What if I told you that a Norse explorer might have been the first European to set foot in America? This is the story of the Leif Ericsson Monument in Chicago. It honors a man many believe was the true discoverer of America.
The Leif Ericsson Monument stands proudly in Humboldt Park. It is a tribute to Leif Ericsson, a Norse explorer. The statue was designed by Sigvald Asbjørnsen. It was erected in 1901.
In the late 1800s, evidence surfaced suggesting Norse explorations in North America. Scandinavian and Norwegian American communities began erecting monuments to honor Ericsson. Chicago’s Norwegian community was among them. Before the 1892 Columbus Day celebrations, they celebrated Leif Ericsson’s discovery. Nicolai A. Grevstad wrote about forming a committee to create a statue for the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893. The statue’s unveiling was delayed, though.
Norwegian American sculptor Sigvald Asbjørnsen designed the statue. It was officially dedicated on October 12, 1901. Many from Chicago’s Norwegian community attended the celebration. The statue cost $10,000. It was erected in Humboldt Park.
The bronze statue depicts Ericsson with a shield in his left hand. It is 9.5 feet tall. The statue rests on a large boulder. The boulder reads “Leif Erikson Discoverer of America.”
Sigvald Asbjørnsen was born in Norway in 1867. He studied at the Royal Art School of Christiania now Oslo. He came to the United States in 1892. He arrived in Chicago during the World’s Columbian Exposition. He made Chicago his permanent home. He created portrait busts, medallions, and other artworks. These artworks found homes in parks, libraries, and museums. In 1900, Chicagoans of Norwegian descent commissioned him to create a monument to Leif Ericsson.
The Leif Ericson Monument Society praised Asbjørnsen’s sketch. There was debate whether the piece should be nine or ten feet. The final nine-foot piece cost about $10,000. Fifteen different societies participated in a parade on a rainy October 12, 1901. Thousands of Scandinavian-Americans celebrated the monument’s unveiling during a two-hour ceremony in Humboldt Park. The president of the Leif Ericson Monument Society called the statue one of the finest ever cast in bronze.
In 1950, the statue was moved approximately 250 feet. This relocation made it more accessible to the public. On “Leif Ericson Day” of that year, the 83-year-old Sigvald Asbjørnsen attended the rededication ceremony. The Leif Ericsson Monument remains a testament to Norse exploration. It also honors Chicago’s vibrant Norwegian community. It is a reminder that history is complex. The story of discovery may have more than one chapter. Take a moment to appreciate the statue’s artistry. Consider the legacy of Leif Ericsson.