Leif Erikson Facts for Kids

"Leif Ericson" redirects here. For other uses, see Leif Ericson (disambiguation).

This is a Norse name. The last name is a patronymic, not a family name; this person is properly referred to by the given name Leif.

Quick facts for kids Leif Erikson
Modern artistic representation of Leif Erikson in Leif Erikson Park, Duluth, Minnesota
Born	c. 970 Icelandic Commonwealth
Died	c. 1018–c. 1025 Greenland
Nationality	Norse (Icelandic)
Occupation	Explorer
Known for	First European known to have reached Vinland (part of North America, likely Newfoundland)
Partner(s)	Thorgunna (c. 999)
Children	2
Parent(s)	Erik the Red (father) Þjóðhildur (mother)
Relatives	Thorvald, Thorstein, and Freydís (siblings)

Leif Erikson (also spelled Leif Ericson or Leif Eriksson) was a famous Norse explorer. He lived around the years 970 to 1020. Leif is best known for being the first European to set foot on the continent of North America. This happened about 500 years before the voyages of Christopher Columbus.

Leif was the son of Erik the Red, who founded the first Norse settlement in Greenland. According to old stories called sagas, Leif sailed from Greenland to a new land he called Vinland. Historians believe Vinland was located in what is now Newfoundland, Canada. Today, archaeologists have found remains of a Viking settlement there at a place called L'Anse aux Meadows.

Biography of Leif Erikson
- Early Years in Iceland and Greenland
Discovery of North America
Later Life and Achievements
- Role as Chieftain
Remembering Leif Erikson
- Leif Erikson Day and Statues
- In Fiction
Gallery of Art and Sculptures
See also

Biography of Leif Erikson

Leif was born in Iceland around the year 970. His father was Erik the Red, and his mother was named Thjodhild. Leif had two brothers, Thorvald and Thorstein, and a sister named Freydís.

Early Years in Iceland and Greenland

When Leif was a child, his father Erik was forced to leave Iceland because of a serious conflict with other settlers. The family sailed west to a new land that Erik named Greenland. He chose this name to attract other people to come and live there.

Leif grew up on his family's farm, called Brattahlíð, in the Eastern Settlement of Greenland. A trusted family servant named Tyrker helped take care of Leif when he was young. Leif considered Tyrker to be like a foster father.

Discovery of North America

Leif Eriksson Discovers America, a painting by Hans Dahl.

The story of Leif's journey to North America is told in two main stories written long ago: the Saga of Erik the Red and the Saga of the Greenlanders. These stories were written down about 200 years after the events happened, so some details might be different from what really occurred.

The Vinland Sagas

The words "Leif the Lucky" written in an old manuscript from the 14th century.

There are two different versions of how Leif found the new land:

Accidental Discovery: One story says Leif was sailing from Norway back to Greenland. He was blown off course by a storm and landed on a strange coast. He found wild wheat and grapevines there.
Planned Voyage: The other story says a merchant named Bjarni Herjólfsson had seen the land earlier but did not stop. Leif bought Bjarni's ship about 15 years later and gathered a crew of 35 men to explore this new place.

Landing in the New World

Leif and his crew sailed west and found three different areas of land:

Helluland: This means "Flat-Rock Land." It was likely Baffin Island. It was rocky and desolate.
Markland: This means "Forest Land." It was likely the coast of Labrador. It had many trees.
Vinland: This means "Wineland" or "Vine Land." This area had a mild climate and plenty of salmon.

In Vinland, Leif's crew built a small settlement called Leifsbudir (Leif's Booths). They stayed there for the winter. One day, Tyrker found wild grapes growing in the area, which is why Leif named the land Vinland. In the spring, they loaded their ship with timber and grapes and returned to Greenland. On the way back, Leif rescued some shipwrecked sailors. Because of his safe journey and the rescue, he earned the nickname "Leif the Lucky."

Archaeological Evidence at L'Anse aux Meadows

A modern recreation of the Norse houses at L'Anse aux Meadows in Canada.

For a long time, people were not sure if the stories about Vinland were true. However, in the 1960s, explorers found the ruins of a Norse village at the northern tip of Newfoundland.

This site is called L'Anse aux Meadows. Scientists used carbon dating and tree-ring analysis to find out that people lived there around the year 1021. This proves that Vikings reached North America exactly 1,000 years ago. Many historians believe this site was a base camp for Leif Erikson and his crew.

Later Life and Achievements

After his famous voyage, Leif took over as the chieftain of the Greenland settlement after his father, Erik the Red, passed away. Leif was known as a wise and strong leader.

Role as Chieftain

Leif had traveled to Norway earlier in his life and served King Olaf Tryggvason. There, he became a Christian. When he returned to Greenland, he brought a priest with him to teach the people about Christianity. His mother, Thjodhild, built the first church in Greenland.

Leif never returned to Vinland, but other Vikings did. His brother Thorvald and his sister Freydís led other expeditions. However, the Vikings did not stay in North America permanently. They had conflicts with the Indigenous people living there, whom the Norse called skrælingi.

Leif is thought to have died in Greenland sometime between 1018 and 1025. His son, Thorkell, became the next chieftain.

Remembering Leif Erikson

A postage stamp showing Leif Erikson and his ship.

Leif Erikson is celebrated today as an important explorer. His journey showed that Europeans could cross the Atlantic Ocean long before the Age of Discovery.

Leif Erikson Day and Statues

A United States stamp from 1968 honoring Leif Erikson.

In the United States, Leif Erikson Day is observed on October 9 each year. This date was chosen to honor the first organized group of Norwegian immigrants who arrived in America on October 9, 1825.

Many statues of Leif Erikson can be found around the world:

Reykjavík, Iceland: A statue stands in front of the famous Hallgrímskirkja church. It was a gift from the United States.
United States: There are statues in cities like Boston, Milwaukee, Chicago, and Seattle.
Duluth, Minnesota: A statue stands in Leif Erikson Park on the shore of Lake Superior.

In Fiction

The logo for the Vinland Saga manga, which features Leif as a character.

Leif appears in many books and movies. He is a character in the popular manga and anime series Vinland Saga. He is also featured in the historical drama series Vikings: Valhalla.