The Atlas Obscura Podcast How Polar Explorers Entertained Themselves
Jul 9, 2025
Allegra Rosenberg, Atlas Obscura’s community editor, shares the fascinating world of polar explorers who delivered humor and camaraderie through writing. They created niche newspapers like the South Polar Times to stay entertained during grueling expeditions. Allegra discusses the innovative printing techniques used in extreme conditions and how these publications offered a glimpse into their social lives. The engaging tales of creativity and resilience highlight the power of imagination in the face of isolation.
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Antarctic Fashion Parody Published
- Griffith Taylor created a humorous Antarctic fashion column parody during the Terra Nova expedition to entertain himself and others.
- His article was publicly read and illustrated in the expedition magazine, showing creative morale-boosting efforts.
Explorers' Polar Publishing Tradition
- Publishing imaginative stories, poems, and nonfiction was a unique winter pastime for polar explorers.
- This tradition evolved from earlier Arctic winter newspapers created by crews trapped in the ice with ample free time.
South Polar Times Magazine
- The 1902 South Polar Times was a typed and hand-illustrated magazine created by Captain Scott's Discovery crew.
- It featured diverse contributions including scientific reports, puzzles, poems, and caricatures, eagerly awaited by the men onboard.