Not many people would be willing to deal with multiple forms of transportation, or the trouble of finding a reliable mode of transportation to bring someone to 'the end of the world.' However, there is one destination, in particular, that resides nearly on the edge of the Antarctic Circle that might just be worth the effort.
On the island of South Georgia (not Georgia, the U.S. state) travelers won't find a permanent population or settlement. What they will find, though, is the southernmost museum in the world - one that has recently gained attention due to its exciting re-opening.
So, why would anyone want to travel so far to see a museum? Let's find out.
The South Georgia Whaling Museum
To be fair, there aren't many redeeming qualities of such a place - with frigid windchills temperatures, no means of importing fresh food, and a trip that usually takes days just to get on and off the island. With that being said, the beauty of South Georgia, and the South Georgia Whaling Museum, in general, can be found in its not-so-subtle remoteness. Initially, the purpose of the South Georgia Whaling Museum began as an initiative to clean up the abandoned whaling stations that were left behind when the industry died out. This project began in 1989, and Nigel Bonner, the museum's founder, has said this of the initiative:
"I think we serve a useful function: visitors are obviously interested and, mostly, impressed. If this causes them to think a little more deeply about the whaling industry, the management of natural resources, and the society of whalers, I think we shall have achieved our objective.”
Humble Beginnings
A construction project in the Arctic might not receive as much attention as, say, a construction project in the middle of New York City. The beginnings of the South Georgia Whaling Museum were humble, and the suggestion for a museum came from David Wynn-Williams, who was an Antarctic scientist in 1989. It was then that Nigel Bonner, having extensive experience from living in South Georgia at the time, founded it; three years later, the South Georgia Whaling Museum opened its doors. Over time, many of the museum's buildings were renovated, including the Manager's Villa, the 'Little Villa,' and the church chapel.
Touring The South Georgia Whaling Museum
Those traveling to Grytviken will be impressed with all that this uber-remote region has to offer. Despite the fact that it is the most remote museum in the world, it's also home to a wide collection of historical artifacts that, obviously, can be seen nowhere else. The complete history of whaling in South Georgia is detailed through a number of exhibits:
- Grytviken Church
- Exhibition News
- Jarvis Room
- Prince Room
- Bonner Room
- Fullerton Room
- Larsen Room
- Allardyce Room
- Ringdal, or Whaler's Bunk Room
- Stand Room, or Whaler's Trades Room
- The Carr Maritime Gallery
This museum might seem small on the outside but offers a wealth of information to its visitors that take up the better part of a full day. Upon entering the main building, every room is easily accessible for self-guided tours, with The Carr Maritime Gallery sitting just next door, and the church only a short stroll away.
- Fact: Whaling in the area ceased completely by 1964 when the museum (prior to being an actual museum) lay dormant for two decades).
As one walks through each room, these carefully-curated displays include artifacts from the height of the whaling era that is scarcely seen around the world today. Newspaper clippings and documents of interest also line the walls, detailing even further the background of whaling in South Georgia. Some rooms, such as the Fullerton Room, even include full displays such as a survey setup, complete with a tent and surveying equipment.
Visitors can see additional artifacts such as:
- Whale oil samples
- Full-sized albatross replica
- Blueprints of original whaling ships
- The preserved fetus of a humpback whale
- Boat replicas, such as the James Caird
- Various tools used for whaling
- Original expedition outfits and uniforms
- Other life-sized replicas of native South Georgia animals
In addition to seeing the museum, visitors can wander the grounds and stop by the Grytviken Cemetery, as well.
Visiting Grytviken, South Georgia
As implied, visiting this island is not an easy feat. Those who work in the museum undergo a week's long trip just to reach the island - with flights from the U.K. into the Falkland Islands, another flight to Cape Verde, and a final ride on a fishing boat that takes up to six days on its own.
Travelers have another option, though, and that's to board a cruise from Argentina. These ships take visitors to South Georgia, with roughly 100 ships each year, according to BBC. Pre-pandemic, it was estimated that there were roughly 10,000 visitors to the island of South Georgia annually.