The Fram Museum invited to a large-scale celebration of the Amundsen – Ellsworth – Nobile Transpolar Expedition 1926 and the airship Norge’s arrival at the North Pole on May 12, 1926.
The Fram Museum leader of the board Christine C. Akselsen welcomed the gathering and told them about the Fram Museum’s planned new building, which in its entirety will convey the future of the Polar Regions and, among other things, provide an ongoing update on the research and results from the Polar Sea 2050.
HRH Crown Prince Haakon was among the guests when Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre drew the lines from Amundsen's expeditions to the present day and beyond.
"Our hero, Roald Amundsen's success reaching the North Pole, was not just about his personal curiosity, breaking records, achieving glory – it was about humanity’s drive to discover and understand the world we live in.
Today, the North Pole, once symbolizing the edge of human exploration, is now a barometer for the health of our environment. – Or the canary in the mine, as I said.
Let Amundsen’s spirit of exploration – of looking to the horizon, thinking – “What lies beyond?” – stay alive. – Whether we are studying the deepest oceans, making the best use of artificial intelligence, or finding new medicines to cure diseases. Amundsen’s journey serves as a reminder of the relentless drive to learn more.
And, remember, by the way, airships are said to have up to 90 percent lower emissions per passenger than airplanes. So, who knows, perhaps airships will experience a renaissance as future climate-friendly air transport."
(Statsminister Jonas Gahr Støre, Frammuseet 12. Mai 2026)
Museum director Geir O. Kløver told stories and showed pictures from Roald Amundsen’s life as an aviation pioneer and from the Norway expedition. Before Kløver showed Crown Prince Haakon and Prime Minister Støre around the exhibition, an edited version of the official expedition film from 1926 was shown, with new music composed for the occasion by Stephen Horne.
Both the exhibition and the film can be experienced on the second floor of the Gjøa Building at the Fram Museum until November 1927. The museum is open every day, all year round.
After the official program, descendants of the airship crew from Norway and Italy and the other guests were able to experience the new extensive exhibition and take part in a journey through various taste experiences inspired by Amundsen's polar expeditions and take part in a series of ten-minute lectures around the museum.
The Fram Museum thank all speakers who, at short notice, managed to create exciting, informative, humorous and educational content in just 10 minutes.
Bjørn Ousland, author and illustrator: Drawing Roald Amundsen and the Airship Norway, and showing his own art prints.
Alexander Wisting, author: Amundsen's trusted men - what did life in the shadow of the polar hero cost?
Trond Blindheim, reputation expert: What is Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen's reputation today.
Trond Kjærstad, psychologist & partner Promethevs: Making sure you have luck. What leaders can learn from Roald Amundsen.
Børge Ousland, polar explorer: How do you get to the North Pole today?
Sergio Alessandrini: Renato Alessandrini – twice to the North Pole
Jan Wangaard: The Polar Ship Maud – Into the Future
https://www.kongehuset.no/nyheter/markerte-100-arsdagen-for-da-roald-amundsen-nadde-nordpolen