‘Icy Heritage’ Update
The Trust’s digital image database, Icy Heritage, has made an impressive impact since its launch in October 2023. With over 5,000 unique visitors from 114 countries, it has become a global window into Antarctica’s rich heritage, our ongoing conservation efforts, and our mission to inspire the next generation of explorers.
Our world-famous discovery of ‘Shackleton’s Whisky’ still proves popular today, with a gallery of images showcasing the find being our most popular collection. Users are also fascinated by the daily lives of our Conservators on the Ice, with our ‘Life in Antarctica’ collection proving a big hit.
Recent additions to Icy Heritage showcase our Young Inspiring Explorers™ programme, with images from our recent Summit and Explorer Conference showcasing how the attending students were encouraged to step outside their comfort zone while engaging with Antarctic heritage.
The platform has also proven to be a valuable way for us to engage with our global community, from interested publications to educational institutions.
“We recently fielded a request from a school teacher in the United Kingdom looking for information for their class on the food that Scott’s expedition ate while on the Ice nearly 114 years ago. We were able to share some images of the food items still in the huts and put them in touch with our Education team for more resources”, shared Digital Collections and Data Coordinator Ella Beckett.
With approximately 12,100 public images and growing, Icy Heritage caters to heritage enthusiasts, researchers, and anyone fascinated by Antarctica. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to dive into topics ranging from inspiring polar expeditions to modern conservation techniques.
Whether you’re a longtime supporter or new to Antarctic heritage, we invite you to explore the database at icyheritage.org. Discover the icy wonders of Antarctica and experience the frozen continent from the comfort of your home.
Try Icy Heritage
If you are interested in learning more about Scott’s Discovery hut, which is featured in the Trust’s new virtual reality experience:
- Go to icyheritage.org
- Search for ‘Discovery hut’ or click on the Discovery hut collection tile on the homepage
It’s now been 10 years since the Trust’s Ross Sea Heritage Restoration Project commenced work on the hut and artefacts within, and the database has a fascinating range of images from pre-conservation through to its current state.
