRawl
foundthepurpleheartwoodneeded.Harvestedunderthedirectionofthe
GuyanesegovernmentandtheguidelinesoftheRainforestAlliance,more
than50,000boardfeetweredeliveredtotheshipyardin1995.
PhotographerAllenRawl.

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Thereconstructionteamsusedacombinationoftraditional
toolsandmodernequipment.Painstakingresearch,
includingtripstoHollandandSweden,ensuredthatthe
newKalmarNyckelwouldbefaithfultothespecificationsof
theoriginal,aDutchPinnacefrom1625.Elaborate
Swedishspecificornamentalcarvingswereessentialtothe
exactingreconstructionefforts.Modernequipmentwas
addedtomaketheshipsafeandfunctional,includingtwo
dieselengines,amoderngalleyandbathrooms,modern
electronicsandnavigationinstruments,andsomesynthetic
materialsintheriggingandsails.

Figure25Asthetidereacheditshighestlevel,thebandplayedAnchors
Aweigh!"andthesecondKalmarNyckelliftedfreeofhercradletofloatin
herChristinaRiverhome.PhotographerFredComegys.

On29September1997,aftertwoandahalfyearsof
construction,theKalmarNyckelwaslaunchedintothe
ChristinaRiver.Twentythousandspectators,including
GovernorCarper(nowU.S.Senator)andSenatorBiden
(nowU.S.VicePresident),wereonhandtocelebratea
dreamthathadbeentenyearsinthemaking.

Figure24Anornamentalkneetosupporttheportgallery.HereTed
IrelandfinishesthefeathersofthepowerfulbirdfashionedofDouglasfir.
PhotographerChrisQueeney.

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Severaladditionalmonthswereneededtostepthethree
giantmastsandcompletetherigging.Dignitariesfrom
Sweden,Finland,theNetherlands,andtheUnitedStates
wereonhandfortheformalCommissioning9May1998

35

BuildersLog12April1998
TheshipKalmarNyckellives.Shehasflourished,andshe
willimproveandrefinewithage.Shewillrunwiththewind,
thenpauseandposeforalltoadmire,educatingandexciting
oldandyoungalike.Areportfromherworking,castiron
cannonwillhailandsummonthemostunenlightened
spectator.Shewillcarrywithherthedreams,sweat,blood,
andvictoryofhercreators,conservators,andcrew.She
exemplifiesandperhapsredefinesthemeaningofconfidence,
pride,andfortitude.
KalmarNyckelhasearnedtherightofFairWindsand
FriendlyTides.

AllenC.Rawl,Shipbuilder

8.2 OrnamentalWoodCarvings
TheKalmarNyckelisfamousforitsornamentalcarvings.
Shipsofthe17thcenturywereveryornate,andtheKalmar
Nyckelsexactingreconstructioneffortsproducedperhaps
themostimpressivecollectionofcarvingsthatexistonany
tallshipsailingtoday.Tenwoodcarvers,mostlylocal
volunteers,workedfromdrawingsof17thcenturyship
decorationstocreatelions,griffins,angelfaces,windgods,
mermaids,mermen,dolphins,birds,seamonsters,
emblems,keys,crowns,andmoreallrepresentativeofthe
typesofceremonialcarvingsthatwouldhavegracedthe
originalKalmarNyckel.

Figure26Theframed,octagonalopeningthroughthequarterdeckwaits
toreceivethemizzenmast.ThemizzenwasthefirstoftheKalmar
Nyckel'sthreemaststobesteppedinthedaylongprocesswhichmoved
fromafttofore.PhotographerChrisQueeney.

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36

VolunteercarversnotablyCharlesTedIreland,Roger
Hone,JimKnowles,andLytPattersonusedmallets,
chisels,andskill,asCharlesIreland,Jr.,putitsowellinhis
bookonthebuildingoftheKalmarNyckel.Thecarvers
usedthesametypesofmallets,chisels,planes,handsaws,
andscrapersthatwereusedbyDutchandSwedish
woodworkersduringthefirsthalfofthe17thcentury.
TheVasa,illfatedflagshipoftheSwedishnavywhichsank
onitsmaidenvoyagein1628,servedasinspirationand
guideformanyoftheornamentalcarvings.Raisedand
preservedsince1961,theVasaremainsthemostimportant
exampleof17thcenturyceremonialshipcarvinginthe
worldtoday.
WiththeemergenceofDutchandEnglishnavalpowerin
the17thcenturycameachangeinthemannerofship
decoration.Thepiouspaintingsandgildedcarvingsof
religioussignificancethathadprevailedamongSpanish
andPortugueseshipsswitchedtothestrikingcolorsand
patternsofsecularandmythologicalfiguresofthekind
foundonthereconstructedKalmarNyckel.

Figure27OneoftheKalmarNyckelsmanycarvings,thisWindGodon
thestarboardquarterisalsoacapitalforthesterngallerycaprail.
PhotographerAlistairGillanders.

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Figure28Leo...thetwotailed,redlionfigureheadatthebow,afulleight
feetlong,tookRogerHoneoverayeartocarve.
PhotographersChrisQueeneyandJ.N.Peters.

InparticulartheCaptainsGreatCabinhasfourcarved
knees,eachofadifferentmythologicalfigure,andother
ornatedecorationsbefittingthemasterofagreatship.
InfacttheVasastylegriffins,carvedinmahogany,which
adorntheCaptainssettee,arereputedtobethefirstsuch
beastscarvedforawoodentallshipsincethe1620s.

Figure29TheKalmarNyckelsornatecarvingsareperhapsattheirmost
spectacularonthehighlydecoratedstern.
PhotographerAlistairGillanders.

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38

AngelFacesStarboardSide

RetiredAngelFacesOfficeGalleryHallofFame

Figure30AngelFacesonthestarboardsideoftheshipin2005;some
ofthesehavebeenretiredrecentlybutAllenRawliswearingthe
sunglasses!PhotographerAlistairGillanders.

AngelFacesPortSide

TheHon.RussellPetersonformerGovernor
RobertHarra,Jr.
MalcolmMackenzie
GeorgeHering,III
H.HunterLott,IIIChairman,BoardofTrustees
FrancisI.NickDupont
WindGod
PegTigue
HughMiller
TheHon.JackMarkell,Governor
Lion

Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

AllenRawlMasterBuilder
DavidW.Hiott,IVFirstCaptain
EarlSeppala
RichardJulian
HughMahaffy
MartyMcDonough
WindGod
TheHon.JamesM.Baker,MayorofWilmington
Lion

TheHon.ThomasCarperU.S.Senator
andformerGovernor
MariaCabrera
ElizabethFoster
TheHon.RuthAnnMinner,formerGovernor
MichaelPurzycki
ElizabethRawl
TheHon.JamesSillsformerMayorofWilmington
AndrewTurezyn
GeorgeannaWindley

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&SharpCompanydominatedthesitesincetheheightofthe
CivilWar,whereitconstructedrailroadcarsfortheUnion
Army.WhenJacksonandSharpaddedshipbuildingin
1875,itbecameoneofthelargestmanufacturingfirmsin
Wilmington,withthelargestlumbermillinthecity,turning
outmorewoodenshipsthananyotheryardinDelaware.
AmericanCar&FoundryboughtJackson&Sharpin1901.
AmericanCarcontinuedtooperatetheshipyardasthe
JacksonPlant,whereitbuilthundredsofshipsfortheUS
NavyinWorldWarsOneandTwo,fromminesweepersto
landingcraft(thefamousHigginsBoat,orLCVP),from
specialtybargesforsmokescreenstoaluminumpontoons
fortemporarybridges.AftertheSecondWorldWar,
AmericanCar&Foundryreturnedexclusivelytorailroad
carproduction.Duringthe1950sand1960s,CityInvesting
CorporationofNewYorkacquiredtheshipyardandusedit
toconverttheobsoleteWilsonLineFerryboatsinto
sightseeingvessels.Theshipyardwasnotedin1962for
buildingthefirstAmericanhydrofoilcertifiedforpassenger
service.

ShipyardandStatePark

9.1 TheKalmarNyckelFoundationShipyard
TheKalmarNyckelFoundationshipyard,adjoiningthe
RocksandFortChristina,occupiessomeofthemost
historicacreageintheDelawareValley.Thereconstructed
KalmarNyckelwasbuiltandlaunchedfromthe
Foundationsfouracreshipyard,anareathathasbeen
buildingboatssince1644andthedaysofGovernorJohan
PrintzsNewSweden.Theshipyardalsositsonpartofthe
earlySwedishsettlementthatgrewuparoundFort
Christina.

Today,theKalmarNyckelFoundationshipyardprovidesa
CenterforeducatingstudentsofallagesaboutDelawares
maritimeandcolonialhistoryandgrowth.Italsohouses
theFoundationsoffices,thesailloft,carpentryand
blacksmithshops,wheretheshipismeticulously
maintained.

Figure31Bird'seyeviewoftheJackson&SharpCompanyfrom
"TheJacksonandSharpCo.:DelawareWorks."
CourtesyoftheHistoricalSocietyofDelaware.

TheFoundationsshipyard,aspartoftheSeventhStreet
PeninsulabetweentheBrandywineandChristinaRivers,
wasoncethebusiestindustrialsiteinWilmington.Jackson
Copyright2009KalmarNyckelFoundation.Allrightsreserved.

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9.3 FortChristinaStatePark
DelawaresFortChristinaStateParkcommemoratesthe
KalmarNyckelsfirstvoyagein1638andthefoundingof
thecolonyofNewSweden,thefirstpermanentEuropean
settlementintheDelawareValley.Adjoiningthe
Foundationsshipyard,theParkislocatedattheRocks
alongtheChristinaRiver.ItincludeslandwherePeter
MinuitbuilttheoriginalFortasacommercialand
administrativecenterforthecolonyofNewSweden.
TheparkfeaturesthemonumentbyCarlMillesconceived
asagiftoffriendshipfromthepeopleofSwedentothe
peopleoftheUnitedStatescommemoratingthe300th
anniversaryofPeterMinuitslandingfromaboardthe
KalmarNyckel.TheMillesmonumentisconstructedof
blackSwedishgraniteandsurmountedbyastylized
representationoftheKalmarNyckel.Theshipisunderfull
sailandherprowpointstowardthewest.Millestrained
withRodininParis,becameaU.S.citizenin1945,and
remainsoneofSwedensmostcelebratedsculptors.
Gothenburg,Sweden,hostsacompanionMillesmonument,
signifyingtheKalmarNyckelsdeparture.

Figure32DaveLawrence,acrewvolunteerandblacksmith,inthe
blacksmithsforgeattheKalmarNyckelShipyard.
PhotographerAlistairGillanders.

TheChallengeProgram,withitsnewConstructionTraining
&EducationCenterforatriskyouth,whichbeganin1995
withhelpfromFoundationmembers,continuestoshare
shipyardspaceandservetheDelawarecommunity.

9.2 NewSwedenCentre
TheNewSwedenCentre,locatedattheKalmarNyckel
Foundationshipyard,offershandsonhistory
interpretationsofthecolonialhistoryoftheDelaware
Valley.TheCentreincludesartifactsfromtheprehistoric
eratotheAmericanWarforIndependence,withaspecial
focusonNativeAmericansandtheNewSwedenColony.

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Figure34SamHeed,SeniorHistorianandDirectorofEducationatthe
KalmarNyckelFoundation,surveying"theRocks"astheyremaintoday.
PhotographerAlistairGillanders.

Figure33A1654mapshowingtheoriginalFortChristinaattheRocks
andthenearbySwedishsettlement.Themapisorientedsouthupas
shownontheinsetcompassrose.

Figure35TwoofthemonumentsinthePark:theCarlMillessculpture
(alsoseeFigure16);andanengravedportionoftheRocksmounted
neartothesiteoftheremainingRocks(seeFigure34).
PhotographerAlistairGillanders.

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Figure37MapoftheDutchsiegeofFortChristina,1655.
On15September1655,GovernorJohanRisingsignedtheArticlesof
Capitulation,officiallysurrenderingNewSwedentotheDutch.The
peacetermswerenegotiatedandtheArticlessignedfrominsidePeter
Stuyvesantscampaigntent,locatedjustbeyondthewallsofFort
Christina.Stuyvesant,DirectorGeneralofNewNetherland,acceptedthe
surrenderonbehalfoftheDutch.

Figure36MapofDelawareBay,detailofPieterGoosMapofNieuw
Nederland,1667.TheMinques[sic]Kill(originalnamefortheChristina
River)andFortChristinaareclearlymarked.

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9.4 FDRTercentenaryDedicationCeremony,
27June1938
PresidentFranklinDelanoRooseveltofficiallyreceivedthe
monumentinChristinaStateParkandgavethededicatory
speech.ThekeynoteaddresswasdeliveredbySecretaryof
StateCordellHull.PrinceBertilandhiswifePrincess
LouiseheadedtheSwedishdelegation.SwedishCrown
PrinceGustavAdolfwasforcedtolistentoaradio
broadcastoftheceremonyfromhisstateroomaboardthe
SwedishoceanlinerKungsholm,afterfallingillwithkidney
problemsonthetendaytransatlanticvoyagefrom
Stockholm.

Figure39PresidentFranklinDelanoRooseveltisseenheredelivering
thededicatoryspeech,27June1938,openingFortChristinaStatePark
andhonoringthetercentenaryoftheSwedishlanding.Frontrow,from
lefttoright:PrincessLouisaandPrinceBertilofSweden,U.S.Secretaryof
StateCordellHull,holdinghiskeynoteaddress;CarlMilles,sculptor,in
fedorahat;U.S.NavyandU.S.Armyaides,respectively,indresswhite
uniforms;FDRatpodium.KalmarNyckelFoundationArchives.

Figure38PhotooftheRockstakenin1898,withathreemasted
schoonertiedupalongside.ImagesoftheRockspriortothebuildingof
FortChristinaParkin1938arerare.ThisimageshowstheRocksafter
theyweresignificantlyreducedinthe19thcentury,whichwasdoneinan
efforttowidenthenavigabilityoftheChristinaRiver.
CourtesyoftheDelawarePublicArchives,Dover,Delaware.

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9.5 AnthonyDelawaresFirstKnownBlackSettler
AnthonytheSwedewasamongthefirstpermanent
settlersofNewSweden,joiningtheoriginal24menleftby
PeterMinuittoholdFortChristina.Anthonywasablack
manwhoarrivedinearly1639aboardtheFogelGrip
(FlyingGriffen)fromtheWestIndies.Assuchheis
Delawaresfirstknownblacksettler.
Delawarehonorshismemorywithanhistoricalmarkerat
FortChristinaPark(Figure40)whichrecognizesthathe
becameafarmerandalsosailedGovernorPrintzssloop
duringthe1640sand1650s.
NotmuchisknownorcanbeverifiedaboutAnthonys
backgroundpriortojoiningthecrewoftheFogelGrip.
Speculationincludesthathewasaformerslavebrought
fromWestAfricatotheWestIndies,wheretheSwedes
showedinterestinhimbecausehewasthoughttohave
someknowledgeofhowtoplantandgrowtobacco.An
alternativetheoryholdsthathewasanexperiencedsailor
fromtheAzoresandvaluedassuchwhenhejoinedthe
crewofFogelGrip.

Figure40HistoricalmarkertohonorAnthonyinFortChristinaState
Park.PhotographerAlistairGillanders.

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10.2 SupporttheFoundationandtheHistoryof
Delaware

10 TheKalmarNyckelFoundation

TheKalmarNyckelFoundationreliesonthesupportofits
memberstohelpfulfillitsmissiontoprovidethebestin
scholarshipandexperientiallearningaboutDelawares
maritimeandculturalhistoryforstudentsofallages.

10.1 Mission

AppendixCisamembershipformifyouwishtobecome
involved.Inadditionweruntrainingcourseseveryyearfor
ages18andup(or14andupwithaparent)toallow
volunteerstoqualifytosailascrewontheship.Contactus
formoredetailsaboutcrewingopportunities.

TheKalmarNyckelFoundationpreservesandpromotes
Delawaresuniqueculturalandmaritimeheritageforthe
educationandenrichmentofall.Basedonthebestof
recentscholarship,wecreateandimplementexperiential
educationalprogramsinspiredbythetallshipKalmar
Nyckel,exploringtheareasrichmaritimeandcolonial
historyandgrowth.

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46

AppendixA:TheKalmarNyckelSheer&DeckPlan
ThisisPlateNo.7,oneofthemasterdrawingsfromthereconstructionshowingabigpictureviewofthedesign.

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AppendixB:LearningtheRopes
Amajorpartofanyseamanstrainingislearningtheropesandistheetymologyofthemodernusageofthatphrase.Thisis
thedetailedbelayingdiagramforthecurrentKalmarNyckeltogiveyouanideaofwhatthismeans.Asatraineeyoustartby
learningtheessentiallinesyouneedtohelpsailtheshipandthenyouaddmoreasyourknowledgegrows.

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AppendixC:FoundationMembershipForm

KalmarNyckelFoundation
1124E.7thStreet
WilmingtonDE19801
(302)4297447

Yes,IwouldliketobecomeamemberoftheKalmarNyckelFoundation.

Student/Volunteer/Senior($35)Individual($50)Family($100)Supporting($250)Patron($500)
Checkenclosed

MemberName:__________________________________________________________________

Pleasechargemy
Visa
Mastercard
Discover AmericanExpress

Address:_________________________________________________________________________

Card#:___________________________________
Exp.Date:__________/__________(MM/YY)

City:____________________________________State:__________Zip:________________
Email:___________________________________________________________________________
Iwouldliketomakeanestategiftthroughabequest,retirementplanorlifeinsurance.
Pleasehavesomeonecontactme.

Cardholdername(print):___________________________________

Thank you for your support!

Signature:____________________________________________________

4/12/09

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