Explore the rich stories of queer and questioning individuals throughout polar history.

Join us at the Polar Museum for a newly updated Bridging Binaries tour, led by the researcher whose archival investigations have helped expand the stories this tour tells.

Learn about a range of queer stories and those who challenged gender expectations throughout history, from trans lichenologist Elke Mackenzie, to the deep love expressed by some expedition members for their companions, to artistic expressions of gender over long polar winters, to the surprising connection between Hunter & Palmers biscuits and the taboos around discussing homosexuality in the 20th century.

Important Information

These tours are free, but online booking is essential. The tours are aimed at adult visitors.

The tour lasts approximately 45 minutes and is led by a member of staff. Please meet in the Memorial Hall at the front of the museum.

Please note that the tour will involve walking around the gallery and the museum has limited seating. We have wheelchairs available to borrow - if you would like to use one during the tour, please get in touch with the museum prior to your visit.

Accessibility

The Polar Museum is all on one floor and has step-free access via a ramp in the carpark.

We have one fully-accessible toilet with a left hand transfer space.

Tour attendees will have headsets for the tour.

There is paid street parking outside the Museum with free blue badge parking. One accessible space in the carpark can be arranged in advance by calling 01223 336540.

More accessibility information, including a visual story, can be found on the Accessibility page on our website (https://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/museum/accessibility/).

Please email groupvisits@spri.cam.ac.uk or call 01223 336540 (https://www.google.com/search?q=polar+museum+cambridge&rlz=1C1GCEA_enGB1126GB1126&oq=polar+museum+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCggAEAAY4wIYgAQyCggAEAAY4wIYgAQyDQgBEC4YrwEYxwEYgAQyDQgCEC4YrwEYxwEYgAQyBggDEEUYOTIGCAQQRRhBMgYIBRBFGEEyBggGEEUYPDIGCAcQRRhB0gEIMTIwNWowajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#) to discuss accessibility concerns.

LGBTQ+ tours are a University of Cambridge Museums (https://museums.cam.ac.uk/bridgingbinaries)initiative, developed by the Change Makers Action Group and funded by Arts Council England. We are grateful for the UCM Collections in Action fund which supported the extra research this year. Those delivering the tours are helping us to diversify the stories we tell and to approach our collections in new and exciting ways.

Description supplied by the event organiser.