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Rear Adm. Richard E. Byrd Monument - Wellington

<< Back to Mt. Victoria Lookout - Wellington

Details:

On the south side of the car park.


Monument

The memorial consists of a monument in the form of a polar tent, the front of which is built up with rocks from Antarctica. The sides were originally covered in white stucco but were reclad in the early 1990s with ceramic tiles depicting auroras, designed by artist Doreen Blumhardt. At the center of the monument is a bronze bust of Byrd made by Thomas V. Johnston. Rear Admiral Byrd faces out of the polar tent towards the sea and Antarctica. Underneath the bust are three plaques that commemorate his achievements. The original plaques were damaged or removed and were replaced during the restoration of the memorial in the early 1990s. Another plaque was added noting the rededication of the memorial on 21 June 1993. It also commemorates Paul Siple, another Antarctic explorer who served in all of Byrd's expeditions. In 1928, Richard Byrd selected Eagle Scout Paul Allman Siple from thousands of applications of Eagle Scouts to accompany him on a journey to explore the South Pole. Siple eventually took part in six Antarctic expeditions.

 

The memorial was unveiled on 11 March 1962, the fifth anniversary of Byrd's death. Rear Adm. Byrd used New Zealand as a base for his Antarctic expeditions for 27 years and came to regard the country as his second home. This recognizes not only Admiral Byrd's accomplishments in exploration, referring to him as the "greatest explorer of the air age," but also his contributions to international understanding. One large plaque refers to him as "a great internationalist," whose "concepts of Antarctica as 'the great white continent of peace' are contained in the Antarctic Treaty."

 

Two memorials for Byrd were erected in New Zealand. The other is in Dunedin. 

Source of information: nzhistory.govt.nz, www.southpolestation.com, oa-bsa.org

Source of photos: Google Maps

Monument Text:

Central plaque:

 

RICHARD EVELYN BYRD

 

Rear Admiral, U. S. N.

_____________

 

Born 25 October 1888

Died 11 March 1957

 

Ambassador of goodwill--friend of New Zealand

 

 

Below the central plaque:

 

The stones on this wall

are from the Koettlitz Glacier Region

Cape Hallett and Cape Evans

Antarctica

 

 

Left plaque:

 

THE ANTARCTIC TREATY

 

Signed on 1 December 1959 by twelve nations, this was a milestone along the road to international co-operation. It provided for non-militarisation, for the prevention of nuclear explosions and the disposal of radioactive waste, for an international inspection system, for the pooling of scientific information. It demonstrated the subordination of national interests to the wider cause of science and increased understanding between nations.

 

 

Right plaque:

 

THE GREATEST EXPLORER OF THE AIR AGE

Richard Evelyn Byrd dedicated his life to peaceful progress for mankind. Outstanding in aviation and exploration; he was a scientist, a humanitarian, a champion of freedom and a great internationalist. His concept of Antarctica as "the great white continent of peace" was a prelude to the Antarctic Treaty.

 

May the spirit of the Treaty endure and spread throughout the world.

 

 

Plaque on the ground:

 

 

THIS MEMORIAL TO THE LATE REAR ADMIRAL

BYRD WAS RESTORED THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF

THE NEW ZEALAND AMERICAN ASSOCIATION

INC. AND THE NEW ZEALAND ANTARCTIC

SOCIETY INC. RESTORATION WAS MADE

POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROSITY OF AMERITECH

AND BELL ATLANTIC NEW ZEALAND LTD.,

MOBIL OIL NEW ZEALAND LIMITED NATIONAL

GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY, WELLINGTON CITY

COUNCIL AND NUMEROUS INDIVIDUAL

BENEFACTORS FROM THE UNITED STATES OF

AMERICA. IT WAS REDEDICATED ON 21ST

JUNE 1993 BY THE HON. FRAN WILDE, MAYOR OF

WELLINGTON.

 

THE ARTWORK ON THE TILES SYMBOLISING THE

AURORA AUSTRALIS OR SOUTHERN LIGHTS WAS

DESIGNED AND CARRIED OUT BY NEW ZEALAND

CERAMIC ARTIST DOREEN BLUMHARDT IN

CONJUNCTION WITH THE WCC

 

 

 

DR. PAUL A. SIPLE

1908 - 1968

 

PAUL SIPLE ACCOMPANIED ADMIRAL BYRD TO

THE ANTARCTIC ON THREE EXPEDITIONS IN

1928 - 30, 1933 - 36, AND 1939 - 41. HE LATER

UNDERTOOK THREE OTHER ANTARCTIC

EXPEDITIONS INCLUDING THE LEADERSHIP OF 

THE SCIENTIFIC TEAM AT THE UNITED STATES

SOUTH POLE STATION IN 1956 - 57. DR. SIPLE

BECAME ONE OF THE FOREMOST AUTHORITIES

ON THE GEOGRAPHY OF ANTARCTICA, POLAR

LOGISTICS AND THE PRINCIPLES GOVERNING

THE ADAPTATION OF HUMANS TO LIFE IN COLD

REGIONS.

 

 

Commemorates:

People:

Richard Evelyn, Jr. Byrd

Paul Allman Siple

Units:

United States Navy

Battles:

Operation Highjump

Other images :