He reached the Americas centuries before Columbus. Why doesn’t he get more credit?
Washington Post
Washington Post
Original Source
Norse explorer Leif Erikson reached North America roughly five centuries before Christopher Columbus, and accounts of his voyage were known to Europeans in Columbus's era. Yet his discovery remains overshadowed in historical memory—raising questions about how we remember explorers and their legacies.
Leif Erikson reached the Americas before Columbus. Why doesn’t he get more credit? - The Washington Post
Accessibility statement
Democracy Dies in Darkness
SubscribeSign in
Democracy Dies in Darkness
WorldAmericasAfricaAsiaEuropeMiddle East
WorldAmericasAfricaAsiaEuropeMiddle East
He reached the Americas centuries before Columbus. Why doesn’t he get more credit?
Accounts of Leif Erikson’s voyage to present-day Canada were known to Europeans in Christopher Columbus’s time.
October 12, 2026 at 7:20 a.m. EDTToday at 7:20 a.m. EDT
11 min
*"Leiv Eiriksson Discovering America," by the Norwegian artist Christian Krohg, from the National Museum of Art in Oslo. A version of the painting by the artist's son, Per Krohg, hangs in the U.S. Capitol. (Heritage Images/Getty Images)*
By Matthew Hay Brown
For the explorers from ice-covered Greenland, it must have seemed a paradise. A genuinely green land of lush meadows irrigated by free-flowing rivers. Whales and caribou to hunt, nesting birds and wild salmon to catch, grapes and wheat to gather. A warmer climate with more daylight and milder winters.
Subscribe for unlimited access to The Post
You can cancel anytime.
Subscribe
---
What readers are saying
The comments reflect a debate over the historical significance of Leif Erikson and Christopher Columbus. Many commenters argue that while Erikson may have reached North America before Columbus, his voyages had little lasting impact compared to Columbus, whose expeditions led to... Show more
This summary is AI-generated. AI can make mistakes and this summary is not a replacement for reading the comments.
* Gretchen Reynolds and Aaron Steckelberg How to take care of your knees in your 20s, 30s, 40s and beyond Earlier today
* Sammy Westfall and Perry Stein Federal agents search Rep. Ilhan Omar’s D.C. home 26 minutes ago
* Laura Beveridge Takeaways from first S.C. Senate debate between Darline Graham, Annie Andrews October 11, 2026
* Column Carolyn Hax Carolyn Hax: Mom delivers final blow after a lifetime of disappointments Earlier today
* Rick Maese Judge halts tree removal at D.C. golf course that Trump has proposed overhauling 1 hour ago
* Natalie Allison and Isaac Arnsdorf Trump’s midterm road show reveals GOP troubles — and his own priorities Earlier today
NewsletterAs news breaks
World News Alerts
Breaking news email alerts for major happenings around the world.
Company
* About The Post
* Newsroom Policies & Standards
* WP Creative Group
* Workforce Demographics
* Careers
* Media & Community Relations
* Accessibility Statement
Sections
* Trending
* Politics
* Elections
* Opinions
* U.S. News
* World
* Style
* Sports
* Business
* Climate
* Well+Being
* D.C., Md., & Va.
* Obituaries
* Weather
* Arts & Entertainment
* Recipes
Get The Post
* WP Intelligence
* Enterprise Subscriptions
* Manage Your Subscription
* Become a Subscriber
* Gift Subscriptions
* Mobile & Apps
* Newsletters & Alerts
* Washington Post Live
* Reprints & Permissions
* Post Store
* Books & E-Books
* Print Archives (Subscribers Only)
* Today’s Paper
* Public Notices
* Crosswords & Games
* Download on iOS
* Download on Android
Contact Us
* Contact the Newsroom
* Contact Customer Care
* Contact the Opinions Team
* Advertise
* Licensing & Syndication
* Request a Correction
* Send a News Tip
* Report a Vulnerability
Terms of Use
* Digital Products Terms of Sale
* Print Products Terms of Sale
* Terms of Service
* Privacy Policy
* Cookie Settings
* Submissions & Discussion Policy
* RSS Terms of Service
* Sitemap
* Ad Choices
* CA Notice of Collection
* Your Privacy Choices
washingtonpost.com © 1996-2026 The Washington Post
* WP Intelligence
* Ask The Post AI
* WP Creative Group
* Workforce Demographics
* Careers
* Media & Community Relations
* Accessibility Statement
* Trending
* Politics
* Elections
* Opinions
* U.S. News
* World
* Style
* Sports
* Business
* Climate
* Well+Being
* D.C., Md., & Va.
* Obituaries
* Weather
* Arts & Entertainment
* Recipes
* WP Intelligence
* Enterprise Subscriptions
* Manage Your Subscription
* Become a Subscriber
* Gift Subscriptions
* Mobile & Apps
* Newsletters & Alerts
* Washington Post Live
* Reprints & Permissions
* Post Store
* Books & E-Books
* Print Archives (Subscribers Only)
* Today’s Paper
* Public Notices
* Crosswords & Games
* Download on iOS
* Download on Android
* Contact the Newsroom
* Contact Customer Care
* Contact the Opinions Team
* Advertise
* Licensing & Syndication
* Request a Correction
* Send a News Tip
* Report a Vulnerability
* Download the Washington Post App
* About The Post
* Policies & Standards
* Digital Products Terms of Sale
* Print Products Terms of Sale
* Terms of Service
* Privacy Policy
* Cookie Settings
* Submissions & Discussion Policy
* RSS Terms of Service
* Sitemap
* Ad Choices
* CA Notice of Collection
* Your Privacy Choices
* washingtonpost.com
* © 1996-2026 The Washington Post
5.57.9
!pixel
Accessibility statement
Democracy Dies in Darkness
SubscribeSign in
Democracy Dies in Darkness
WorldAmericasAfricaAsiaEuropeMiddle East
WorldAmericasAfricaAsiaEuropeMiddle East
He reached the Americas centuries before Columbus. Why doesn’t he get more credit?
Accounts of Leif Erikson’s voyage to present-day Canada were known to Europeans in Christopher Columbus’s time.
October 12, 2026 at 7:20 a.m. EDTToday at 7:20 a.m. EDT
11 min
*"Leiv Eiriksson Discovering America," by the Norwegian artist Christian Krohg, from the National Museum of Art in Oslo. A version of the painting by the artist's son, Per Krohg, hangs in the U.S. Capitol. (Heritage Images/Getty Images)*
By Matthew Hay Brown
For the explorers from ice-covered Greenland, it must have seemed a paradise. A genuinely green land of lush meadows irrigated by free-flowing rivers. Whales and caribou to hunt, nesting birds and wild salmon to catch, grapes and wheat to gather. A warmer climate with more daylight and milder winters.
Subscribe for unlimited access to The Post
You can cancel anytime.
Subscribe
---
What readers are saying
The comments reflect a debate over the historical significance of Leif Erikson and Christopher Columbus. Many commenters argue that while Erikson may have reached North America before Columbus, his voyages had little lasting impact compared to Columbus, whose expeditions led to... Show more
This summary is AI-generated. AI can make mistakes and this summary is not a replacement for reading the comments.
* Gretchen Reynolds and Aaron Steckelberg How to take care of your knees in your 20s, 30s, 40s and beyond Earlier today
* Sammy Westfall and Perry Stein Federal agents search Rep. Ilhan Omar’s D.C. home 26 minutes ago
* Laura Beveridge Takeaways from first S.C. Senate debate between Darline Graham, Annie Andrews October 11, 2026
* Column Carolyn Hax Carolyn Hax: Mom delivers final blow after a lifetime of disappointments Earlier today
* Rick Maese Judge halts tree removal at D.C. golf course that Trump has proposed overhauling 1 hour ago
* Natalie Allison and Isaac Arnsdorf Trump’s midterm road show reveals GOP troubles — and his own priorities Earlier today
NewsletterAs news breaks
World News Alerts
Breaking news email alerts for major happenings around the world.
Company
* About The Post
* Newsroom Policies & Standards
* WP Creative Group
* Workforce Demographics
* Careers
* Media & Community Relations
* Accessibility Statement
Sections
* Trending
* Politics
* Elections
* Opinions
* U.S. News
* World
* Style
* Sports
* Business
* Climate
* Well+Being
* D.C., Md., & Va.
* Obituaries
* Weather
* Arts & Entertainment
* Recipes
Get The Post
* WP Intelligence
* Enterprise Subscriptions
* Manage Your Subscription
* Become a Subscriber
* Gift Subscriptions
* Mobile & Apps
* Newsletters & Alerts
* Washington Post Live
* Reprints & Permissions
* Post Store
* Books & E-Books
* Print Archives (Subscribers Only)
* Today’s Paper
* Public Notices
* Crosswords & Games
* Download on iOS
* Download on Android
Contact Us
* Contact the Newsroom
* Contact Customer Care
* Contact the Opinions Team
* Advertise
* Licensing & Syndication
* Request a Correction
* Send a News Tip
* Report a Vulnerability
Terms of Use
* Digital Products Terms of Sale
* Print Products Terms of Sale
* Terms of Service
* Privacy Policy
* Cookie Settings
* Submissions & Discussion Policy
* RSS Terms of Service
* Sitemap
* Ad Choices
* CA Notice of Collection
* Your Privacy Choices
washingtonpost.com © 1996-2026 The Washington Post
* WP Intelligence
* Ask The Post AI
* WP Creative Group
* Workforce Demographics
* Careers
* Media & Community Relations
* Accessibility Statement
* Trending
* Politics
* Elections
* Opinions
* U.S. News
* World
* Style
* Sports
* Business
* Climate
* Well+Being
* D.C., Md., & Va.
* Obituaries
* Weather
* Arts & Entertainment
* Recipes
* WP Intelligence
* Enterprise Subscriptions
* Manage Your Subscription
* Become a Subscriber
* Gift Subscriptions
* Mobile & Apps
* Newsletters & Alerts
* Washington Post Live
* Reprints & Permissions
* Post Store
* Books & E-Books
* Print Archives (Subscribers Only)
* Today’s Paper
* Public Notices
* Crosswords & Games
* Download on iOS
* Download on Android
* Contact the Newsroom
* Contact Customer Care
* Contact the Opinions Team
* Advertise
* Licensing & Syndication
* Request a Correction
* Send a News Tip
* Report a Vulnerability
* Download the Washington Post App
* About The Post
* Policies & Standards
* Digital Products Terms of Sale
* Print Products Terms of Sale
* Terms of Service
* Privacy Policy
* Cookie Settings
* Submissions & Discussion Policy
* RSS Terms of Service
* Sitemap
* Ad Choices
* CA Notice of Collection
* Your Privacy Choices
* washingtonpost.com
* © 1996-2026 The Washington Post
5.57.9
!pixel
🔗 Share Article
Tags:#التاريخ#الاستكشاف#ليف إريكسون#كريستوفر كولومبس#الفايكنج#أمريكا الشمالية
Source: Washington Post
For Context
Related reads from the same topic or latest developments
