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Leif Erikson (ship)

Coordinates: 46°47′48.2″N 92°4′55.9″W / 46.796722°N 92.082194°W / 46.796722; -92.082194
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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 Levi Sterk Laymeyer plumming 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. With restoration nearly complete, the ship was reinstalled on display at the eastern end of Leif Erikson Park in Duluth, Minnesota in 2001. Due to further vandalism and degradation, the ship was again removed from the park by cranes and a flatbed trailer in 2013. "Leif Erikson" has been undergoing further restoration. Fundraising efforts aim to return it to the park in a new, secure display structure. The proposed building is designed by Krech Ojard & Associates and intended to be located near Leif Erikson Park at Superior Street and 10th Avenue East. Leif Erikson is presently housed at the Lafarge cement terminal.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]

References

  1. ^ "Leif Erikson Replica Viking Boat | Zenith City Online". Zenithcity.com. 2015-03-19. Archived from the original on 2015-06-15. 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. Archived from the original on 2015-06-15. 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. Archived from the original on 2013-09-16. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
  11. ^ "Bert J. Enger: Building 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.
  14. ^ "Bent Paddle Rolling Out Viking Ship Inspired Beer". Duluth News Tribune. 2016-08-17. Retrieved 2018-05-27.
  15. ^ "Duluth's Replica Viking Ship Could Finally Get New Home". Twin Cities Pioneer Press. 2014-04-22. Retrieved 2018-05-27.
  16. ^ "Viking Ship Gets Winter Wrap". Duluth News Tribune. 2000-11-11. Retrieved 2018-05-27.
  17. ^ "The New Structure". leiferiksonvikingship.com. Retrieved 2018-05-27.

Further reading

  • Folgerø, Gerhard (1944) Over Nordatlanteren i åpen båt (Oslo: Arthur Rosén)
  • Johnson, Nathan (2014) Legendary Locals of Pine City (Arcadia Publishing) ISBN 9781467101196

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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