Vintage Photos of Polar Exploration

Christmas Celebrations
The British Antarctic Expedition of 1907-09 (seen here setting up a Christmas camp) was the first of three expeditions to the Antarctic led by Shackleton. It was financed without governmental or institutional support and relied on private loans and individual contributions. The expedition was a public triumph (the team got within a hundred miles of the South Pole) and Shackleton received a knighthood from King Edward VII.

• Fight for the Top of the World
• Pictures of the Arctic