IPHY

Between 1999 and 2002, a traveling, immersive museum show about Sir Ernest Shackleton and the Endurance saga, one of victory snatched from the jaws of certain disaster, captured the public imagination.  Shackleton’s leadership principles became the stuff of popular discourse and business-school fare.  New books appeared on the subject, and old accounts were reprinted; feature films and documentaries were produced.  All things “ice” became relevant and compelling once again.

Then “Shackleton Mania” subsided, and once again the heroic, true stories of the explorers who sought to extend humanity’s knowledge of the Arctic and Antarctic were eclipsed by what can only be described as historical amnesia.

In 1828, the British hero, Sir John Franklin published the narrative of his second arctic expedition when he charted over 1200 miles of our continent’s northern coastline. The great Roald Amundsen, first to set foot on the South Pole, navigate the Northwest and Northeast Passages and fly from Svalbard to Alaska by way of the North Pole, died on or about June 18, 1928, en route to the Pole on a search-and-rescue mission.  And later in 1928, Richard Byrd and Sir Hubert Wilkins embarked on landmark Antarctic expeditions. 

To revive and celebrate the incredible exploits of the heroic figures who challenged the polar regions north and south in wooden ships and early airplanes, and with dog sleds and dirigibles, 2028 has been designated the first International Polar History Year. 

In 2028, we foresee a worldwide series of exhibitions, symposia, observances, and educational presentations commemorating the polar travels of Franklin, Kane, Greely, Amundsen, Peary, Byrd, Wilkins, their contemporaries, and all those who broke trail for them.

Further details will be announced on this website.

The IPHY Steering Committee