Leif Erikson Day, an October 9 holiday, gives recognition to the first European to set foot on North American soil. Christopher Columbus didn’t arrive in the New World until 500 years later. There is no dispute about this event in an of the history books. Historians have been able to put this together based on records at the time. However, Leif Erikson made no maps of his journey. And, physical evidence of his travels is scarce.

How’s that Spelled!?: In some writings, his first name is spelled Leif, Leifur, or Leiv. His last name is sometimes spelled as Erikson, Ericson, Ericsson, or Ericksson.

Around 1002 A.D., Leif Erikson sailed to North America from his home in Greenland. He went in search of land seen(but not visited) by a Norse Sea Captain. During the voyage, he landed in several places. The landings were never documented on a map. It is believed he landed along the coast of New Foundland, and perhaps as far south as near Cape Cod. Erikson and his men spent the winter in North America. They built a large house for lodging, and a shed to shelter the boat over the long winter.

Setting off from Greenland, Erikson and his companions explored all the way down to what is now Cape Cod, Massachusetts. These Norsemen left little trace of their explorations. Importantly, they never made permanent settlements. Just imagine how significantly, history would have changed, if these Northern Europeans had made permanent settlements and populated some of the New World.

Leif Erikson never returned to further explore North America. Several explorers, including his brother, traveled to North America. His brother was killed by Indians.