Standing tall for over 300 years, the Old Swedes Church in Wilmington, Delaware, is one of the oldest church buildings in the United States. Built by Swedish pioneers who began arriving on the Kalmar Nyckel in 1638. The rectangular foundation was laid out in 1698, avoiding original grave sites. The main structure used Delaware's blue granite, as well as brick ballast taken from ships.
     Over 15,000 people have been buried in the churchyard since 1638, many with unmarked graves. The first head stones were made of wood or slate, explaining their disappearance. The earliest legible marker dates the death of William Vandever in 1718.
     Surrounded by a thick canopy of trees, this view shows the 1802 bell tower addition. Trees have always been a part of the city church grounds, but over the last decade 19 large trees have been removed, sparking a restoration plan to replace specific species.
     The Old Swedes Church, one of America's earliest historic treasures, continues today as a house of worship. Down on 606 Church Street, in the heart of Wilmington, stands centuries of history.