National Historic Landmark

Printzhof, The

Essington, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
66000661

About this property

The Printzhof, located in Governor Printz Park in Essington, Pennsylvania, was the home of Johan Björnsson Printz, governor of New Sweden. In 1643, Johan Printz moved his capital from Fort Christina (located in what is now Wilmington, Delaware) to Tinicum Island. At that time Fort Gothenburg was established in addition to Printz's dwelling and headquarters. Two years later a fire swept over the newly established settlement. The Printzhof was reconstructed more solidly and lavishly. The two-story log structure contained lumber sent from Sweden, glass windows and lavish draperies. Johan Björnsson Printz, his wife and younger children returned to Sweden during 1653. The Dutch West India Company subsequently captured the Swedish colony in 1655. Armegott Printz, the eldest daughter of Governor Printz, had married his successor, Lt. Johan Papegoja. She remained at The Printzhof even after the Dutch conquest. During 1662, she sold the estate for a partial down payment with the remainder due when she reached The Netherlands. When payment was refused, she returned to reclaim possession of her property. Ten years later in 1672, the Governor and Council ruled Armegott Printz should be in possession of the property. She subsequently sold the estate a second time and returned to Sweden where she died on November 25, 1695, at Läckö Castle. Today, the Printzhof's stone foundations are the only remains of the settlement. The Printzhof site is located near the intersection of Taylor Avenue and Second Street in Essington, Pennsylvania. The site was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961. The farmstead from the former New Sweden Farmstead Museum in Bridgeton, New Jersey, was moved to the site of The Printzhof in Governor Printz Park and reconstructed from 2019 to 2020, and officially dedicated on June 12, 2022. List of European archaeological sites on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania

Location

Essington, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
39.86160, -75.30316

Categories

HISTORIC - NON-ABORIGINALPOLITICS/GOVERNMENT
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Printzhof, The

This page lists Printzhof, The. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Printzhof, The report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Lazaretto, The
Industrial
0.2 mi
Morton Homestead
Industrial
1.1 mi
Morton, Morton, House
Industrial
1.5 mi
Old Main and Chemistry Building
Industrial
2.8 mi
Third Presbyterian Church
Industrial
2.9 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Fort Mifflin (Pennsylvania)
1777Revolutionary War
4 mi
Battle of Fort Mifflin (1777)
1777Revolutionary War
4.4 mi
Battle of Fort Mifflin
1777Revolutionary War
4.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Printzhof, The listed on the National Register?

Printzhof, The was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Printzhof, The?

Printzhof, The is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Printzhof, The a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Printzhof, The has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Printzhof, The?

The period of significance for Printzhof, The is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Printzhof, The?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Printzhof, The will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Delaware County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Delaware County.

Explore DelawareCounty ›

More historic places in Pennsylvania

Browse all historic places in Pennsylvania.

View Pennsylvaniahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Pennsylvania history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Pennsylvaniahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Printzhof, The will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report