Fiftieth Anniversary--Olav Bjaaland Photo

The Olav Bjaaland photo, as displayed in the dome pool room in January 2004

After RADM Dufek visited Pole on the historic US flight in October 1956, he sent a gift to Olav Bjaaland, who at the time was the last survivor of Amundsen's trail party. While accepting the gift, Olav expressed the desire to send a message and commemorative token to the residents of the station on the 50th anniversary of Amundsen's arrival. This gift turned out to be the above photo taken in the vicinity of Pole in December 1911. In the foreground are Bjaaland (left) using a sextant, and Oscar Wisting checking a chronometer. Across the photo, Olav inscribed the message "Helsing til Sydpolen 1961" (Greetings to the South Pole 1961). These were the last words Olav ever wrote before his death at the age of 88.

Before his death, Olav entrusted delivery of the photo to Fredrik Th. Bolin, a Norwegian newspaperman who had previously visited Antarctica. The 7 December 1961 presentation was also witnessed by CAPT Finn Ronne (whose father Martin was sailmaker on Amundsen's ship Fram); Baron Gaston de Gerlache (whose father led the Belgica expedition of 1897-99 on which Amundsen served as second mate); and Mr. Erik J. Friis, representing the American-Scandanavian Foundation of New York.

Olav was a world champion skiier, who was driving one of four dog sledges upon arrival at Pole. Once when he met Vivian Fuchs, who was the first person to cross the continent during IGY, Olav's remark when Fuchs was describing the Pole was "sounds like it hasn't changed much."

The above information was adapted from the Bulletin of the US Antarctic Projects Officer, Vol. 3 No. 5, November 1961, p. 4. The photo and additional information are courtesy of Seth White. At right is another version of the photo as it appears in Amundsen's book The South Pole, in which the photograph is described somewhat differently. More information, the map, the discussion, and additional references are on this page.