Scott Polar Research Institute Museum

The Scott Polar Research Institute was founded in 1920 as a memorial to Robert Falcon Scott and his companions who died on the return journey from the South Pole in 1912. The museum is small but extraordinary — a concentrated archive of polar exploration covering both the Arctic and Antarctic from the heroic age of early 20th-century expeditions through to modern scientific research.

The displays include Scott's sledge, equipment and clothing from multiple expeditions, Inuit artworks and artefacts, and documents relating to the exploration of both poles. The Heroic Age galleries cover not just Scott but also Shackleton, Amundsen, and the other expeditions of that era. Admission is free; the museum is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am–4pm.

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A story
The institute holds the last letter Robert Falcon Scott wrote before he died, found beside his body in the tent eight months after he and his companions perished on their return from the South Pole in 1912. Scott wrote it knowing he was dying. It is addressed to his wife and ends: "I had a good innings." The original is in the archive; reproductions are in the display.

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