Roald Amundsen initially wanted to be the first person to reach the North Pole. However, his plans were shattered when, in April 1909, he received news that American explorer Robert Peary had reached the Arctic. In a lightning-fast reaction, Amundsen simply reversed his plans, changing the destination to the South Pole.
It was widely known that the Englishman Robert Falcon Scott was working on his second attempt to reach the South Pole, and Amundsen, with his driving ambition to be first, decided to get there before him.
A dangerous race was about to start....
Place: Central Library, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh
Date: 16th May-1st July
Monday - Thursday 10am - 8pm, Friday 10am - 5pm, Saturday 9am - 1pm.
Admission: Free
For more information, please contact the Central Library on 0131 242 8000 or visit their web site.
Amundsen's ship 'FRAM'