Leif Erikson (ship)

Leif Erikson is a Viking ship replica built to commemorate the voyage of Leif Erikson who is credited with reaching North America over one thousand years ago.[1]

Summary

Leif Erikson was built at Korgen in Nordland, Norway during 1926 at the request of Gerhard Folgerø (1886-1948) for a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. The vessel is built of Norway Pine and constructed in the form of a modified knarr. The vessel is 42 feet long, has a 12 feet 9 inches beam and draws 4 feet of water. The elaborate dragon's head and tail were designed by architect Gerhard Johan Lilletvedt of Bergen.[2][3][4] [5]

The ship was invited to Duluth, Minnesota by Norwegian-American immigrant H. H. Borgen. The vessel set sail in 1926 from Bergen traveling to Labrador and then to Boston and New York City. It sailed through the Great Lakes to the western shores of Lake Superior. When Captain Folgerø and his crew landed at Duluth on June 23, 1927, they had traveled a distance of 6,700 miles, the greatest distance for a ship of its size in modern history.[6][7]

Norwegian-American immigrant and Duluth businessman Bert Enger (1864-1931), along with the wife of his late business partner, Emil H. Olson (1881-1926), purchased the ship soon after the voyage and donated it to the City of Duluth. The ship was placed on display in Duluth's Lake Park, which was later named Leif Erikson Park.[8][9]

Leif Erikson steadily deteriorated after years of neglect and vandalism, and by 1980 was in such poor condition that it was even considered that the ship be burned in the traditional Viking manner of putting a ship to rest. This suggestion inspired Emil Olson's grandson, Will Borg, to bring volunteers together and begin fundraising efforts to restore the ship. Through donations, festivals and other endeavors, the group raised $100,000. Boatbuilders began the restoration in 1991. Leif Erikson can now be viewed by visitors to the Leif Erikson Park in Duluth, Minnesota.[10][11][12][13]

References

  1. ↑ "Leif Erikson Replica Viking Boat | Zenith City Online". Zenithcity.com. 2015-03-19. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
  2. ↑ "Gerhard Folgerø – Store norske leksikon". Snl.no. 2009-02-14. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
  3. ↑ "Vikingskip fra Korgen gjorde 1920-tallets "Kon Tiki-ferd" | Tekster og slikt". Finnbakk.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
  4. ↑ "Vikingskip fra Korgen". Geocities.ws. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
  5. ↑ "Gerhard Lilletvedt". Norsk Speidergutt-Forbund. August 17, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Gerhard Folgerøs ferder" (in Norwegian). lokalhistoriewiki.no. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
  7. ↑ "Emil H. Olson | Zenith City Online". Zenithcity.com. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
  8. ↑ "Information". Leiferiksonvikingship.com. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
  9. ↑ "Leif Erikson Park and the Duluth Rose Garden". Goduluthmn.com. 2015-03-10. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
  10. ↑ "Restoration". Leiferiksonvikingship.com. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
  11. ↑ "Bert J. Enger: Buliding [sic] parks for the public". Duluth Budgeteer. 2011-10-15. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
  12. ↑ "Duluth’s Viking Longboat Finally Getting Some Respect". Minnesotaconnected.com. 2014-04-24. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
  13. ↑ "Leif Erickson Park & Rose Garden". Explore Minnesota. 2015-05-01. Retrieved 2015-06-19.

Further reading

Coordinates: 46°47′48.2″N 92°4′55.9″W / 46.796722°N 92.082194°W / 46.796722; -92.082194

See also

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