Ericson, Leif (A.D. 980?-1025?), was an explorer who led what was probably the first  European expedition to the mainland of North  America. He was a Norseman.  Vikings or Norsemen originated from what are now Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.  He was the son of Eric the Red, who established the first settlement in Greenland.   Leif Ericson became the leader of this settlement after his father's death.  Ericson sailed west from Greenland about 1002 to seek a land that had been sighted by a Norse sea captain.  According to the stories, Ericson and his 35 men first landed at a level stone area that he named Helluland ( which means Flat Rock Land). He then sailed farther south to a heavily wooded region that he called Markland (which means Forestland). He continued south and went ashore at a place where he found grapes growing.  He called this land Vinland.

             Ericson and his men spent the winter in Vinland. They built a large house and a shed to protect their ship. They cut logs to bring back to Greenland, where trees were scarce. On the return trip, they rescued 15 victims of a shipwreck, who gave Ericson their cargo as a reward. This cargo, plus the logs, helped Ericson become rich.

             No one knows exactly where Ericson landed on his voyages because he made no maps.   Some historian believe that he may have landed on the island of Newfoundland, on the continent of North America in 1001.  This was about 500 years BEFORE Columbus!  Ericson believed he actually landed on Asia instead of North America.