Leif, the Discoverer

Leif, the Discoverer is an eight-foot-tall bronze figure depicting a Norse warrior in scale armor, tunic, and leggings, equipped with a powder horn and decorative knife. The statue rises from a red sandstone base in Juneau Park, engraved with text in both runic and English lettering.

Sculptor Anne Whitney created this work in 1887 as a replica of an earlier monument located on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston. The piece emerged during a period when communities across America sought to commemorate Norse and Scandinavian contributions to exploration and settlement.

The monument serves as a symbol of Norse exploration and is recognized by visitors as a reminder of Scandinavian heritage in the region. The inscriptions on the sandstone base connect the figure to his father Erik the Red and reflect how the community chose to honor this history.

The statue is located in Juneau Park, a public space in Milwaukee that is accessible year-round. The bronze was professionally restored and equipped with modern lighting in 2017 through community funding efforts, making it visible and well-maintained for visitors.

This statue was among America's earliest responses to growing interest in Norse history that gained momentum in the late 1800s. The decision to replicate the Boston monument shows how the concept of Norse discovery spread across cities with Scandinavian communities as a shared identity symbol.

Location: Milwaukee

Inception: 1887

Creator: Anne Whitney

Made from material: bronze

GPS coordinates: 43.04418,-87.89747

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:02