Description
In front of Reykjavik's Hallgrímskirkja, is the most impressive statue of Leif Eriksson. He look to the west to the Ocean.
Inscription(s)
LEIFR
EIRICSSON
SON OF ICELAND
DISCOVERER OF
VINLAND
THE
UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA TO
THE PEOPLE
OF ICELAND
ON THE ONE
THOUSANDTH
ANNIVERSARY
OF THE ALTHING
A.D. 1930
Annotation
The statue which was donated to the Icelandic nation by the US Congress in 1930 to commemorate
the millennium of the Alþingi (parliament).
A monument based on this one is on Keflavik airport.
Commemorative coin
On June 21, 2000 the Central Bank of Iceland issued a commemorative coin to mark Leifur Eiríksson's discovery of North America. It was minted by the US Mint in 9/10 silver, weighing 26.73 grams and with a diameter of 38.1 mm, the coin is legal tender in Iceland with a value of 1,000 krónur. The reverse depicts Calder's statue. On the obverse is the stylised image of the guardian spirits of Iceland familiar from current Icelandic coins.
View from the tower of the Hallgrímskirkja. The statue of Leif Eriksson is at the bottom. The street from the church to the west is the Skólavörðustígur. Leif is looking through this street to the west, to the Ocean and Greenland.
The grey roofed building on the corner of the Skólavörðustígur is the Hótel Leifur Eiríksson.
From 9 to 12 June 2003 I stayed in this hotel. The main photo of the statue is made from the balcony of the hotel.
Sculptor
- Alexander Stirling Calder (Philadelphia 1870 - New York 1945), American sculptor (Wikipedia).
Tags
Locatie (N 64°8'32" - W 21°55'38") (Satellite view: Google Maps)
Item Code: is002; Photograph: 9 June 2003
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
If you want to use photos, please contact us via the contact form (in Dutch, English or German).
© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt
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