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A museum unlike any other

The South Georgia Museum exists to protect, document and promote the cultural and natural history and heritage of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

Our mission is to educate, inspire, and engage visitors with the unique stories of this remarkable landscape. From the vibrant ecosystems to the rich history of human exploration, we aim to illuminate the connections between nature, culture, and the challenges facing our planet.

News & Blogs

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March Blog: Going Out with a Flare for the 2024-25 Season!
March Blog: Going Out with a Flare for the 2024-25 Season!

March got off to an exciting start in Grytviken, with the arrival of a handful of unexpected (but very welcome!) visitors. The day after we’d been discussing how incredible it would be to spot a leopard seal, one turned up on the shoreline close to the whaling station!

Where is the James Caird?
Where is the James Caird?

It’s a question that leads to an extraordinary story. This small lifeboat, transformed by shipwright Harry McNish, became the vessel that carried Ernest Shackleton and some of his men to find help after Endurance was trapped in the ice.

February Blog: What do you do when there are no ships in?
February Blog: What do you do when there are no ships in?

It has been a busy season in Grytviken. January brought us to 79 ship visits and well past 10,000 visitors for the season. We often get asked what we do when there are no ships visiting. With ship visits starting to wind down in February, we have had time to do some non-ship work so we can give you some answers.

Were there any women who lived in South Georgia during the whaling era?
Were there any women who lived in South Georgia during the whaling era?

While South Georgia’s whaling era was overwhelmingly male-dominated, women weren’t entirely absent. Some of the whaling station managers and senior officials brought their wives to live on South Georgia. These women lived in the relatively better housing available at the stations, but their presence was rare.

Are the buildings all prefabricated?
Are the buildings all prefabricated?

No, not all the buildings at Grytviken were prefabricated. The prefabricated buildings were brought over from Norway at the behest of the station’s founder, Carl Anton Larsen. Everything, from the workers to the materials, had to be transported by ship.

January Museum Blog – Burns Night & Museum Mysteries
January Museum Blog – Burns Night & Museum Mysteries

The opening weeks of 2025 have continued in much the same theme as the busy Christmas and New Year period, with 25 ships visiting during January. This month also marked an important milestone in the season – our 10,000th visitor!

December 2024 Museum Blog – Hellos, goodbyes, and sunrises!
December 2024 Museum Blog – Hellos, goodbyes, and sunrises!

South Georgia never remains the same for long (we know this by looking at a five-day weather forecast). The elements that make up our lives here, who we are surrounded by, and the furry friends we meet, all change with the movement of the seasons.

What was whale oil used for and why?
What was whale oil used for and why?

For centuries, whales have been viewed as valuable commodities, with nearly every part of the animal used. Whale oil was a valuable commodity during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Meet Our Team

The Museum is located in Grytviken, a former whaling station on the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. The collections are owned by the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI), a British Overseas Territory in the Southern Atlantic Ocean.The museum is managed and operated by the charity South Georgia Heritage Trust (SGHT) which is based in Dundee, Scotland.

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Meet Our Partners

We work with a number of international partners who share our interest in South Georgia, and the history and heritage of the wider South Atlantic and Antarctic region.

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Running a museum at the end of the world

Discover the unique challenges of operating what is one of the most remote museums on the planet.

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Support the South Georgia Museum

Help us preserve South Georgia’s rich history and heritage. Join us in protecting our past for future generations — donate today

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