The Exploration Museum facts for kids

The Exploration Museum (Icelandic: Könnunarsögusafnið Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈkʰœnːʏnarˌsœːɣʏˌsapnɪθ]) is a museum all about how humans have explored the world. It covers everything from early explorers to the exciting journey into space! This museum is located in the town of Húsavík in North Iceland. Húsavík is about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the Arctic Circle. The museum first opened its doors in 2011 and was officially opened in 2014 by the President of Iceland.

Inside the museum, you'll find different rooms with amazing exhibits. The main room shows pictures and items from when Apollo astronauts trained in Iceland. Another room tells the story of Viking explorers. Upstairs, you can learn about adventures to the North and South Poles. The basement explores expeditions that went underground and deep beneath the sea.

Exploring the Museum's Main Rooms

Apollo Astronauts Trained in Iceland

The Exploration Museum's first exhibit, opened in May 2011, focused on the Apollo geology training in Iceland. This training happened in 1965 and 1967. The exhibit opened 50 years after US President John F. Kennedy announced the goal of landing a person on the Moon. Astronauts practiced their observation skills to recognize different rock formations. Over 50 photographs from these training trips are part of the museum's collection. Scientists said that Iceland was very much like the Moon's surface.

In 2015, the museum celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first Apollo geology trip to Iceland. They organized a return visit to the training area with three Apollo astronauts. These were Walter Cunningham (Apollo 7), Rusty Schweikart (Apollo 9), and Harrison Schmitt (Apollo 17). During this event, Neil Armstrong's grandchildren unveiled The Astronaut Monument outside the museum. This monument honors the astronauts who trained in Iceland. Other famous astronauts like William Anders (Apollo 8) and Owen Garriott (SkyLab and Space Shuttle) have also visited the museum.

Viking Explorers and Their Journeys

The Viking explorers exhibit shares the history of how Vikings explored and settled new lands. You can see portraits of famous Viking explorers here. These include Leif Ericson, who is believed to have reached North America, and Erik the Red. You'll also learn about Guðríður Þorbjarnardóttir and Garðar Svavarsson.

Race to the South Pole

Imagine a race to the coldest place on Earth! The first team to reach the geographic South Pole was led by the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. He and four others arrived at the pole in December 1911. They got there five weeks before a British team led by Robert Falcon Scott. This British journey was called the Terra Nova Expedition. The museum displays photographs from both expeditions. You can also see replicas of the equipment these brave explorers used. Amundsen and his team safely returned to their base. Sadly, Scott and his four companions died on their journey back.

Images for kids

• 

  Apollo 17 Moon rock on display at The Exploration Museum.

• 

  One of the exhibition rooms at The Exploration Museum.

• 

  Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders training in Iceland in 1967.

See also

• Age of Exploration
• Apollo program
• Leif Erikson Awards
• List of explorers
• List of explorations
• List of female explorers and travelers
• List of lost expeditions