#OnThisDay in 1928, Roald Amundsen disappeared after leaving Tromsø, Norway, while flying a rescue mission in the Arctic in search of Umberto Nobile and the crew of the airship 'Italia'. It is believed that their aircraft crashed in the Barents Sea. One of the seaplane’s floats and other debris were later recovered; however, Amundsen’s remains, and those of his crewmen, were not. Nobile and seven companions were rescued weeks later, but eight of his crew were also lost.

#OnThisDay in 1915, Shackleton ordered his expedition ship 'Endurance' be converted to a winter station after realising that they would be stuck in an ice floe in the Weddell Sea until the following spring. For months 'Endurance' drifted northwards whilst stuck in the ice, however by the following spring, when the breaking of the ice began, extreme pressure was put on the hull. The ship was eventually crushed and sank into the Weddell Sea, but not before the crew abandoned ship, sparking an incredible tale of survival.

#OnThisDay in 1904, Scott's first Antarctic expedition ship the 'Discovery' was freed from the sea ice with the aid of explosives. She had been stuck in McMurdo Sound for nearly two years.

So much #antarctichistory in one day! Join us in celebrating what happened #OnThisDay It all started in 1773, when #OTD Captain James Cook made the first crossing of the Antarctic Circle, sailing the HMS Resolution through the sea ice! Then over a century later in 1909, Shackleton, accompanied by Wild, Marshall and Adams, were first to walk on the polar plateau after ascending the Beardmore Glacier. Eight years later #OTD in 1917, Davis and Shackleton's relief mission aboard 'Aurora' returned north to New Zealand, carrying the seven survivors of the original Ross Sea Party marooned on Ross Island, Antarctica. Of course we can't forget that #OTD in 1912 Scott, Wilson, Bowers, Evans and Oates successfully reached the South Pole, only to find that Amundsen and his team had already beaten them! And finally, #OTD in 1997, Norwegian Børge Ousland completed the first unsupported solo crossing of Antarctica from the edge of the Ronne Ice Shelf to the edge of the Ross Ice Shelf, taking him 64 days.

Perched on the edge of Ross Island, where the harsh winds of the Ross Sea meet the imposing presence of Mount Erebus, stands Shackleton's ‘Nimrod’ hut at Cape Royds. Built for Sir Ernest Shackleton's British Antarctic Expedition of 1907-1909, this was the base for one of the most ambitious polar expeditions of the ‘heroic era’. From here, the first party reached the South Magnetic Pole, the first ascent of Mount Erebus was achieved, and Shackleton led his famous march to reach a point just 156km from the Geographic South Pole – the furthest south any human had travelled at that time. From 2004 to 2011, Trust conservators undertook the mammoth task of conserving the hut and its 6,100+ artefacts for future generations. Their efforts led to an extraordinary discovery in 2010 - five crates of whisky and brandy beneath the hut, untouched for over a century. The Trust also reconstructed and returned a historic Speight's beer barrel to the site, connecting this remarkable place to New Zealand's heritage. Today, the hut stands as a testament to both Shackleton's leadership and the Trust's dedication to conserving Antarctic history. 🏛️ ❄️ To read more about Shackleton's expedition, the Trust's work conserving ‘Nimrod’ hut, and the famous discoveries at the site, visit: inspiringexplorers.co.nz/ros… Thanks to our Inspiring Explorers™ Fund donors including Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ Partner Heritage Expeditions, and supporter Cheshire Architects for making this journey possible. #inspire #explore #discover #conserve #Antarctica #RossSea #inspiringexplorers #polar #expedition #heritage #conservation

#OTD 1915, 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. The men retrieved as much of the stores and equipment as they could and made camp on the ice.

#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 become trapped in the sea ice and the men had been living on the ship for months as the pressure from the ice began to slowly crush it.

#OnThisDay in 1861, Norwegian explorer, Fridtjof Nansen was born in Christiania (later called Oslo), Norway. Considered by many to be one of the greatest men Norway has ever nurtured, he was renowned as a scientist, explorer, diplomat and humanitarian. #explore #inspire