Gloria Dei Church National Historic Site

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A color photo of the Gloria Dei Church steeple during a sunset in Philadelphia.
The church building at Gloria Dei 'Old Swedes' has been in use since 1700, making it the oldest church building in Pennsylvania and the second oldest in the United States. The steeple was completed in 1703.
A color photo of the Gloria Dei Church yard showing tombstones with the church in the background.
Gloria Dei Church was designated as a National Historical Site in 1942. The Gloria Dei congregation owns and maintains the church and the related buildings, its ministry and the grounds.
A color photo of the interior of Gloria Dei Church showing the pulpit and a stained glass window.
Situated above the pulpit is the only stained glass window in the church building. Created in the mid 1800s, the window is the earliest example of American stained glass among the 3600 windows in the Philadelphia region.
A color photo of a model tall ship hanging inside Gloria Die Church.
Hanging from the ceiling of Gloria Dei are models of the two ships that brought the first Swedish colonists to North America in 1638, the "Kalmar Nyckel" and the "Fogel Gryp."
A 19th century photograph of the Gloria Dei Church, with the cemetery in the foreground.
This 1850s photograph shows a bird's-eye view of the Gloria Dei Church, with the cemetery in the foreground and the masts of ships visible in the background.
Photos: National Park Service

About Gloria Dei Church National Historic Site

Before Pennsylvania there was New Sweden. Discover this last historic link to a forgotten past. Visit the church's pastoral surroundings and its burial ground of patriots and ordinary citizens alike.

Plan a Visit

NPS DesignationNational Historic Site
Park State / Territory MembershipPennsylvania
Current Alerts0
Visitor Centers0
Campgrounds0
Things To Do1

Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.

Weather & Conditions

Summers are typically hot and muggy, fall and spring are generally mild, and winter is cold. Snowfall is highly variable, with some winters bringing only light snow and others bringing several major snowstorms, with the normal seasonal snowfall standing at 22.4 in (57 cm). Precipitation is generally spread throughout the…

NPS Reference Location

Park state / territory membership: Pennsylvania. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.

Operating Hours

NOTE: The church grounds are closed from 11PM to 5AM.

Friday5:00AM - 11:00PM
Monday5:00AM - 11:00PM
Saturday5:00AM - 11:00PM
Sunday5:00AM - 11:00PM
Thursday5:00AM - 11:00PM
Tuesday5:00AM - 11:00PM
Wednesday5:00AM - 11:00PM

Activities

Museum Exhibits

Getting There

The Gloria Dei Church is accessed from Christian Street in South Philadelphia. As in any city, use your street smarts and do not leave any valuables visible in your car. Several SEPTA bus routes serve the vicinity of the site. Visit the website for more information.

View Official Directions

Contact & Address

The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.

NPS-Listed Address916 S. Swanson Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19147
Phone215-389-1513
Emailindevisitorinfo@nps.gov

Topics & Themes

American RevolutionBurial, Cemetery and GravesiteReligion and SpiritualityChurchesTransportation

Things To Do

Find the Gravesites of Revolutionary War Soldiers

Find the Gravesites of Revolutionary War Soldiers

Locate the gravestones of Revolutionary War soldiers at Gloria Dei Church National Historic Site. Explore the churchyard virtually from home,…

Nearby National Park Service Sites

These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.