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Vikings reached the Americas 500 years before Columbus

Norse explorers crossed the Atlantic in wooden boats without maps to reach Newfoundland, according to fresh historical evidence cited by the BBC.

On air: Gloria Vance and Hank Ledger on BBN This Morning
Published 8:18 AM ET, Monday, October 12, 2026

At a glance

First reported by BBC: “'They were people who took chances': The Vikings who reached the Americas 500 years before Columbus”.
Covered on BBN on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 8:18 AM ET on BBN This Morning, by Gloria Vance and Hank Ledger.
Topics: Columbus, Vikings.
BBN covered this story before: Trump pays homage to Columbus, unveils special tribute from Italy (October 12).

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

BBC'They were people who took chances': The Vikings who reached the Americas 500 years before Columbus

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorIn Newfoundland today, the story is an old one with new weight: Norse explorers reached North America roughly five hundred years before Columbus, and the BBC reports fresh historical evidence of how they did it.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorFive hundred years early, and still no parade. That's a bad week for the Vikings, or a bad millennium.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe historians call them people who took chances.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThey crossed open ocean in wooden boats, with no maps, and then went home without a press release.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorNo press release. That's the mistake right there, Gloria.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorColumbus had a royal sponsor and a very good publicist, which in my experience beats a longship every time.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorI have seen embassies built on less.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo the Vikings did the work, and the other guy got the holiday and the long weekend.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorCredit travels to whoever tells the story best, Hank. It always has.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThen I'd like the record to show I was first to read this story this morning.