A Glimmer on the Polar Sea: The Crocker Land Expedition, 1913-1917

Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum & Arctic Studies Center Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum & Arctic Studies Center

Exhibition: A Glimmer on the Polar Sea: The Crocker Land Expedition, 1913-1917

Dates:

Location:

Arctic Museum main galleries

In the summer of 1913, Donald B. MacMillan and six other men set off on an expedition to conduct research and exploration in the far north. Marking the 100th anniversary of this major expedition, this exhibit highlights the results of their extensive fieldwork, and looks at field studies being conducted by contemporary researchers in the same region.

Leading up to this major exhibit we mounted two photograph exhibits, now available online. Off to a Rocky Start: The Crocker Land Expedition 1913 tells the story of the first few months of the expedition, when things didn't always go according to plan. Northwest of the Known Arctic Lands describes the sledging expedition in the spring of 1914, when it became clear that Crocker Land was a mirage.

You can read about some of the research that went into developing the exhibit on our blog.

You can also watch the opening lecture "Finding Crocker Land: Archaeology at Etah and Beyond" by curator Genevieve LeMoine.

Media reports about the exhibit:

CBC Radio As it Happens

LiveScience report on the exhibit

Pictured above: Borup Lodge in winter. Donald B. MacMillan, Etah, Greenland, 1914-1917.