From Plymouth to Pole (2012)
This extremely popular exhibition was on show at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery from 14 January to 14 April 2012.
Thanks to Heritage Lottery funding the graphics are available as pdf files in the exhibition summary below.
The exhibition itself was rich in original, rare and evocative objects and images. Why not take a look at our photostream to see what it looked like?
The city’s own small but unique collection of Scott and 'Heroic Age' material can usually be seen on display at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery.
Exhibition background
Robert Falcon Scott was born in Devonport, Plymouth. There are other local associations with the ‘Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration’ - notably through the Royal Navy and the involvement of the Marine Biological Association (MBA), organisations that are rooted in Plymouth. The City is also home to the National Memorial to Captain Scott and the Polar Party.
This exhibition marked the centenary of Scott reaching the South Pole and commemorated his death. The focus was on Scott, his two expeditions and their scientific achievement. At the same time, the exhibition sought to highlight some of the very significant Plymouth associations and contributions to Antarctic exploration in the ‘Heroic Age’.
Because the exhibition promoted and encouraged public interest in Antarctic heritage, the city received a £5000 grant from the United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT). Thanks to UKAHT the exhibition was even bigger and better.
Entitled From Plymouth to Pole; Scott, Science and the Men who Sailed South, the Scott 100 exhibition was seen by over 21,000 visitors.
Exhibition summary
The focus was on Scott of the Antarctic and his Plymouth links. It also marked his achievements and commemorated his death, alongside fellow members of the Polar Party on the Terra Nova Expedition. The story of Scott was prefaced within an overview of the discovery and exploration of Antarctica and a timeline detailing significant expeditions of the ‘Heroic Age’. Scott’s achievements were explored in the context of of his two expeditions; highlighting their common focus on scientific exploration.
Rather than give another account of the ‘Race to the Pole’, with tales of the ill-fated members of the Polar Party, the Plymouth exhibition also shone a light on a cross section of expedition members, namely the men that sailed with Scott with Plymouth and South Devon associations. Whilst Scott was the principal subject, Dailey and Hodgson (Discovery) and Parsons, Davies, Keohane, Browning, Levick and Nelson (Terra Nova) all featured. These ‘people-stories’ provided added human, family and local interest, as well as helping to reinforce the exhibition’s emphasis on Antarctic science.
Although not meeting the ‘local’ qualification, Edward Wilson featured too. The special treatment of Wilson reflected the fact that he went on both of Scott’s expeditions and became Scott’s loyal and trusted friend. We also discovered that Vere Hodgson, a fellow scientist on the Discovery Expedition but also the first Curator of Plymouth Museum had used his connections to organise a unique display of Wilson’s artwork work and related Antarctic material in Plymouth in 1919. It seemed appropriate to reflect this – and with the support of loans from Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum and the MBA we were able to do this.
A smaller section of the exhibition reflected upon Scott’s legacy in terms of Polar research and post-War Antarctic exploration - including the research work of British Antarctic Survey and, more recently of the Plymouth based British Antarctic Survey Medical Unit. It also highlighted the work of the Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge (SPRI) and UKAHT.
Six smaller, distinctive ‘Race to Pole’ graphics helped draw-out some comparisons between Scott and Amundsen’s expeditions. These were displayed alongside objects relating to the chosen theme.
Finally, for people of all ages, there were twenty ‘Amazing Antarctica’ Roundels arranged as a trail around the Gallery. These provided a family friendly quiz based on wider interest Antarctic facts. A Polar tent and a dressing up box of modern Polar clothing proved very popular with younger visitors – and some a bit older too.
Response and thanks
The ‘From Plymouth to Pole’ Exhibition was funded by Plymouth City Council, with valuable grant support from the United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust. A summary of wider exhibition outcomes and responses can be found in our Exhibition Response page.
The sources of images reproduced in the exhibition were credited on the graphics. The graphics are reproduced by permission. Particular thanks are due to the Scott Polar Research Institution (SPRI), Cambridge, British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and the BAS Medical Unit, Plymouth.
The exhibition was object rich thanks to loans from many private individuals, including the descendants of expedition members, plus several Antarctic historians and collectors. Significant institutional loans came from: Cheltenham Art gallery and Museum, Exeter Cathedral, the Marine Biological Association, Plymouth, the Natural History Museum and the National Portrait Gallery, London, the Royal Western Yacht Club, Plymouth, SPRI, Cambridge and Torquay Museum.
The following manufacturers and suppliers of modern Antarctic equipment, clothing and footwear, very generously loaned dressing-up and display material: Mountain Boot Company, Tyne and Wear; Paramo Directional Clothing Systems, East Sussex; Rab (Equip Outdoor Technologies Ltd.), Derbyshire; Snowsled Ltd., Gloucestershire; Sorel Footwear, Berkshire.
Thanks are also due to all at Plymouth City Council Arts and Heritage who contributed to the success of the exhibition. Sherrie-lee Evans, an Australian based museum and heritage professional with a passion for Antarctic heritage, deserves a special mention. Thanks UKAHT, we were lucky enough to be able to engage and retain Sherrie’s expertise in support of research, writing and through to exhibition installation.
A final big thank you to the 21,000 plus people that visited the From Plymouth to Pole Exhibition - and for your mostly kind and constructive feedback!
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| The Western Party Christmas Camp | Sledge Party - Dailey, Koettliz (surgeon and botanist) and Bernachhi (physicist) (Discovery Expedition) | Patrick Keohane having his hair cut |
