Roof Nears Competition Over Leif Erickson Viking Ship In Knife River

Courtesy: Neill Atkins

KNIFE RIVER, Minn. — A protective roof — 40 years in the making — is almost complete over the Leif Erickson replica Viking Ship in Knife River.

Courtesy: Neill Atkins

Organizer Neill Atkins took a few snapshots of the new structure.

The Save Our Ship non-profit is behind the project.  They’ve raising a few hundred thousand dollars for renovations over the past four decades.

In 2021, the city of Duluth transferred the vessel to the non-profit group who then found a new home at the Knife River Heritage Cultural Center.

Previous story: 40 Years Later, Leif Erickson Viking Ship To Become Housed Exhibit In Knife River

The dream was to always get a roof over the structure to protect the 1920s ship.

And now, with the help of a $200,000 grant from the state, the dream is nearly complete.

The boat was built in Norway in 1926 as a replica of the type of ship the Vikings used in their settlement to North America and right here to the shores of Lake Superior.