Take a guided tour of Viking Ship in Geneva

Geneva's replica Viking longship, called the Viking, will host tours from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 16, at Good Templar Park, 528 East Side Drive in Geneva.

The public is invited to take guided or self-guided tours.

Thirty-minute guided tours begin every 30 minutes. The last guided tour of the day is at 3:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for teens. Parking is free. Other visit days are Aug. 20, Sept. 17 and Oct. 15.

The Viking is 78 feet long, 17 feet wide, and 6.5 feet high. Its black oak planks are fastened together with thousands of iron rivets.

At sea, the Viking averaged 10 knots and the hull was designed to flex with the waves. The Viking was built in Norway in 1893 and sailed by volunteers to the Chicago World's Fair.

The ship is an exact replica of the Gokstad, a Viking ship built in 850 and unearthed at Gokstad, Norway, in 1893. After being exhibited at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, the Viking replica was displayed in West Chicago before being moved to Geneva in 1996.

Guided group tours are available by appointment. A two-week advance reservation is required. Call (630) 753-9412 or email viking1893@gmail.com for more information.