Few Americans know that the US's political and ideological birthplace was once part of a little-known Swedish colony known as Nya Sverige (New Sweden). From 1638-1655, this forgotten Swedish settlement extended across the Delaware Valley, encompassing parts of modern-day New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. It was the smallest, least-populated and shortest-lived European colony in the US.

Despite lasting just 17 years, New Sweden played a pivotal role in forging the nation's culture. New Swedish settlers introduced the log cabin to the US, brought Lutheran Christianity to the New World, and left their mark on two future US cities.