National Geographic Museum Blog

Scott had been inquiring about leading a polar exploration for a few years and had finally found a champion who would take him on as the lead of the expedition. Sir Clements Markham, President of the Royal Geographical Society felt a strong sense of national pride over the belief that England must discover and lay claim to more of Antarctica. Markham took upon a personal mission to see a new exploration to the pole. Scott happened to be the only one rallying for the quest. While Scott didn’t fit Markham’s normally discriminating tastes about looks and wealth, he was short on options. Scott found himself being the only candidate, if not the ideal candidate.

Here are some fascinating facts about Antarctica:

From the beginning Amundsen had hoped to winter-in in the North Pole. He had kept this a secret from much of the crew as it involved intentionally leaving the ship to freeze in the Arctic ice. His idea though was simple. He wanted to study the environs, test his skills, and learn about Arctic living. Luckily, he had frozen the ship into a pack of ice used by the native peoples to camp and trade in the winter. Through his budding relationship with them, Amundsen learned how to work in the harsh environment, to wear furs, and to build igloos as shelter.

Join us on June 30th for an exploration to the South Pole on Twitter! We are hosting a Twitter Party where you will be put in the explorer’s seat. Like a “choose your own adventure” you will be asked a series of questions to determine if you would have made it to the South Pole. A few of the lucky participants who’ve made it the entire way will be duly rewarded.

To enter, RSVP here or on Facebook and join us at 9pm EST next Thursday. Items to be given out include tickets to the Museum, books on exploration and more!

Among the first birds seen on the Antarctic continent were little penguins called Adélies. In 1840, a French explorer named the area in which he saw them Adélie Land after his beloved wife Adéle, in “deep and lasting gratitude.”

After accompanying a group to Antarctica, Amundsen began to petition for a similar trip to the North Pole. He wanted to find the elusive and much talked of Northwest Passage where people could travel from east to west of North America via a northern waterway. In order to find the funding, he proposed the expedition as a scientific trip to find the new position of true magnetic North. This involved some scientific training, a crew with a scientist but also the necessary funding and mandate for travel. He was able to buy his own boat, get his own crew and head out for what would become a multi-year trip to the Great White North.

At this point, Scott has failed to succeed amongst his peers and knows that he will have to do something to distinguish himself and raise his value amongst the fleet. He decides to take up torpedos, a new and expanding discipline within the Royal Navy. The instruction results in additional training and provides Scott a few steps in career advancement and more importantly access to seasoned and connected superiors.

Roald Amundsen, despite coming from a shipping family, had put in no real time at sea. To develop his skill set in preparation for polar exploration he realized that experience on dangerous seas was necessary. So he joined a sealing operation aboard a boat named the Magdelena.