The Heroic Era is considered to start in 1895, when a resolution passed at the Sixth International Geographical Congress advocated the exploration of Antarctica. Ensure all outdoor clothing and boots are clean before entering the building. Write a review. The harbor became the base of a whaling factory from 1911 to 1931. If you are coming to visit us at Port Lockroy then we have some useful information about the site itself, such as its layout and dos and don'ts when on the island. The abandoned base was designated a Historic Site and Monument under the Antarctic Treaty and in 1996 restored as a ‘living’ museum. We prefer credit card payment; we accept MasterCard and Visa only and the minimum spend is US $10 (all transactions charged in US$). Their fields of research were many, but primarily the crews studied the physics of the upper atmosphere. The scientific base was established in March 1955 and closed in August 1960. Please do not handle, use or remove any artefacts. See all. We also provide access to the Port Lockroy Antarctic Treaty Visitor Site Guide which you should read before you arrive. In 1958 the generator shed was added to the main building. During the summer months visits and changes to schedules are coordinated with the Port Lockroy Base Leader. The base now functions only as a museum and post office. Come say hello to whales, seals, and thousands of penguins. Leave a record of your visit in the visitor book and please report any damage to the hut or its contents or maintenance required to the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust: If the Port Lockroy team is not on site then a cleaning kit will be left in the porch. The preferred landing site is to the west of the island, near the old whaling mooring chains. It is not part of the museum and therefore there is no entry to visitors. If you are coming to visit us at Port Lockroy then we have some useful information about the site itself, such as its layout and dos and don'ts when on the island. Travel to Port Lockroy is one of the most popular stops in any of the Antarctic cruises. You will receive a welcome email from Camilla, our CEO, shortly. 139 Reviews 5 Q&A. It is now under the adiministration of the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust. The Operation Tabarin base is one of those. The United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust was responsible for Base A renovations. This Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands cruise delivers you into a landscape of dark rugged rock, pure white snow, and a fantastic variety of wildlife. I consent to my personal details being kept in accordance with the UKAHT, The British Antarctic ‘Nimrod’ Expedition, Port Lockroy Antarctic Treaty Visitor Site Guide. Adrien de Gerlache discovered the archipelago in 1898, and since then it has hosted research stations for both Argentina and the United Kingdom. Port Lockroy’s Base A was one of these. Come say hello to whales, seals, and thousands of penguins. Reviews. Region: The whole building is operated as a museum and as a representative British science base from the 1950s. This Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctic Peninsula cruise is an animal-lover’s dream come true. Visitors can post postcards and letters in the red letter box at Bransfield House. Penguin Post Office. OTL27c21. Today, cruises travel to Port Lockroy as part of the Antarctic cruise that gives tourists the opportunity to see and explore remote islands and harbors in the frozen continent. If you are planning a trip outside of an organised cruise then there also some guidelines which you must follow. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. There is a post office at the port. Port Lockroy is a natural harbor located within the Palmer Archipelago of the Antarctic Peninsula. Almost all ships that cruise from Ushuaia in Argentina that takes a trip to Antarctica stops at Port Lockroy. The Nissen hut now on site is a replica of the original and was reconstructed in 2010 as accommodation for the seasonal staff. In 1996, the base and whaling factory in Port Lockroy underwent renovation. As part of the penguin study half of the island is off-limits to staff and visitors. Since 1996 teams have lived at the station during the austral summer, working hard to make it look as it did in the 50s and 60s. Furthermore, they also use the funds to conduct an ongoing study on the impact of tourism on the penguins that call the harbor as their natural habitat. Port Lockroy is most commonly associated with the former British base built here in 1944. There is a path that leads directly to Bransfield House. World War II witnessed the British Forces building several secret military bases in Antarctica to keep out enemy forces. As of now, studies have shown no significant negative impact caused by tourist visits. Port Lockroy - The first British permanent base to be established on the Antarctic Peninsula in 1944. Generally, visits to the base are seen as a day-trip activity, but of course visiting Port Lockroy is more than a day-trip when you include the boat journey to the port and back. UKAHT operate a grants programme, giving money to organisations with an interest in sharing the stories of British endeavour in Antarctica. PLA27-21. In 1944 a Nissen hut was built at Port Lockroy and used (for storage) throughout the bases operation. Please ensure that all doors and windows are securely closed when you leave. Find out the most recent news from UKAHT and our other partners and stakeholders. Go next . One section is made available for tourists that travel to Port Lockroy, but the other half is restricted from tourists and preserved for the penguins. For all press enquiries, please contact ukaht@89up.org or +44 (0) 203 411 28 89. Create a Trip. The old base is now a museum and abandoned post office wherein tourists get to explore and buy souvenirs from when they travel to Port Lockroy. If you are interested in running a story about us, would like to arrange an interview, use our images or films, or want to discuss an opportunity to collaborate then get in touch. Evidence of their livelihood is littered all over the port: rusted-brown mooring chains lashed around the rocks, and long links of whale bones bleaching on the beach of Jougla Point. Port Lockroy is one of the most visited sites in all of Antarctica. We exist to preserve, enhance and promote British Antarctic heritage to engage, inform and inspire a global audience. The Port Lockroy team is also happy to advise. Excellent 104; Very Good 30; Average 3; Poor 1; Terrible 1; Traveler type. Create a Trip to save and organize all of your travel ideas, and see them on a map. It is also the mark of the pioneering scientific research base established in the island and the rest of Antarctica. Nowadays it is used for storage. Historic Sites. Please be aware these may take several weeks to arrive at their destination. At the boom of the Antarctic whaling industry, factory ships moored in Port Lockroy while the whalers pressed farther out to sea, searching for whales. Historic Sites. For all official guidelines and specific instructions please refer to the Port Lockroy Antarctic Treaty Visitor Site Guide. Please do not smoke or use matches, candles or stoves in or around the building. Aside from the penguins, there are a few other heritage and historic sites to see when you travel to Port Lockroy. The site is a historic site and monument and therefore overnight stays should not be made. This Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands cruise delivers you into a landscape of dark rugged rock, pure white snow, and a fantastic variety of wildlife. Horseshoe, Base Y, is situated on Horseshoe Island in Marguerite Bay (67°48'S, 67°18'W). Port Lockroy is a sheltered harbour off the coast of Wiencke Island at the meeting point of three seaways which offer some of the most dramatic mountain and glacier scenery on the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula. Please make sure to tick the box above before submitting your details. Today, cruises travel to Port Lockroy as part of the Antarctic cruise that gives tourists the opportunity to see and explore remote islands and harbors in the frozen continent. The expedition explores one of the last untamed areas on Earth – a land of ruggedly beautiful landscapes and amazingly varied wildlife. Places to see, ways to wander, and signature experiences. Antarctica, Destinations: Port Lockroy is a bay forming a natural harbour on the north-western shore of Wiencke Island in the Palmer Archipelago in front of the Antarctic Peninsula. Bransfield House . Find out where Port Lockroy is in Antarctica and where the other historic sites are in relation to it. Find out exactly where Port Lockroy is on a google map of Antarctica. When the base was established and during its operation until 1962 there were no nesting penguins on the island. Where possible, a member of the Port Lockroy team will be onboard ship prior to the landing to provide an introduction to the base and the visit.