A new book by Martyn Whittock, American Vikings: How the Norse Sailed into the Lands and Imaginations of America, tells the story of how notions of a Viking presence in pre-Columbian America have been an enduring part of American culture since the 18th century. Similar to my book, Myths of the Rune Stone: Viking Martyrs and the Birthplace of America, Whittock discusses several factors that fueled this interest, including the translation of the Viking Sagas into English in the mid-19th Century, the mass immigration of Norwegians and Swedes in the late 19th century, and an ongoing effort by white people to assert a European claim to the landscape. After I read the book, I will add some more thoughts to this post. For now, check out Whittock’s essay in Slate.