A new exhibition opened at the Nordic Heritage Museum on December 9. Titled "Cold Recall: Reflections of a Polar Explorer", the exhibition showcases Roald Amundsen and his expedition to the South Pole. Roald Amundsen and the crew of the Fram were the first explorers to reach the South Pole in 1911

A special program held tonight will commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Roald Amundsen’s expedition to the South Pole. The Museum will feature a special reception from 6 – 8 pm, with a lecture at 7 pm by Erik Sundholm: Amundsen's Quest for the South Pole (and how it brought him to Seattle).

"Cold Recall: Reflections of a Polar Explorer" showcases images from the hand-colored lantern slides that Roald Amundsen used in public lectures about his expedition to the South Pole. The exhibition also includes original film footage of the expedition which fascinated audiences of the day: images of daily life aboard the Fram, humorous scenes of the expedition's dogs, and the unusual landscape and exotic animals–such as penguins–encountered by crew. Texts from Amundsen’s own manuscripts from these lectures offer a compelling first-person account of this exciting journey. After the expedition to the South Pole, Amundsen held more than 175 lectures in Great Britain and the US, in order to settle his accounts and fund further expeditions.

"I congratulate Captain Amundsen most heartily on the way he has told the story and on the way he has done the work. It is by efficiency, not only by good luck, that such an expedition can come to a successful conclusion,” commented another famous Polar explorer, Sir Ernest H. Shackleton.

Particularly of interest to Seattle audiences, Sundholm’s presentation will highlight the time that Roald Amundsen spent in Seattle during the 1920’s, as a result of his South Pole expedition. Amundsen’s time in Seattle was an interesting and pivotal time in his career, and can shed light on an enigmatic and fascinating man, who is one of the most famous Norwegians of all time. To register for the December 14 event, please call 206.789.5707 ext. 10 or email rsvp@nordicmuseum.org.