Fram Museum in Oslo: a window into polar research

Fram Museum in Oslo: a window into polar research

The Fram Museum in Oslo strikes the perfect balance between fact and fantasy, appealing to exploration junkies, history buffs and culture seekers alike.

The Norwegians have a rich and successful history in polar research. Here in Britain we revere the names of Shackleton and Scott while only whispering those of Nansen and Amundsen. The legends of Shackleton and Scott are praised for their survival against the odds and ultimate sacrifice, while their Norwegian counterparts are known for triumphing in relatively undramatic glory.

It has been argued that where Shackleton and Scott failed in their efforts, Nansen and Amundsen distinguished themselves through careful preparation, attention to detail and the skills inherited only from those bred in the polar regions - those from countries like Norway.

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The Fram Museum in Oslo neither raves about this classic era of polar exploration nor is it an exercise in chauvinism flaunting Norwegian superiority in the field. The museum, of course, illustrates the adventure, dangers, hardships and courage of these pioneers, but it also celebrates the men behind the explorers and reviews the equipment carried, the scientific and medical research completed, and the animals that accompanied the expeditions.

The museum is literally built around the two ships that define Norwegian polar exploration: the Fram and the Gjøa. Housed in two tall buildings designed to accommodate the ships, the museum includes numerous exhibitions and offers the opportunity to go on board and explore the legendary Fram.

Below we take a look at some of the key explorations at the heart of the Fram Museum in Oslo. If you're ever in Norway's capital, don't miss it.

First crossing of Greenland (1888-1889)

Fridtjof Nansen is a legend in Norway: hero, pioneer, statesman and humanitarian. His name first entered the annals of history when he, along with five companions, became the first to cross the interior of Greenland.

alt="fram-museum-in-oslo-expeditions-through-greenland">Public domainFridtjof Nansen leads the team on the first crossing of the interior of Greenland

Rejecting the complex colonial-style organization and large labor force that had plagued previous Arctic ventures, Nansen instead planned his expedition for a small team of six.

After six weeks of skiing across the ice cap from east to west, the team triumphantly reached Godthaab (Nuuk) on the west coast of Greenland.

There they spent the winter, where Nansen paid close attention to the details of hunting, fishing and the lives of the locals - skills that would prove essential in future polar expeditions. In 1889 they returned to Norway as national heroes.

Nansen's Arctic expedition (1893-1896)

Nansen returned to the Arctic to find out whether it would be possible to reach the North Pole using the natural drift of polar ice. The plan was to sail a ship as far north as possible until it disappeared into the pack ice, which would hopefully drift over - or as close as possible - the North Pole.

alt="fram-museum-in-oslo-expeditions-nansen-artcic">Public domainThe Fram leaves Bergen in 1893 for the Arctic Ocean

Enter the Fram: a ship of exceptional strength designed to withstand the crushing pressure of the Arctic pack ice. The ship, which means "forward" in English, was built from the hardest oak wood available, used an intricate system of crossbeams and struts throughout, and featured a rounded hull designed to slide up from the grip of the pack ice.

The expedition was largely a success. Although the pole was not made, Nansen proved his theory to be correct. The ship reached north to 84°4'N and Nansen made an overland "jump to the pole" and reached 86°13.6'N - almost three degrees above the previous mark for the extreme north.

Northwest Passage (1903-1906)

Roald Amundsen's expedition on the Gjøa, also housed in the Fram Museum, was the first to conquer the Northwest Passage exclusively by ship. With a crew of six, Amundsen crossed the passage in a three-year voyage.

alt="fram-museum-in-oslo-gjoa-hull">Atlas & BootsThe Gjøa - the first ship to conquer the Northwest Passage - on display at the Fram Museum

After two winters in the Canadian Arctic, Amundsen finally cleared the passage. He then skied 800 km (500 miles) to the town of Eagle, Alaska. There he sent a telegram announcing his success before starting the journey back to his companions on skis.

Amundsen's South Pole expedition (1910-1914)

Roald Amundsen was granted use of the Fram for a new expedition to the Arctic. However, Amundsen had kept his true intentions secret, and so when he set sail, to the surprise of the watching media and his beneficiaries, he sailed south toward Antarctica instead of north toward the Arctic.

alt="Interesting facts about Norway">Public domainAmundsen and his companions at the South Pole on December 14, 1911

The South Pole Expedition of 1910-12 was successfully completed. Amundsen and four companions reached the South Pole on December 14, 1911, a month before the arrival of Robert Falcon Scott's group.

Amundsen had applied the skills learned on the Gjøa Northwest Passage expedition: dog driving, igloo building, clothing and polar survival from the Inuit. Amundsen reached the South Pole with his four companions and 17 sled dogs. They spent three days in the area, taking measurements and ski touring around the pole to make sure they had actually captured the invisible South Pole. They then returned to meet the land party after an absence of 99 days and covering a distance of 3,000 km (1,800 miles) without loss of men.

Flight N24/N25 to the North Pole (1925)

This time Amundsen took to the skies to fly to the North Pole with five crew members in two planes: the N24 and the N25. They took off from Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, and flew in formation to 87°43′ N, where they landed on lines in the drift ice after more than eight hours of flying time.

alt=“fram-museum-in-oslo-expeditions-N24″>Public domainThe aircraft N-24 and N-25 landed at 87°43'n

The N24 had been damaged on takeoff and could no longer be flown, so the six men struggled for three and a half weeks to create a runway on the drifting ice. Using primitive tools and surviving on very limited food rations, they eventually managed to get the remaining N25 airborne with all six men on board. Eight hours later and out of fuel, they landed safely off the north coast of Nordaustlandet, Svalbard. A small ship that happened to be in the area brought them back to Ny-Ålesund.

The Norge Flight (1926)

Amundsen took to the skies again with explorers Lincoln Ellsworth and Umberto Nobile. The men flew with 13 other crew members in the airship Norge from Ny-Ålesund on Svalbard over the North Pole to Teller in Alaska, USA. This was the first undisputed sighting of the North Pole. In addition, it was also the first expedition to successfully cross the Arctic Ocean.

alt="fram-museum-in-oslo-expeditions-norge">Public domainThe airship Norge in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard before departure

Amundsen and his colleague Oscar Wisting, who accompanied him to the South Pole in 1911, were the first men to reach both the North and South Poles.

Fram Museum in Oslo: The essentials

What: Visit the Fram Museum in Oslo and learn more about polar exploration.

Where: We stayed at the Scandic Vulkan Hotel, a modern and eco-friendly hotel in the vibrant Vulkan district, not far from the center of Oslo. The hotel is Norway's first energy class A hotel - meaning it generates almost all of its own energy.

The stylish rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the surrounding neighborhoods, while breakfast - complete with waffle makers and cappuccino machines - is plentiful!

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Just next door is the Mathallen Food Hall with a range of boutique restaurants and bars, as well as the Akerselva River, perfect for post-breakfast strolls.

When: I visited Oslo in the summer and fall and, like most European cities, can be visited all year round. However, for the best weather, spring and summer (May to August) are the best times to visit. The weather in Norway is as bad as that in the UK, so you can expect cold and wet days under dark skies out of season.

From late autumn the ferries no longer run; buses are the only alternative. Although the buses run regularly, they are nowhere near as pleasant as the ferries and offer far more worldly views.

How: The Fram Museum in Oslo is located in Bygdøy, a short bus or ferry ride from the city center. The ferry, which runs from early April to early October, leaves from Pier 3 behind Oslo City Hall (Oslo Rådhuset) and takes 10-15 minutes. If the ferry is not running, take bus number 30 instead. This can be boarded at the quay near the town hall or from the city center and takes around 15 minutes.

There are several other notable museums scattered across the Bygdøy peninsula, including the Kon-Tiki, Norwegian Shipping, Viking Ship and Norwegian Folklore Museums. All are a 15-minute walk from each other.

With this in mind, it's worth buying an Oslo Pass, which includes free entry to more than 30 Oslo museums and attractions as well as free travel on all public transport. The pass is available in three denominations:

24 hours: 335 NOK (40 USD)48 hours: 490 NOK (58 USD)72 hours: 620 NOK (74 USD) – we chose this one

We flew from London to Oslo with a budget airline. Book via Skyscanner for the best prices.

Oslo is served by three airports: Gardermoen, Torp Sandefjord and Rygge. We recommend using Gardermoen if possible, as the other two are further away and require a longer and more expensive transfer. All airports are served by trains and buses. For more information, visit the Visit Oslo website.

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Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

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