In 1911, at the centre of the planet’s most remote and inhospitable region, a Norwegian explorer named Ronald Amundsen drove a spike into the ice where no man had set foot before. It was the South Pole, and Amundsen’s team was the first to reach it. But they weren’t the only ones to try. As the new exhibition at Victoria’s
Royal BC Museum illustrates, this was a journey that ended in awe-inspiring triumph for some and tragedy for others.
Running from May 17 to October 14, the
Race to the End of the Earth exhibition takes visitors on an immersive tour through the Antarctic quests of Amundsen and his chief competitor, British explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott, as they raced to be the first to reach the South Pole. Together their stories weave a timeless saga of courage and misfortune in the ceaseless quest to conquer the unknown.
These stories of Antarctic exploration are told in vivid detail with
dioramas,
interactive exhibits,
photographs,
artifacts and a
guest lecture series. Visitors can see some of the equipment that helped speed the explorers on their way—everything from cups to chronometers—along with recreations of their living quarters and harrowing images of the men who braved unthinkable challenges to make it back alive.
From the stories of the 1911-12 expeditions, the exhibition expands to illuminate the fascinating Antarctic eco-system and the history of Antarctic exploration in the century since. You’ll learn how technology has made this region not only more accessible, but more liveable. You’ll also hear first-hand accounts from some brave souls who have spent considerable time in this often forgotten part of the world.