American Museum of Natural History Research Library
author: American Museum of Natural History

The Endurance: Shackleton’s Legendary Antarctic Expedition (Exhibition)
birth: 1999 April 10
death: 1999 October 11
Exhibition. Opened April 10, 1999 and closed October 11, 1999. Located in Section 1A, Floor 1 in Gallery 77 at the American Museum of Natural History. The Endurance: Shackleton’s Legendary Antarctic Expedition featured more than 150 photographs by the Endurance’s ship photographer, Frank Hurley, as well as artifacts, film footage, diaries, and models, which told the story of the 1914 expedition and the survival of its members.
Summary
The Endurance: Shackleton’s Legendary Antarctic Expedition featured more than 150 photographs by the Endurance’s ship photographer, Frank Hurley, as well as artifacts, film footage, diaries, and models, which told the story of the 1914 expedition and the survival of its members. The exhibition was curated by Ross D.E. MacPhee, chairman and curator of the Museum’s Department of Mammalogy, and guest curator and author of the companion book of the same name, Caroline Alexander (1).
The story of the expedition, the Endurance’s break-up on the ice, which forced the crew to abandon ship, as well as sections on Sir Ernest Shackleton and James Francis “Frank” Hurley, navigation, and portraits of crew members were enhanced by computer animation and videos and Hurley’s photographs and film footage (1).
Highlights (1):
*Frank Hurley’s photographs, printed from the original negatives and displayed chronologically
*Timeline of historic maps from the 16th through 20th centuries
*The James Caird, the lifeboat that carried Shackleton and five crew members
*Sextant used in the crossing and interactive sextant for visitors to handle
*Interactive computer that allowed visitors to learn about the challenges of open-boat navigation
*Videos narrated by actor Liam Neeson, which examined the historic, geographic, and scientific context of the voyage
*An engraved plexiglass reproduction of the Endurance
*The diary of Endurance shipwright and carpenter, Henry McNish
*The pocket Bible of Endurance navigator, Huberht Hudson
*A panel presenting contemporary research in the Antarctic
The Museum’s Department of Exhibition designed and executed the exhibition under the direction of vice president for exhibition, David Harvey. The exhibition was made possible by a gift from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph F. Cullman 3rd. Special programming for the exhibition including a lecture series, family workshop featuring live penguins presented by the Museum’s Department of Education, and Discovery Tours from the Museum’s educational travel program. In association with the Museum, White Mountain Films and NOVA (WBGH-Boston) produced two film versions of Caroline Alexander’s book written and co-produced by Alexander in both theatrical documentary and IMAX formats (1).
This is a condensed summary of the exhibition. For additional information, see Sources and/or Related Resources.