Scott Polar Research Institute Museum & Archives, University of Cambridge

Scott Polar Research Institute
Lensfield Road
Cambridge
Cambridgeshire
CB2 1ER
England

Website

Our website

www.spri.cam.ac.uk/museum

E-mail

Telephone

General enquiries

01223 336540

Education & Outreach Officer

01223 336562

Shop

01223 336548

Fax

01223 336549

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.

The Institute was established in 1920 as the national memorial to Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his companions who died on their return journey from the South Pole in 1912. Located in a Grade 2 listed building dating from 1934, the Institute developed as a centre for polar explorers to share information, leading to the deposit of the core collections. The museum still welcomes the donation of polar artifacts and archives. As well as the permanent exhibits, the Museum regularly arranges special exhibitions and shows of modern polar art. A great range of polar-related material, including books, toys and posters, is available from the Museum Shop and may also be ordered online. The Institute has an active Friends organisation and welcomes volunteers.

Venue Type:

Museum, Library, Archive

Opening hours

The Museum is closed for a major renovation and will reopen in June 2010. Normal opening times: 1100-1300pm and 1400-1600pm (Tues to Fri) and 1200-1600pm (Sat), except some public and university holidays, and occasional other days, e.g. Christmas and New Year.

The museum welcomes school and other groups of all ages - please book in advance. Please note that the museum is small and we therefore ask that you limit groups to 24.

The Museum is closed Sun-Mon.

Admission charges

Admission free

General services and facilities

Information point provided
Pre-booking service for groups
Shop

Children and families

Events and resources for children and families

Disability access

Induction loops in exhibition spaces
Induction loops in lecture theatres
Large print information and/or interpretation
Toilets for disabled
Wheelchair access to all public areas

Schools services and facilities

Member of staff available with responsibility for education
Primary school education service available
Secondary school education service available
Education facilities available

Research and adult learning

Academic publications and resources available
Adult lectures and courses held
Teaching/resources available for HE/FE students
Library
Mail order service available
Research facilities for academics
Study facilities

Additional info

Our library and archives are open to the public by appointment.

Scott Polar Research Institute
Lensfield Road
Cambridge
Cambridgeshire
CB2 1ER
England

Website

Our website

www.spri.cam.ac.uk/museum

E-mail

General information

enquiries@spri.cam.ac.uk

Keeper

museum@spri.cam.ac.uk

Museum Shop

shop@spri.cam.ac.uk

Telephone

General enquiries

01223 336540

Education & Outreach Officer

01223 336562

Shop

01223 336548

Fax

01223 336549

The Museum holds an unrivalled collection of artifacts, paintings, drawings, photographs (including cinematographic film, lantern slides, and Daguerreotypes), and other material relating to polar exploration, history and science.
The museum displays feature items from Scott's last expedition, including farewell letters to friends and family, diaries, the sleeping bag of Captain Oates, and the black flag left by Amundsen. The museum also houses displays on Arctic and Antarctic expeditions, scientific instruments and equipment from the 'heroic age' of exploration, the sledges and skis used by Scott, Shackleton and other explorers, geological specimens, modern exploration equipment and clothing, polar artworks and an example of an Emperor penguin.
Items not on display may be viewed by prior arrangement.

Collection details

Archives, Coins and Medals, Costume and Textiles, Film and Media, Land Transport, Maritime, Natural Sciences, Personalities, Photography, Science and Technology, Social History