Conserving Shackleton's Historic Hut in Antarctica
One of the most incredible experiences I've had on this expedition to Antarctica has been to film Antarctic Heritage Trust (New Zealand) conservators, Anna, Jana and Lizzie, working inside the historic Shackleton hut at Cape Royds, Antarctica.
Built 100 years ago in 1908 as part of Sir Ernest Shackleton's Nimrod Expedition, the hut is filled with the effects and furnishings from that "heroic era" expedition. Because of the hard work and diligence of the Trust, the hut and its historic contents have been restored for future generations of visitors and scholars to enjoy, learn from and be inspired by. Here's a video of Trust conservators Jana, Anna and Lizzie talking about their work on location at the Shackleton hut:
The conservators are keeping a wonderful blog through the Natural History Museum in London, U.K. as they continue their Trust work at a remote Antarctica field camp at Cape Evans.
Thank you to Katie Leum for her production assistance on location at Cape Royds, Antarctica.
On the Antarctic Heritage Trust's own website there are very cool virtual tours of the four historic bases under their care.
Here's a description of the Antarctic Heritage Trust (New Zealand) from their website: "The Antarctic Heritage Trust (New Zealand), formed in 1987, is a charitable trust based in Christchurch, New Zealand registered under the Charities Act 2005 (registration CC24071). It is recognised internationally as the organisation caring for the expedition bases left by the first explorers in the Ross Sea region of the Antarctic Continent.
The Trust cares for, on behalf of the international community, the four bases associated with the following expeditions:
British Southern Cross Expedition 1898-1900. The expedition led by Carsten Borchgrevink.
National Antarctic (Discovery) Expedition 1901-1904. The first expedition led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott.
British Antarctic (Nimrod) Expedition 1907-1909. The expedition led by Sir Ernest Shackleton.
National Antarctic (Terra Nova) Expedition 1910-1913. The second expedition led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott.
All the sites are protected under the Antarctic Treaty System. In 2007 all four sites (with a particular emphasis on Captain Scott's base at Cape Evans) were listed on the World Monuments Fund List of 100 Most Endangered Sites in the World."
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