Situated on the remote Ross Island, at Cape Royds in Antarctica, is a perfectly preserved piece of history, accessible to a select few brave enough to attempt the perilous journey; the legendary explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton's Hut, built in 1907.
One such person is Matthew Jordan, 34, from Christchurch, New Zealand, who works as a project manager for Antarctic New Zealand.
In a video posted to Jordan's Instagram account, he reveals to his followers the inside of the 116-year-old Hut, complete with hanging laundry, tinned food, and equipment.
"Walking into Shackleton's Hut for the first time I was struck by the relatively small size of the building, that supported 15 men through the 1908 Antarctica winter," Jordan told Newsweek. "The contrast between this building and the modern facilities that we live in is remarkable. My immediate first feeling was that it looked as though the explorers had just gone outside for a bit, and could walk back through the door at any minute. Their socks are still hanging up above their beds."
Ernest Shackleton, (1874 – 1922) was an Anglo-Irish Antarctic explorer who led three expeditions to the Antarctic.
The Hut was built in 1907, when Shackleton, then 33, led his first expedition to Antarctica to reach the Geographic South Pole on the ship the Nimrod. Despite being the first to climb the world's southernmost volcano, Mt. Erebus, after a two-and-a-half-month trek carrying all their own gear, and only 97 miles from their target, Shackleton and his three companions made the famous decision to turn back due to the risk of starvation. The return journey took three months.
Jordan added, "Some of their beds were made, while others looked like someone was about to come back and make it. The iconic stove inside the Hut still has pots and pans on the top, as if they were still cooking when the ship returned to pick them up and they hastily exited the building. It was emotional knowing that Shackleton was the same age on this expedition, as I was when I visited the Hut, which made me think about whether I could have done what he did... It led to a lot of personal reflection about my time in Antarctica. I had a scheduled flight home, but they didn't know when their ship was going to come back to pick them up, if it could make it back at all."
Arguably, Shackleton's most famous endeavor was his attempt to be the first to cross the Antarctic continent via the pole was known as the Imperial Trans-Atlantic Expedition, 1914 – 1917, on the ship called The Endurance. When The Endurance eventually sank after being locked in ice for nine months, Shackleton told the crew to abandon ship, camping out on the ice flow in temperatures below—15 degrees Fahrenheit, and eventually reaching the uninhabited Elephant Island, the first time that the crew had stood on solid ground in 497 days. Taking five men and traveling 750 miles across the Arctic in a small boat, Shackleton managed to rescue all remaining 22 men, nine months after The Endurance sank.
The Endurance was discovered on March 5, 2022, a hundred years after Shackleton's death.
"I think people resonate with Shackleton's stories of endurance, resilience, and survival," said Jordan. "His tales of leadership have gone down in history and elevated him to hero status. Many people are familiar with the story of his ship, the Endurance, and as someone who leads small teams in Antarctica, I've often reflected on Shackleton's lessons of leadership. Leading a team in Antarctica is challenging and I admire Shackleton for his ability to keep his crew's spirits high, despite such testing circumstances. The morale of the people around you in Antarctica, particularly through the winter, is a huge factor in ensuring a successful and safe deployment. Shackleton's ability to form a team and keep everyone working towards a common goal and purpose is a skill I respect."
While this may all seem fairly insane to most people, safe in the warmth of their comfy lounges, Jordan believes he has the best job in the world.
"To date, I've had eight expeditions to Antarctica and spent over 400 days 'on ice,'" he said. "This includes one winter at New Zealand's Scott Base where I spent nine consecutive months."
After initially traveling to Antarctica to see his favorite animals, penguins, Jordan fell in love with the landscape.
"Through my work, I have been able to lead the design, construction and project management of two facilities that house globally significant science experiments. I am motivated by knowing that my work is helping us to understand what is happening in our changing world. From the explorers to today, we are driven by a desire for knowledge, and through science we can gain a better understanding of our planet."
The photos of Shackleton's Hut were provided by The New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust, which has spent years conserving and restoring this incredible place.
Users on Instagram were in awe of the historic landmark.
"So surreal to see that it looks like they could come back any minute.... Amazing to see, so thanks for sharing this special moment," shared one user. "What a remarkable step back through time!" wrote another.
Do you have great travel stories or videos you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Leonie Helm is a Newsweek Life Reporter and is based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on all things ... Read more
