Antarctic Exploration Museum & Post Office

The best place send your postcards home from Antarctica

Category Unique Collections, Dead Explorers

Image of Antarctic Exploration Museum & Post Office located in  | Port Lockroy Museum & Post Office

Port Lockroy Museum & Post Office

Source en.wikipedia.org
Image of Antarctic Exploration Museum & Post Office located in  | Port Lockroy Museum & Post Office Image of Antarctic Exploration Museum & Post Office located in  | A display of Antarctic Rations Image of Antarctic Exploration Museum & Post Office located in  | Port Lockroy abandoned in 1962
Unique Collections http://atlasobscura.com/category/museums-and-collections/unique-collections Dead Explorers http://atlasobscura.com/category/memento-mori/dead-explorers

Located on remote Goudier Island on the Antarctic penisula, a former British research base now operates as a modest museum, gift shop, and post office.

The buildings first served as the base for the WWII "Operation Tabarin" in 1944, a British military mission to monitor enemy activities in the extreme south following Germany's air drop of swastika-decorated leaflets across Queen Maud Land.

Researchers worked out of the base until 1962. They then sat abandoned from that time until restorations in 1996 under terms of the Antarctic Treaty, which declared the buildings Historic Monuments and required that they be renovated. The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) undertook the restoration, and then opened the site up to visitors during the Antarctic summer.

Fort Lockroy was first discovered in 1903 by Jean-Baptiste Charcot's French Antarctic Expedition, and was named for one of the expedition's backers.

Of the six British Historic Monuments on the peninsula (Damoy, Detaille Island, Horseshoe Island, Port Lockroy, Stonington Island, and Wordie House), Port Lockroy is the only one fully restored.

Most of the current research revolves around the local gentoo penguin population, and observing the impact of humans on their environment. Proceeds from rare Antarctic stamps and the gift shop pay for the upkeep of the buildings.

See an error? Know more? Edit this place.

Users who like this place: littlebrumble

Map/Directions

Go to Google Maps

Post a Comment

to comment. Use your Facebook account to login instantly. Anonymous comments will be held in moderation.

Enter the Captcha code below to confirm you're human:
Captcha Image

Comments

  • & Anonymous August 3, 2011
    I like job in post office & also I wish job in modern post office and golden city.
Contributors for Antarctic Exploration Museum & Post Office
Nearby Places
Facebook

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

Email updates

Stay up to date on Atlas Obscura events, tours, and new features.