Wood structure on the ice, Etah, west coast of Greenland

• Main Authors: Comer, George (Creator), American Museum of Natural History (Creator)
• Format: Still Image
• Language: unknown
• Published: Ownership Statement: Mystic Seaport 1913
• Subjects: Scientific expeditions; Arctic; Bedford; Etah; Greenland; New Bedford; Peary
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11134/70002:5499

View of an unidentified wooden structure resembling a drying rack set up on the ice, associated with the American Museum of Natural History Crocker Land Expedition. Taken at Etah, west coast of Greenland, ca. 1913-1917. Infrastructure Lifestyle Title supplied by cataloger. American explorer Donald MacMillan led the Crocker Land Expedition, which was funded by the American Museum of Natural History (1913-1917). The purpose of the expedition was to find and explore what was thought to be an Arctic land mass identified and named by explorer Robert Peary. The expedition concluded that the "land" was a mirage. Taken by Captain George Comer (1858-1937), a sealer and whaling captain from East Haddam. He went to sea while still in his teens and was later master of vessels from both New London and New Bedford. Comer participated in voyages involved in polar expeditions and served as ice pilot of the Cluett, which was sent by the American Museum of Natural History to relieve members of its Crocker Land Expedition. Captain Comer was noted for his studies of Arctic peoples and their environment. Slide prepared by the American Museum of Natural History, New York, possibly from an original photograph by Captain George Comer. Slide was used by Comer to illustrate lectures about his Arctic and seafaring experiences.