Before 1638, the area was inhabited by Indians. From 1638 to 1655 it was part of New Sweden, from 1655 to 1664 it was under Dutch dominion, from 1664 to 1681 under English rule, from 1681 to 1784 within the Pennsylvania colony, from 1784 to 1870 under Americans, from 1870 to 1935 shaped by suburban development, from 1935 to 1937 undergoing building restoration, and from 1937 to the present preserved as a historic park.