Created by the team behind Antarctic Heritage Trust in partnership with Canterbury Museum, Breaking the Ice: The First Year in Antarctica allows the public to see items such as a fruitcake and a watercolour painting left behind in two Antarctic expeditions: Carsten Borchgrevink’s Southern Cross and Robert Falcon Scott’s Terra Nova.

After a lengthy and painstakingly process to conserve the artefacts by a team of international experts from the Antarctic Heritage Trust, the items were held in a Canterbury Museum laboratory.

As well as the opportunity to look at objects that were used during the expeditions, the exhibition also has a historical element to it with the chance to learn about those who led them and where they were sailing from.

Opening on May 18 at the Canterbury Museum, don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance to observe a selection of famous artefacts from the first buildings in Antarctica.

Breaking the Ice: The First Year in Antarctica
From May 18
canterburymuseum.com

Image credits:
Cape Adare - The huts built by Borchgrevnik's party at Cape Adare. Antarctic Heritage Trust

Carsten Borchgrevnik - Southern Cross expedition leader Carsten Borchgrevink. W Colbeck photograph, L Bernacchi collection, Canterbury Museum 1978.207.14

Josefin Bergmark-Jiménez - Paper conservator Josefin Bergmark-Jiménez discovered a watercolour painting of a Treecreeper by Dr Edward Wilson of the 1910-13 Terra Nova expedition. Antarctic Heritage Trust