The year 2000 marks the 1000-year anniversary of the Vikings' arrival in North America. According to historic documents and now confirmed by archeological finds, Vikings such as Leif Eriksson sailed west across the North Atlantic from their homelands in northern Europe, eventually reaching the northeast coast of North America in 1000 A.D. It was at that moment when Europeans and Native North Americans first met.

The National Museum of Natural History will commemorate this historic event with a major traveling exhibition and educational initiative called Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga. This interactive exhibit will emphasize the historical link between Europe and North America while exploring how we come to know our past and the relevance the past has for the future.