The Tall Ship of Delaware Returns to Wilmington Riverfront
June 23, 2020
Wilmington, DE The Tall Ship of Delaware returns to the Wilmington Riverfront with dockside tales by the Kalmar Nyckel captains and mates just in time for July 4th from 12-4 pm and Saturday, July 11, 18 and 25. This free community event offers social-distanced outdoor fun and a chance to learn about the ship from the people who sail it (with several talks per hour). Pick up Riverfront and Kalmar Nyckel scavenger hunts to search for cultural treasures at your own pace. The ship will be docked on the Riverwalk at 550 Justison St. (adjacent to the Delaware Children’s Museum).
Due to COVID-19, visitors cannot tour or sail on the ship this summer. Watch for Kalmar Nyckel sails in the fall. This program is made possible by Kenny Family ShopRite Stores, Diamond State Recycling, PNC Bank, and the City of Wilmington.
Photo by Jon Caspar, 2019 Chesapeake Bay
“We are partnering with our supporters to present special dockside appearances that will lift up our community and provide educational value to people of all ages,” says Cathy Parsells, Executive Director of the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation. “Our goal is to inspire citizens of the Delaware Valley to celebrate our community’s cultural treasures and discover an authentic part of its history and origins.
Background: Kalmar Nyckel is a full-scale replica of the Swedish merchant ship that landed on the “blue rocks” in present-day Wilmington in 1638 to establish the colony of New Sweden, the first permanent European settlement in the Delaware valley. Launched in 1997, today’s Kalmar Nyckel serves as an ambassador for the State and offers people of all ages a variety of sea- and land-based recreational and educational experiences.
The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation is a non-profit, volunteer-based educational organization, that built, owns and operates Kalmar Nyckel. The ship has a crew of 200 trained volunteers who help maintain, sail and teach its programs. No experience is required, and volunteers bring a wide range of skills and experiences onboard. Kalmar Nyckel serves as a catalyst for social and economic development and outreach and, in a typical season, the ship sails more than 2,400 nautical miles from Norfolk, VA to Provincetown, MA.
For more information on Kalmar Nyckel sails, tours, charters, educational programs, volunteer opportunities, and its home berth at the Tatiana and Gerret Copeland Maritime Center visit www.kalmarnyckel.org, call (302) 429-7447 and follow us on Facebook. Online tickets for sails can be purchased at www.kalmarnyckel.org/BookASail.asp.