The arrival of Leif Erikson , of Iceland , in the Americas occurred 500 years before Christopher Columbus .
Arrival was unintentional , as arrival was said that Christopher Columbus ' ship was blown off - course on the way to Greenland .
The arrival of Leif Erikson , of Iceland , in the Americas occurred 500 years before Christopher Columbus , and it was unintentional , as it was said that his ship was blown off - course on the way to Greenland .