Introducing Freya

The Geneva History Museum is pleased to announce the name of the dragon head from the 1892 Viking Ship is Freya. Freya is a girl’s name of Scandinavian origin, derived from Freyja. It means noble lady and shares its namesake with the mythical Freya, goddess of fertility, love and beauty. The name Freya was submitted by three people, Susan Cleveland, Ken Celic, and Noreen Cecola, who are all winners of a one-year Geneva History Museum membership and a Viking’s Voyage exhibition t-shirt.

More than 180 names were submitted for the dragon head in the two months after the opening of the Geneva History Museum’s Feature Exhibition, “Viking’s Voyage,” A 19th century ship’s journey from Norway to Illinois. The Viking ship was built in 1892 in Norway as a replica of the ancient Viking ship Gokstad. In 1893 the Viking, the name given to the ship,sailed from Norway to Chicago and survived an incredibly long and dangerous nonstop crossing of the Atlantic Ocean to become one of the greatest attractions at the World’s Columbian Exposition. This exhibition will run through Saturday, December 23.

While the Viking Ship is named Viking, its beautiful dragon head and tail were nameless. Freya was chosen by the museum and the Friends of the Vikings Ship. Freya the dragon will be a feature character in the special children’s exhibition “Little Vikings” from June 17 to August 19 at the Geneva History Museum. 

The Geneva History Museum is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays thru Saturdays at 113 South Third Street, Geneva. Admission is $5 per adult, $2 for children (3-10), seniors (65+), and students, FREE Tuesdays, for active military, veterans, and museum members and includes the Main Gallery, “Geneva’s Story.” Museum gallery visitors will receive a coupon for $2 off a tour of the Viking Ship and those who tour the ship at Good Templar Park will receive a coupon for $1 off museum admission. For more information visit GenevaHistoryMuseum.org or call 630-232-4951.