Humboldt Park area of Chicago housed a large Norwegian population in the late 19th and early 20th century. My grandparents lived in this area. We attended Syttende Mai (seventeenth of May Norwegian Constitution Day) parades in Humboldt Park proudly waving Norwegian flags. In the 1960's my grandfather died and my grandmother returned to Norway. By that time Humboldt Park was changing. The Norwegian population was generally gone with the exception of a few older folks. A large Polish population had also moved into the area and were now also dispersing. The area became largely Puerto Rican and remains so today although there is an influx of Mexican, Dominican and other Latino groups.
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| The bronze statue is 9 1/2 feet tall, the granite boulder Leif stands on is inscribed "Leif Erikson Discoverer of America" |
In 1901 Norwegian Americans raised $10,000 dollars to erect a statue of Leif Erikson in the park. Quite a sum in that time! Norwegian born sculptor Sigvald Asbjørnsen (1867-1954) created the monument that was dedicated October 12, 1901 amidst scores of flag waving proud Norwegian-Americans.
**right click and save to your computer where you can enlarge and read "Hearst's Chicago Morning American"**
