Section Seven: Engravings from Arctic Expeditions

In 1906 Norwegian Roald Amundsen became the first to navigate the Northwest Passage entirely by ship.  Amundsen used a small crew of six men and a 45-ton herring boat, the Gjøa, to deftly navigate the narrow channels of the passage. During their stay in the Arctic, Amundsen and his crew learned many survival skills from the Netsilik Inuit, such as the use of dogs to haul sleds (the English were still using sailors to pull sleds at this time) and how to fashion clothes out of skins. Amundsen would go on to become the first person to uncontestably reach both poles.

The items in this case celebrate Amundsen’s voyage, as well as the voyages of Cook, Franklin, and Prince Luigi Amedeo, Duke of the Abruzzi. These items shows what conditions were like for the explorers as they searched for the Northwest Passage or journeyed to the North Pole. While there were certainly moments of beauty, those swiftly gave way to some of the Earth’s harshest conditions, the wonderment at which could still be captured by artistic eyes. 

36. George Back, 1823

map/49485

36. George Back, "Manner of Making a Resting Place on a Winter's Night" (1823).
OML Collection.
https://oshermaps.org/map/49485


37. Dodd, Mead, & Co., 1903

map/47944

37. Dodd, Mead, & Co., "The Hut by Moonlight" from On the "Polar Star" in the Arctic Sea (1903).
OML Collection.
https://oshermaps.org/map/47944


38. Frederick Cook, 1909

map/3403

38. Frederick Cook, [Bisected map of the Amundsen's Northwest Passage route] from Discovery of the North Pole (1909).
OML Collection.
https://oshermaps.org/map/3403


39. National Geographic Society, 1908

map/47081

39. National Geographic Society, [Photograph of Roald Amundsen] (1908).
Moore Collection.
https://oshermaps.org/map/47081