Statue of Leif Erikson (Chicago) facts for kids
The statue in 2020
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| Location | Humboldt Park, Chicago, Illinois, United States |
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| Designer | Sigvald Asbjørnsen |
| Material | Bronze |
| Height | 9.5 feet (2.9 m) |
| Dedicated to | Leif Erikson |
The Leif Erikson statue is a special monument in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It honors Leif Erikson, a famous explorer. You can find this statue in Humboldt Park. A sculptor named Sigvald Asbjørnsen designed it. The statue was put up in 1901.
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Who Was Leif Erikson?
Leif Erikson was a brave Norse explorer. He is known for being one of the first Europeans to reach North America. This happened long before Christopher Columbus. People started building monuments to Erikson in the late 1800s. This was after new evidence showed his explorations were real. Many of these monuments were built by Scandinavian American and Norwegian American communities.
Why Was the Statue Built?
The Norwegian community in Chicago wanted to honor Leif Erikson. In October 1892, they held a celebration for his discovery of North America. This was just before Chicago's Columbus Day events. A newspaper called Skandinaven mentioned these plans.
A group was formed to create a statue for Erikson. They hoped to unveil it when a replica of a Viking ship arrived from Bergen, Norway. However, building the statue took a bit longer than planned.
When Was the Statue Dedicated?
The statue was officially dedicated on October 12, 1901. Many people from Chicago's Norwegian community came to the celebration. The statue cost about $10,000 to create. It was placed in Humboldt Park, where it stands today.
What Does the Statue Look Like?
The statue is made of bronze. It shows Leif Erikson holding a shield in his left hand. The statue is about 9.5 feet (2.9 meters) tall. It stands on a large rock. On the rock, you can read the words: "Leif Erikson Discoverer of America."
