Saint Paul, Minn.: Eriksson Monument

LEIF ERIKSSON MONUMENTS PAGES

Place	Artist	Date	Type
Saint Paul, Minn. (USA)	John K. Daniels	1949	statue

Notes

Dedicated: 1949 Sculptor: John K. Daniels The 13 ft. bronze figure depicting who many consider to be the first European to reach North America back in 1000 AD. was dedicated on Leif Erikson Day, October 9, 1949.

R.J. Meland, secretary of the Minnesota Leif Erikson Monument Association, complained in a letter to Henry Retzek in 1949:

I was greatly astonished and also peeved, when I read Dr. [sic] Holvik's article in the Star ... . One reason for great displeasure in finding such controversial articles in the Public Press just now, is that we are in the midst of a great campaign to raise sufficient funds for the erection of a Leif Erikson Statue in St. Paul ... Whether Dr. Holvik is in favor of the erection of such a statue or not, I do not know, but it seems to me, that he should have surmised the difficulty he would place us in just at the present time on our campaign for funds."

Source(s):

Photo: St. Paul Phototour
J.A. Holvik and the Kensington Runestone: A Study in Ethnic, Religious, and Community Identity
Minnesota State Capitol's Monuments (PDF file).

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