Thom Bell, of eyewondermedia and BPSvideo, as part of his documentary about the research being done on the Kensington Runestone by Richard Nielsen and Professor Henrik WIlliams, from Uppsala University, visited our ship to learn about her story.
To set the stage for his documentary, Thom interviewed FOVS Board member, David Nordin, gathering insight into the history of Scandinavian-Americans during the 1800’s.
In the interview, Dave mentioned how, at that time, the printing of the Icelandic Sagas, the desire of Scandinavians to understand their Viking roots, and the spirit of Norwegian nationalism, each played a role in Viking participating in the Columbian Exhibition. While Dave described the construction of the Viking ship, its voyage, and its welcome by tens of thousands of Fair-goers, Thom’s video focused on its size, shape and beauty.
The Viking Ship from BPSVideo on Vimeo.
Lyman W. Hintz
Outstanding video. It certainly should be preserved. Without doubt, non-native North American humans travelled both the Atlantic and the Pacific to reach the Americas. Columbus certainly was the not the first. I’ve seen her before when visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo, and had no idea it had been moved. Just like the B-17 “Memphis Belle” has now found restoration and a permanent home in the United States Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, this Viking Ship replica has a history that makes it much too valuable not to preserve for all to see. It would seem that a hall dedicated to “pre-history” immigration to the Americas would be a perfect spot for it. If not that, the Chicago Historical Museum….which preserves and displays a very “doubtful if it is authentic” anchor from Columbus’s expedition to the West Indies…..should at least be considered. I look forward to visiting it this August 14th,