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Summertime in the BelgradesContentsfor Printing Article Summaries |
A Maine Man in the Arctic
He succeeded where over 700 others had tried and perished. A hundred years ago, on April 6, 1909, Admiral Robert E. Peary reached the North Pole, raised an American flag there, made scientific observations, and remained for about 30 hours. His accomplishment, following 23 years of meticulous planning and thwarted attempts, was significant, and so are his Maine connections. Robert Edwin Peary grew up in the state, graduated from Portland High School in 1873, received a degree in Civil Engineering from Bowdoin College in 1877, and worked as a surveyor in Fryeburg. Although he then worked around the world in the U.S. Navy, Peary made Eagle Island off the coast of Maine his summer residence starting in 1881. The Roosevelt, the ship Peary designed for forcing his way north through ice packs, was built at the McKay and Dix Boatyard on Verona Island at Bucksport, Maine, and was outfitted in Portland. 
As climate change in the Arctic makes news today, it is significant that the North Pole's discovery was, in Peary's words, "the last of the great geographical stories of the western hemisphere which began with the discovery of the New World by Columbus," 400 years earlier. Peary passed away in 1920; his wife Josephine in 1955. In 1955 his family donated Eagle Island to the state of Maine. This state historic site receives 6,000 visitors by boat each year. In observance of the centenary of Admiral Peary's successful journey, the Maine State Museum in Augusta is presenting Peary photos, memorabilia, and a video in a lobby display that will greet visitors through July. The museum also has on permanent display an exquisite Maine tourmaline and gold necklace which Peary gave to his wife for her fiftieth birthday. For more information about Admiral Robert E. Peary, visit www.pearyeagleisland.org. The Maine State Museum in the Capitol Complex in Augusta is open Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. | ||
