History Bytes: The Crown Prince of Sweden

May 9, 2013
A detailed photo of the Crown Prince from a "Newport Daily News" glass plate negative, taken on June 16, 1926 in Touro Park.

A detailed photo of the Crown Prince from a "Newport Daily News" glass plate negative, taken on June 16, 1926 in Touro Park.

During the Summer of 1926, America was celebrating its Sesquicentennial, with special events nationwide and a huge exposition at Philadelphia. Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden (1882-1973) was touring and made a stop at Newport between New York and Boston. He arrived at Newport Harbor aboard J.P. Morgan’s yacht Corsair, and was met by his host Arthur Curtiss James in his private launch. The prince visited the Navy Base with Admiral Sims, toured the Old Stone Mill, was entertained at the new Hotel Viking and was the guest of honor at a lavish dinner at James’s Beacon Hill House. The following day he left to visit Worcester’s large Swedish community and on to Boston. Prince Gustaf inherited the Swedish throne in 1950 and served until his death in 1973. He was the father of the present King Carl Gustaf XVI, who visited Newport for the Swedish Challenge of the 1977 America’s Cup Race.

The Crown Prince of Sweden arrives at The Hotel Viking, 6/15/1926

The Crown Prince of Sweden arrives at The Hotel Viking, 6/15/1926, image from the NHS collections