George A. Wardwell of Bucksport, Maine was chief engineer of the SS Roosevelt on Robert E. Peary’s 1905-06 and 1908-09 North Pole expeditions. These expeditions are well known as Peary, and many of the men who accompanied him on his long sledging journeys, published accounts of their experiences. Much less is known of the experiences of men like Wardwell, who spent the winter aboard the Roosevelt as it sat frozen in place for the winter, serving as a base camp. Wardwell, however, kept journals of his time aboard the Roosevelt. The journals, along with his photographs, have recently been made available by his family, allowing us to gain a new perspective on these historic expeditions.

You can learn more about Wardwell, and see his 1908-09 journal, in the museum galleries.

This exhibit is made possible through the support of the Friends of Bowdoin College, George A. Wardwell, and the Castine Historical Society.