The North Pole's conquest

The Peary Sledge Party posing with flags at the North Pole in April 1909. In addition to Robert Peary, the team included fellow American Matthew Henson and four Inuit men. The original caption on this photogrph reads: "Ooqueh, holding the Navy League flag; Ootah, holding the D.K.E. fraternity flag; Matthew Henson, holding the polar flag; Egingwah, holding the D.A.R. peace flag; and Seeglo, holding the Red Cross flag."

To this day, though, the claim remains mired in controversy. Some experts argue that Peary may have missed the North Pole by as much as 50 miles, while others maintain that he did reach it

The explorer and American Navy engineer Robert Peary, claimed to have reached the Pole on April 6, 1909. This was a lifelong ambition, starting in 1886, when Peary led an expedition to Greenland's ice cap. In 1902, he got farther north than any previous explorer but was unable to reach the North Pole. (He also lost 8 toes to frostbite in the process) Among other things Peary blamed his failure on an unsatisfactory ship. Later, he received public support for his plans from Theodore Roosevelt and would name the more powerful ship put at his disposal after the president. You can hear Peary speaking about his expedition here

Peary-Macmillan Arctic Museum. Bowdoin College

Tracking the route Perry took in 1905-1906. His team succeeded in reaching the north side of Ellesmere Island at Cape Sheridan. The expedition was ultimately forced to turn back due to low supplies.

Peary's crew from the U.S.S. Roosevelt. The Roosevelt was a steam-powered ship that was powerful enough to penetrate the pack ice Peary encountered as the expedition got close to the North Pole. Still, it wasn't all that big - measuring just 184 feet long. But it was up to the job.

Peary would later write of the ship: "The Roosevelt fought like a gladiator, turning, twisting, straining with all her force, smashing her full weight against the heavy floes whenever we could get room for a rush, and rearing upon them like a steeplechaser taking a fence."

Years later, the Roosevelt - which was turned into a commercial vessel - foundered off the coast of the Panama Canal and sank.

Peary was later rewarded for his efforts by being appointed a rear admiral.

The Fokker FVIIa/3M - "Josephine Ford" - flown by Richard E. Byrd over the North Pole on May 9, 1926. Byrd eventually went on to become a Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy.

Norwegian explorers Fridtjof Nansen and Fredrik Hjalmar Johansen tried unsuccessfully to reach the North Pole on skis after leaving Nansen's icebound ship Fram in April 1885.

Robert Peary's theodolite, which he carried on his polar expeditions.

Robert Peary monument at Cape York, Greenland