A Commitment to Our Community
The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation is committed to strengthening and enhancing our local community, city, and state through the creation of a premier destination on Wilmington’s East 7th Street Riverfront. We are continually developing and delivering educational experiences and events for visitors of all ages. Please read our FY2023 Annual Report on activities and giving.
Kalmar Nyckel Foundation Shipyard Campus
The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation’s Tatiana and Gerret Copeland Maritime Center and shipyard campus are located on Wilmington’s East 7th Street peninsula, just 200 yards from “The Rocks,” the landing site of the original Kalmar Nyckel in 1638. Our site is home to today’s Kalmar Nyckel, and where it was built and launched in 1997.
Between the Civil War and through World War II, the peninsula and other areas of Wilmington’s Christina Riverfront were locations for major industrial plants largely focused on shipbuilding and train car manufacturing. The Jackson and Sharp Plant, once the nation’s largest railcar factory, covered much of the Peninsula including the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation site. As a result of years of accumulated industrial waste, the East 7th Street Peninsula was declared a brownfield in need of environmental remediation.
In 2010, the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation Board of Trustees adopted a strategic plan to transform our brownfield industrial shipyard into a safe, attractive outdoor campus. Today, the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation is a significant contributor to the growth of Wilmington’s Christina Riverfront, with a 6.8-acre riverfront campus and with more than $15 million invested in the ship, the Copeland Maritime Center, eight permanent exhibits, a new dock, shipyard remediation, and other improvements.
Supporting Children and Youth
Through the support of our generous donors and sponsors, we provide funding for educational programs available to community youth organizations and Title 1 Schools throughout Delaware. We have also launched a new cultural heritage programming around Fort Christina Park and our shared history with the Underground Railroad. "The Rocks" where the original Kalmar Nyckel landed in 1638 were also utilized as a waypoint for freedom seekers escaping slavery in the mid-1800s.
The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation is proud to host major annual community events at our site, at no cost, thanks to sponsor and donor funding. These programs include:
- LEGO Brick Shipbuilding Day - early March –1,000 attendees on average
- Captain Kidd's Pirate Day - early July 800 attendees on average. It has included voucher program for food and activities working with community and civic partners.
- Underground Railroad Superhero Day - launched August 2022 with 200 attendees
- Halloween Ghost Ship event – 850 attendees on average
For many years, our staff and volunteers have also participated in education outreach programs, including Make A Splash Day and Blue Coats Festival, interacting with thousands more students annually.
The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation also provides a unique and engaging volunteer training program where we teach new and returning crew to sail and maintain our ship and help educate our students each year.
Fort Christina Park
In partnership with Delaware’s Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs (HCA) and the National Park Service (NPS), the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation operates Fort Christina National Historic Landmark where the ship landed in 1638. Since re-opening in 2016, the park welcomes more than 1,600 local, national, and international visitors each year. Learn more
East 7th Street Program Partners
City of Wilmington
Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs
Eastside Rising
National Park Service
Riverfront Development Corporation
Old Swedes Foundation