Centennial of Historic Huts in Antarctica

Exploration in Antarctica began in the mid 1800s, although sealing and whaling existed earlier. The first substantial structure to be erected on the continent was by Borchgrevink in 1899 at Cape Adare, for the first wintering of humans on the continent. The following 10 years saw several additional huts as depots for explorers for exploration of the coastline and interior, and in attempts to reach the Geographic South Pole. Now, 100 years after the first building was erected, all have become historic sites and relics of early explorers and their achievements. Many have been restored and are visited by tourists annually as part of cruise itineraries. This paper, in the Centennial Year of the 1899 hut of Borchgrevink, reviews the history of these expedition huts and sites, including emergency structures and shelters, and stresses the importance of preservation of buildings and their contents in light of severe weather conditions, as well as numerous visits by tourists and others over mainly the last 40 years. Additional informationNotes on contributorsJohn SplettstoesserJOHN SPLETTSTOESSER is a geologist with field experience in Antarctica that began in 1960. His work there included studies on wind erosion, mineral resources evaluation and ice-drilling for paleo-climate information. He also lectures on tour Vessels to Antarctica and to the Arctic. John has edited five books on polar subjects and guest edited Antarctic Tourism (with Valene Smith), special issue of Annals of Tourism Research (1994). He is spokesperson for the International Association of Antarctica Tour-operators and has two geographic features named after him in Antarctica. Contact address: John Splettstoesser, 235 Camden Street, Suite 32, Rockland, Maine 04841- 2563, U.S.A.email: [email protected]

Archaeology · Attraction · Centennial · Ecotourism · Geography · Nature tourism · Tourism · Tourist attraction · Polar Research and Ecology

• Historical development of Antarctic tourism

  Open Access•Robert Headland, Robert K Headland•Annals of Tourism Research•1994

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