Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Leif Erikson

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 30, 2025

1. Leif Erikson Statue

Inscription.
Leif Erikson, explorer, landed in America year 1000.

Erected 1936 by Nordic Civic League, sculptor Nina Saemundsson, and City of Los Angeles.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Exploration. A significant historical year for this entry is 1000 CE.

Location. 34° 6.493′ N, 118° 18.495′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Hollywood Hills. It is at the intersection of Los Feliz Boulevard and Fern Dell Drive, on the right when traveling west on Los Feliz Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5419 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90027, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Gabrielino Indian Site (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Taggart House (about 600 feet away); Samuel-Novarro House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Casa Laguna (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Trianon (approx. 0.3 miles away); Gateway to Thai Town (approx. 0.4 miles away); Hollywood-Western Building (approx. half a mile away); The Bricker Building (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.

Regarding Leif Erikson. Born in the 10th century, Norse explorer Leif Erikson was the second son of Erik the Red, who is credited with

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settling Greenland. Erikson is considered by many to be the first European to reach North America, centuries ahead of Christopher Columbus. However, the details of his voyage are a matter of historical debate, with one version claiming his landing accidental, and another that he had sailed there intentionally after learning of the region from earlier explorers. In either case, Erikson eventually returned to Greenland, where he had been commissioned by Norwegian king Olaf I Tryggvason to spread Christianity and is believed to have died circa 1020. In the early 1960s, the discovery of the ruins of a Viking settlement in Newfoundland lent further weight to accounts of Eriksson’s voyage.

In 1936, this was the third monument in the United States to be erected to honor this Norse navigator. The first statue was installed in Boston not far from the spot on the Charles River between Boston and Cambridge where Erikson was supposed to have landed his Viking ship. The statue here stands on the other side of the continent and near the shores of the Pacific Ocean, whose existence was not even guessed by the adventurous navigator.

Additional keywords. Leif Eriksson, Eriksson, Ericson, Erickson, Norse, Viking,

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 30, 2025

2. Leif Erikson Statue

Nearby Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 30, 2025

3. Nearby Statue

“To the people of the United States of America in gratitude for their aid, friendship and protection. Presented to our sister city, Los Angeles, by the people of free Berlin.”

Credits. This page was last revised on September 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 31, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 216 times since then and 85 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 31, 2025, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.