and certainly eric the red settled in iceland and later in greenland and leif erickson journeys into north america and the fact that they found viking age remanence and foundations in that part of north america is a clear indication there are settlements there as early as 1000. i think that's where the story ends. the runes in minnesota and other things leave that to the academics to argue about, but again, the story about the nordics arriving in north america 500 years prior to columbus is one that i think we are all excited about. >> what was the role of congress in establishing the nordic museum? >> that's really interesting. one of the thoughts that had come up in conversations with focus groups and with our exhibition design teams and architects and other academics and museum professionals was what sets the museum apart? we are the only or the largest anyway, nordic museum and the u.s. is wonderful swedish museums in minnesota and chicago and philadelphia, wonderful norwegian museum in iowa. we are the only nordic focused museum. we wanted to set that up as our brand and i think

that period and certainly erik, the red settlement of in iceland and the leader in greenland and leif erickson's journey into north america and the settlements in in nova scotia. the area and the fact that they've found viking age remnants and foundations in that part of north america clear indications that the settlements there and the early as the thousand and then again i think that's that's where the story ends i mean the ruins in minnesota and other things kind leave that to the academic to argue about but again the story about the nordics arriving in north america 500 years prior to columbus was one that i think we're all excited about. eric nelson what was the role congress in establishing the nordic museum? that's really interesting. one of one of the thoughts that had come up in conversations with focus groups in and with our exhibition design teams and architect and other academics and museum professionals. was that what sets the museum apart? and we are the only or the largest anyway. and nordic museum in the us there's wonderful swedish museums in minnesota and chicago and philadelph

>> it is always interesting, especially when i have the opportunity to tell colleagues about leif erickson. all groups claim has norwegian and icelandic friends claim him as icelandic. but greenland also claims him as theirs. so again, to be clear, erik the red -- the leader in greenland and draining into north america and settlements. in nova scotia, the fact they found the viking age remnants and foundations, and that part of north america, is a clear indication that there are settlements there as early as 1000. and again, it is where the story ends. minnesota and other things, i leave that to the academics, to argue about. but again, the story about the nordic arriving in north america, 500 years prior to christopher columbus is something we are all excited for you. >> eric nelson, what was the role of congress in establishing the nordic museum? but that is really interesting. one of the facts, that had come up in conversations with the focus groups and with our design teens and architects and other academics, what sets the museum apart, we are the only, the largest anyway, nordic museu