A ship called the Roosevelt dropped the team on Canada’s northern coast. From there, they traveled by sled.

Everett Collection Inc./Alamy Stock Photo (dog sled team); Niday Picture Library/Alamy Stock Photo (Matthew Henson)

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Journey to the North Pole

February 25, 2019

The North Pole is one of Earth’s most extreme places. The temperature can drop to 40 degrees below zero. And the pole is surrounded by the frozen Arctic Ocean. That means there is no land to walk on—only slabs of ice!

None of that stopped African American explorer Matthew Henson. He was part of a team that made a famous journey to the North Pole in 1909. Many experts believe they were the first to reach the top of the world!

The North Pole is one of Earth’s most extreme places. The temperature can drop to 40 degrees below zero. And the pole is surrounded by the frozen Arctic Ocean. That means there is no land to walk on—only slabs of ice!

None of that stopped African American explorer Matthew Henson. He was part of a team that made a famous journey to the North Pole in 1909. Many experts believe they were the first to reach the top of the world!

Jim McMahon/Mapman®

From the North Pole, what is the only direction you can go?

Dangerous Trek

Henson was an assistant to an explorer named Robert Peary. Starting in 1891, the men made several trips to the Arctic region and tried to reach the North Pole. In 1909, they finally claimed success—thanks in a big way to Henson. He built the team’s dog sledges, or sleds, and drove one across the ice. He hired Inuit (IH-noo-wiht) people to join the team—and learned their language to communicate with them. He also used an ax to clear paths through big piles of sea ice called pressure ridges.

The journey was risky. The ice was always shifting, so the men had to watch their step. “They could never daydream,” says expert Susan Kaplan. “It might mean falling through a huge hole in the ice!”

On April 6, 1909, the team’s trek ended. Their navigation tools told them they had arrived at the pole. They stuck a U.S. flag in the ice.  

“As the flag snapped and crackled with the wind, I felt . . . joy,” Henson later wrote in a book. “Another world’s accomplishment was done.”  

Henson was an assistant to an explorer named Robert Peary. The men made several trips to the Arctic region starting in 1891. They tried to reach the North Pole. In 1909, they finally had success—thanks in a big way to Henson. He built the team’s dog sleds and drove one across the ice. He hired Inuit (IH-noo-wiht) people to join the team—and learned their language to talk with them. He also used an ax to clear paths through piles of sea ice.

The journey was risky. The ice was always shifting, so the men had to watch their step. “They could never daydream,” says expert Susan Kaplan. “It might mean falling through a huge hole in the ice!”

On April 6, 1909, the team stopped. Their navigation tools told them they had reached the pole. They stuck a U.S. flag in the ice. 

“As [the flag] snapped and crackled with the wind, I felt . . . joy,” Henson later wrote. “Another world’s accomplishment was done.”  

Back at Home

When the men returned to the U.S., Peary was celebrated as a hero. Henson was mostly ignored. Because he was African American, many newspapers did not even mention his name. But decades later, Henson finally received the same honors as Peary. Today he is recognized as one of America’s most important explorers.

When the men returned to the U.S., Peary was celebrated as a hero. Henson was mostly ignored. Many newspapers did not mention his name because he was African American. But years later, Henson was finally honored. Today he is seen by many as one of America’s most important explorers.

If YOU Traveled With Henson

The 1909 journey to the North Pole wasn't easy!

You'd be sick of energy bars. The team survived mainly on pemmican. These energy bars were made of fat, dried fruit, and grains.

You'd smell like a dog. Up to 133 dogs pulled sledges like this one, carrying people and supplies through snow.

You'd get frostbite. On one trip, icy temperatures caused team leader Peary to lose eight of his toes.

Danita Delimont/Alamy Stock Photo (pemmican); Shutterstock.com (feet); Berkshire Museum/Art Evans (sledge)

If YOU Traveled With Henson

The 1909 journey to the North Pole wasn't easy!

You'd be sick of energy bars. The team survived mainly on pemmican. These energy bars were made of fat, dried fruit, and grains.

You'd smell like a dog. Up to 133 dogs pulled sledges like this one, carrying people and supplies through snow.

You'd get frostbite. On one trip, icy temperatures caused team leader Peary to lose eight of his toes.

Danita Delimont/Alamy Stock Photo (pemmican); Shutterstock.com (feet); Berkshire Museum/Art Evans (sledge)

1. What details support the author’s claim that Matthew Henson was a big part of the team’s success?

2. Why wasn’t Henson celebrated as a hero when he first returned to the U.S.?

3. Look at the map on page 2. What do you think the area shown in white represents?

1. What details support the author’s claim that Matthew Henson was a big part of the team’s success?

2. Why wasn’t Henson celebrated as a hero when he first returned to the U.S.?

3. Look at the map on page 2. What do you think the area shown in white represents?

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