The Memory of These Martyrs to Duty: Public Commemoration of the Greely Expedition from 1884–93

The Lady Franklin Bay Expedition, also known as the Greely Expedition (1881-1884), was one of two American expeditions that sought to establish a research base with the broader goal of accelerating the scientific and geographical study of the region. In the wake of other expeditions’ scientific accomplishments, the Greely Expedition became a central focus on the international stage for its catastrophic failure due to poor logistical planning, environmental factors, mental and physical health issues, and poor leadership; the expedition lost all but six crewmembers before its eventual recovery in 1884. The sensational failure and subsequent court proceedings (including discussion of cannibalism) have afforded the Greely Expedition with an oversized space in the field of historical exploration research and in art, photography, film, and fiction, which keep the narrative at the forefront of public consciousness. This paper focuses on the expedition’s reception in Portsmouth, New Hampshire upon the survivors’ return in 1884 and the Greely-focused exhibit presented at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. The 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition exhibit made use of different media that highlight the differences in public opinion and its continued fascination with Arctic exploration history, especially through the end of the nineteenth century. This paper will compare the return and Exposition commemorations and their influence on how subsequent expeditions were commemorated decades later.