Tinicum Township: Nature, History and Hotels

Tinicum Township brings together nature and history at specific sites. The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum covers 200 acres and borders Philadelphia International Airport. Local highlights range from the refuge’s natural setting to places connected with the history of New Sweden and quarantine.

Nature and Activities at the Refuge

The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum is home to Pennsylvania’s largest remaining freshwater tidal marsh, known as Tinicum Marsh. The refuge includes a variety of habitats. The 3.5-mile Wetland Loop passes through them and offers opportunities for wildlife watching, walking and cycling. The route combines nature observation with exercise, making it a different activity from a trip on the water.

A 4.5-mile stretch of Darby Creek runs through the refuge, forming a water trail for canoeists and kayakers. The distances therefore refer to different activities: the Wetland Loop, with its on-land activities, and the water trail on the creek. A notice from 2025 reported that the boat ramp was inaccessible at that time. Check the ramp’s current status and the tide conditions before planning your trip.

The visitor center at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum offers maps, brochures, birding checklists and restrooms. The checklists provide a practical resource for wildlife watching, while maps and brochures round out the materials available. Along with the trails, information resources are also part of a visit to the refuge.

Sites Connected with History

Governor Printz Park covers seven acres. It was home to the first capitol, the first school and the first church of New Sweden. These three sites represent different aspects of community life at the time: political, educational and religious institutions. The park therefore offers a different historical focus from the wetland and its activities.

Swedish Farmstead is located in Governor Printz Park in Tinicum Township. It represents the achievements of colonial Swedes and Finns, who first settled the Delaware Valley, brought the log cabin to North America and traded peacefully with Indigenous peoples. The farmstead was originally established in 1988 as a living history museum to show how a Swedish settler family lived. Seven log cabins were built and maintained for about a decade for this purpose. If you plan a visit, check the current visiting policies in advance.

Philadelphia Lazaretto occupies a ten-acre riverfront site in Tinicum Township, immediately west of Philadelphia International Airport. It is considered the first quarantine hospital in the Western Hemisphere. This adds the history of quarantine to the Township’s historical themes. Together with its connection to New Sweden, it offers a distinct perspective on different historic sites and their respective significance.

Discover more destinations: Essington, Rose Valley, Chester, Swarthmore, Springfield, Elwyn, Ridley Park, Glen Mills.

For the broader travel overview: Delaware.