‘On Thin Ice’: The Polar Displays at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich

Polar exploration displays at the National Maritime Museum (NMM) in Greenwich, UK, reveal that while British Empire’s influence waned, its legacy persisted through narratives of heroism and national identity. The museum’s collections, spanning 19th-century Arctic voyages and early 20th-century Antarctic expeditions—including those of Scott and Shackleton—demonstrate how Polar exploration became a symbolic cornerstone of British identity, intertwining with Empire, science, and cultural imagination. This study examines how museums sustain such narratives even after the decline of colonial power, highlighting their role in shaping public perceptions of history and nationhood.

Warrior, C. (2013). ‘On Thin Ice’: The Polar Displays at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. Museum History Journal, 6(1), 56–71. https://doi.org/10.1179/1936981612z.0000000004