Two Huts

When the Robert Falcon Scott expedition sailed in the Terra Nova back into McMurdo Sound in 1910, they brought pre-fabricated wooden structures, intending to build a significantly larger hut than they had built at Hut Point in 1902.    This time they elected to build at Cape Evans, 20 Kilometers (14.4 miles) north of the first landing, to avoid having their ship frozen into the sea ice as it was during in the first expedition.  

Today, I was allowed into the Discovery Hut, near McMurdo Station, and last week I took a trip over the ice to Cape Evans to see the second hut which is named The Scott Hut.  I’ll tell you about today’s experience first to keep with the chronology of the story and to save the better trip for last.

The Discovery Hut was occupied, off and on, until at least 1917, but some of the artifacts are remaining from the 1902 to 1904 expedition.  On a number of occasions it has been buried in ice and snow and uncovered again.  New Zealanders, over the years have made efforts to preserve the hut, while disturbing the artifacts in and around the hut as little as possible.  The same story is basically true for the Scott Hut at Cape Evans.  While it is obvious to the visitor that there is some decay in the animals, furniture, and canned goods, etc., it is still remarkable how well they are preserved, especially at the Scott Hut.

Here are some pictures of the smaller Discovery Hut:

A Monument

A Seal, Presumably Meant For Food

Blubber

A Stove

Articles of Clothing

Skinned Animals

The Outside, Sanded Smooth by the Weather

The Scott Hut at Cape Evans is even more remarkable:

Animal Stalls

Penguins for Research

A Dog Still Chained to its Bed

Adequate Stores

Note the Heinz Catchup

Lots of Lab Equipment



A Penguin Ready to be Dissected

 If I keep going, you won't be able to download it all.  Maybe I'll make a slide show.