Swetland Homestead
Built in 1803
The oldest part of the house was built on this site in 1803. The additions made to it as the Swetland family grew and prospered have transformed the structure into the elegant home one sees today. Period rooms, spanning seventy years from the 1790s summer kitchen to the 1860s Victorian parlor, illustrate changes in living spaces and household objects as America and the Wyoming Valley passed from an agrarian economy to an industrialized society. The homestead is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Generations of the Swetland family lived in the house until 1958, when it was given to the Luzerne County Historical Society.
Come Visit
885 Wyoming Avenue
Wyoming, PA 18644
Hours
The Swetland Homestead is currently open by appointment only.
Cost
LCHS Members: Free
Non-member Adults: $5.00
Non-member Children: $3.00 (ages 5-17)
Children Under 5: Free
There is a public restroom and a gift shop at the Swetland Homestead
Parking
Parking is available along Colonial Lane, just past the Homestead. Please do NOT park on Swetland Lane.
Accessibility
There is a slight step up to the entrance and steps up inside during the tour. Handicapped parking is available – please check with staff when making tour arrangements.
Group Tours At The Swetland Homestead
Are you a teacher, scout leader, or run a service organization/club? Do you have a school, church or community group that would like a tour of one of our sites? We’d love to have you!
The LCHS can accommodate groups from 5 to 50 but depending on the number, the tour maybe split into multiple groups. For children’s tours, the content can be tailored for kindergarteners all the way up through high school.
Group tours are available of the Swetland Homestead, Nathan Denison House, and the LCHS Museum. Tours can be arranged to meet your schedule, but advance notice is required.
Please note that additional fees may apply for tours of multiple sites.
Upcoming LCHS Museum Events
Join us for programs that bring history to life. From engaging lectures and tours to family-friendly activities and special exhibits.
Young Historian’s Day at the Swetland Homestead
Parents, looking for something education for your kids this summer? Kids, looking to get into history in a way that a book or classroom just can't do? Well we have the answer! On Saturday, August 1st, the Luzerne County Historical Society will hold its first ever "Young Historian's Day" at the Swetland Homestead! join us on the grounds of the 1803 Historic Home for period authentic games, living historians, historical crafts, and local history education! Celebrate the 250th of America by learning about your hometown! Tailored to children in grades K-8, the Young Historian's Day offers something for everyone, whether your child is just starting to show an interest in history, or they are a true history buff. The Young Historian's Day will run from 1pm - 5pm on August 1st and registration is just $35 a child. Cost includes, the programs, crafts, games, a snack and drinks. (Please note, no lunch will be served). Every child will also receive a coupon to return to the Homestead on August 2nd and attend the Open House for free! (With adult admission) Pre-registration is required, and their is a strict limit of 30 children. Upon registration, parents will be emailed a form to fill out prior to the event. The Swetland Homestead is located at 885 Wyoming Avenue in Wyoming. For questions, call 570-823-6244 x3 or email reservations@luzernehistory.org.
Swetland Homestead Open House
The Swetland Homestead, located at 885 Wyoming Avenue in Wyoming, will be open for tours on Sunday August 2, from 1pm-4pm. Stop by for a tour of the house, and learn how it evolved from one room in 1803 to its current size and design over a period of nearly four decades. Hear stories about the family and the Valley's West Side from the Civil War era, and earlier, and find out about the many local places and things that still have Swetland fingerprints all over them to this very day. Tours cost $5 for adults and $3 for children. For more info call 570-823-6244 x3 or email reservations@luzernehistory.org
Games Day at the Swetland Homestead
Luzerne County Historical Society to Host 18th and 19th Century Games at the Swetland Homestead on August 29, 2026 The Luzerne County Historical Society will host a Games Day on Saturday, August 29, 2026, from 12 to 4 p.m. at the Swetland Homestead, 885 Wyoming Avenue, Wyoming, PA. Try your hand at indoor and outdoor historical games. Travel back in time and enjoy leisure activities from the past such as Mah-Jong, “Shut the Box,” croquet and horseshoes. Try your hand at the Victorian favorite of hoop rolling, or play a game of marbles. Patrons will also be able to try out period baseball equipment and see how the game evolved. The 1803 Swetland Homestead is the setting for an afternoon of fun and games, including many favorites of the Swetland Family themselves. See how the Swetland children passed the time before video games, iPads and computers! Tickets are $10 for LCHS members, $15 for non-members and just $5 for kids up to 17 years of age. No reservations are necessary, tickets available at door. For more information or to purchase tickets in advance, call 570-823-6244 ext. 3 or email reservations@luzernehistory.org. Period dress is welcomed, but not required. Games will be running continuously all afternoon, so drop in at your leisure! . Founded in 1858, the Luzerne County Historical Society is Pennsylvania’s oldest county historical society. LCHS preserves and promotes the collective history and heritage of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, at the Bishop Library and the Museum in Wilkes-Barre, the Denison House in Forty Fort and the Swetland Homestead in Wyoming. For more information, visit our website, www.luzernehistory.org. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/luzernehistory/.
