#OnThisDay in 1911, Roald Amundsen departed the Bay of Whales on his expedition to the South Pole. Amundsen was accompanied by Sverre Hassel, Oscar Wisting, Olav Olavson Bjaaland and Hilmer Hanssen, with 4 sledges and 52 dogs. Amundsen's expedition party began their historic

#OnThisDay in 1915, water began pouring into Shackleton's expedition ship 'Endurance'. Shackleton was leading the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914-1917) with the objective of attempting to make the first land crossing of the Antarctic continent. However, the ship had

#OnThisDay in 1881, Kristian Prestrud, naval officer and first mate on Roald Amundsen’s South Pole 'Fram' expedition (1910-1912), was born in Hveberg in the county of Hedmark in Norway. At the age of 15, Prestrud left for the sea on the 'Bark Rolf'. After two years sailing, he

#OTD in 1915, Ernest Shackleton ordered the crew of 'Endurance' to abandon ship. Trapped and drifting in an ice floe since January, the pressure was finally too much and the ship had begun to take on water. Over the next few days, parties were sent back to retrieve as much of

#OnThisDay in 1880, Admiral Edward Ratcliffe Garth Russell Evans, 1st Baron Mountevans was born in London. Evans was seconded by the Royal Navy to be Second Officer on the relief ship 'Morning' for Robert Falcon Scott's first Antarctic expedition, the British National Antarctic

#OnThisDay in 1908, the 'Great Southern Journey', part of Shackleton's British Antarctic 'Nimrod' Expedition 1907-09, set out to attempt the Geographic South Pole. After accompanying Robert Falcon Scott during the 'Discovery' expedition's South Pole attempt, Ernest Shackleton

A new world is about to open through our Inspiring Explorers Education™ programme. Can you guess where it is? You might need to get your pickaxe ready… 📸 Discovery Hut, ©Alasdair Turner

#OnThisDay in 1956, 'Que Sera Sera', an R4D-5L (Douglas DC-3) aircraft named after a popular song of the time, made the first aircraft landing at the South Pole. The aircraft's crew of seven was piloted by Lieutenant Commander Gus Shinn and under the command of Rear Admiral

#OnThisDay in 1943, Lieutenant R.N.R Albert Armitage died. Armitage was second-in-command and navigator during Robert Falcon Scott's British Antarctic 'Discovery' Expedition 1901-04. Armitage was born in 1864 in the Braes of Balquhidder, Perthshire. He joined his first training

#OnThisDay in 1975, Sir Charles Seymour Wright, KCB, OBE, MC, Canadian physicist & polar explorer, died aged 88. This year, in 2025, marks 50 years since his death. Born and educated in Canada, Wright went on to win a scholarship for postgraduate study in Gonville and Caius

Inspiring Explorer Maia Ingoe captivated a class of around 20 students at Avondale Primary School (NZ) in October, inspiring some excited future marine biologists and explorers. The students, who have been learning about the Arctic and Antarctica, were fascinated to hear about

Exciting news! Our Inspiring Explorers Education™ programme has launched Scott’s Discovery Hut Minecraft world, a fun and interactive way for students across Aotearoa New Zealand to learn about the heroic era of Antarctic exploration. The Minecraft world will be made accessible

#OnThisDay in 1963, Geologist and Antarctic Explorer, Thomas Griffith Taylor died. Taylor was part of Robert Falcon Scott's British Antarctic 'Terra Nova' Expedition 1910-13. Taylor was born in 1880 in Walthamstow, England. Along with his family, Taylor emigrated to Australia at

Shirley Intermediate students were some of the first to explore our Scott’s ‘Discovery’ hut Minecraft World before it becomes accessible worldwide through the Minecraft Education platform from mid-November. This group in Christchurch NZ had a special preview in recognition of

A curious group of seven- and eight-year-old children at Manakau School (NZ) had many questions for Inspiring Explorer Calum Turner, at the end of his engaging talk about his 2025 expedition with the Trust to the Ross Sea, he could hardly keep up! The class had been learning

#OnThisDay in 1876, Astronomer, Physicist and Antarctic Explorer, Louis Charles Bernacchi was born in Belgium. As a seven-year-old he and his family migrated to Hobart, Australia where his scientific curiosity and love of nature developed whilst growing up on his parent's farm.

The first of our 2025–26 Conservation Season team have arrived safely south! Lizzie and Shannah touched down a few weeks ago after weather delays. Not long after, another storm swept through, burying our workshop containers in snow. Swipe to see the team hard at work digging

#OnThisDay in 1927, Norwegian naval officer and polar explorer Kristian Prestrud died. Prestrud was a naval officer and first mate on Roald Amundsen's 'Fram' expedition to Antarctica in 1910-12. He was part of the eight-man party which made the first attempt to reach the South

#OnThisDay in 1912, the bodies of Captain Robert Falcon Scott, Dr. Edward Wilson, and Lieutenant Henry Bowers were found in their final resting places inside their tent, within their sleeping bags, just 11 miles from 'One Ton Depot' and a large cache of food and supplies. It was

Our team had the privilege of helping remove the winter protective cover from the Observation Hill Cross on Ross Island, ready for the summer season. The cover is installed each winter to help reduce erosion from the harsh Antarctic conditions. Erected in 1913 by the British