In 1930, the United States gifted this bronze statue of Leifur Eiríksson (Leif Erikson) to Iceland for the celebration of 1000th anniversary of the Althing (Iceland’s parliament). Leif Erikson, a Norse explorer born in Iceland, has been credited with reaching North America (Vinland) around 1000 A.D., centuries before Columbus. The statue has been standing in front of Hallgrimskirkja.