An original photograph of Amundsen at the South Pole was donated to the station by one of the five members on his historic team. The sweater worn by Admiral Byrd when he flew over the Pole in 1929 is in a glass case hanging on the wall. Representing current and future exploration, the mission patch and an American Flag flown on the Space Shuttle STS-9 mission are framed and mounted, donated by crew member Owen Garriot. Besides the South Pole sign and flags, this is my favorite place there. During the Antarctic summer, about 145 people are at the Pole.
Conditions are quite crowded, but one can eat some of the best meals on the Continent there.
The people there work as scientists, carpenters, radio operators, and in many other fields. The experience level and enthusiasm at the South Pole is amazing. During the Summer months, people have to stay in buildings called Jamesways. Probably twenty per cent of the people are women. They are highly skilled cargo handlers, D-9 cat operators, scientists.