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Redmond Historical Society Saturday Speaker Series — The Northwest Passage–The Challenge, the Suffering, the Discovery

November 8 @ 10:30 am - 12:00 pm

Gravesite of the first sailors with John Franklin’s expedition, who died on his quest to find the Northwest Passage. Photo: Author’s collection

On November 8th, the Redmond Historical Society welcomes Dr. Ed Sobey, oceanographer and author. He will bring his presentation, “Northwest Passage–The Challenge, the Suffering, the Discovery,” to the Old Redmond Schoolhouse.

About the Program: This was the quest: to find a short route to Asia. Magellan’s discovery of the passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific was monumental, but not practical. So thousands of men in hundreds of ships attempted to find a northern route. This presentation brings life to the history of valiant sailors who attempted and eventually succeeded in finding a way through the ice. It concludes with modern explorers finding new ways to complete the passage and an explanation of the fast-changing nature of the Arctic environment. The Pacific Northwest became a focal point for searching for a warm-water entrance from the Pacific side. Cook, Vancouver, and others mapped the coast and explored the openings to no avail. Failure to find the opening accelerated the efforts through the Arctic from the Atlantic side.

Doors open at 10:00 AM. Cost is Free to Society members, with a suggested donation of $5 for non-members. No registration required. Join us!

More info: https://www.redmondhistoricalsociety.org/rhs-events

Details

Venue

Speaker: Dr. Ed Sobey

Dr. Ed Sobey is an oceanographer, author, and former museum director and naval officer. He has conducted research in Antarctica, El Nino research in the eastern Pacific Ocean, and participated in scientific expeditions throughout the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. He is a Fellow Emeritus in The Explorers Club. He has directed five museums, including the National Inventors Hall of Fame, and he founded the National Toy Hall of Fame. His publications include 35 books. The Fulbright Commission has awarded Ed four grants. Ed created and hosted a television show on science and problem solving. He teaches oceanography and environmental studies for Semester at Sea, the floating university. Ed has lectured on more than 65 cruises and traveled to more than 140 countries.